Blood and Sympathy by Lori L. Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

touching Claire's smiling
face. "Da fuck is this?" he asked. He shot me a smirk and snorted.
"You're dreaming bro if you think a pretty girl like that would ever be
interested in a fucking loser like you."
    "It's not like that, Brogan. We're just pen
pals."
    "What-the-fuck-ever," he said. He
reached up and snatched the photo off my wall before I could do anything. Not
that there was much I could do that wouldn't jeopardize my clean record. My
jaws clamped tightly around the few choice things I wanted to say to him. "Freak.
You're a damn virgin . What the hell you got to offer a hot piece of ass
like her, anyway? I'll tell you what. Not a fucking thing."
    He laughed and walked out of the room, taking
Claire's picture with him. I sat on the edge of my bed and pounded my fists
against my thighs repeatedly. It was better to bruise my legs than bloody my
brother's face the way I wanted to, the way he deserved.
    Claire's latest letter was folded inside my
history textbook. I pulled it out and inhaled her scent of cherries. It was
comforting and helped me get over my irritation at my asshole brother's antics.
    I decided to reply.
    Dear Claire,
    Sorry to hear you had
such a bad day. I try not to let things get under my skin, but sometimes it
can't be helped. Your letters sure do help me forget the crap, though. I had your
picture hanging on my wall, and Brogan swiped it. I don't know what the hell he
wanted from me in the first place. Anyway, I'm sorry he took it. It was the
prettiest thing I've had to look at the whole time I've been locked up.
     I can't imagine you
scaring anyone off. I'm sure your dad's only looking out for your best
interests. The boys he scares off don't deserve you, because, if their
intentions were honorable, they wouldn't be easy to get rid of.
    You will have to
listen to what your heart's telling you about college. I wish I had some sage
advice to give you, but I don't. Taking a year off might not be a bad idea. You
could save up a little extra money and figure out what you want to study. We
can't always please everyone else. Sometimes we have to do what makes us happy
and hope that it works out for the best down the road. When we try to do what
other people think we ought to do, that's when we wind up unhappy. They say to
honor thy mother and father, but you also have to honor someone more important …
yourself.
    Thank you for
explaining what LOL means. I still think I like "lots of luck"
better.
    I'm counting down the
days until I'm a free man. Knowing I'll be going home soon is the only thing
that kept me from breaking Brogan's nose for taking your picture off my wall.
    I think I'll start a
list of all the things I want to do when I get home to Hensteeth. I'll be sure
to add "ice skating with Claire" to the list. I won't make you do
anything you don't want to do, but trust me when I say, I'd never let anything
happen to you under my watch.
    I better get to work
on that music box I promised you. I'm almost done with the one for Mr. Collins'
wife, and yours is next, I promise.
    Uncle Jeb comes up on
the first Sunday of every month. You could ask him if you can ride along, but I
have to tell you, as much as I'd like to see you face to face, I'd rather the
first time we meet not be in this hellhole. I'd be embarrassed for you to see
me here. But, telling you no don't seem like something I have the backbone to
do, so if you ask Uncle Jeb, and he says okay, then I'm okay with it, too. I'll
see what I can do about getting you added to the approved visitor list, just in
case.
    I hope and pray Brogan
stays as far away from Hensteeth, and me, as he can get. Mrs. Delmonico said it
best when she told me, " Blood is no reason for sympathy."
    You have my mouth
watering for that carrot cake. J
    Getting a tattoo is
another thing for me to put on my list. There's going to be a whole lot of
firsts for me to experience, and I'm looking forward to every last one of them!
    Write soon and sweet
dreams, Claire.
    Yours