Blood Secret by Kathryn Lasky Read Free Book Online Page A

sugar, you must have given up booze,” Constanza said cheerfully. Jerrystole a glance at Sister Evangelina.
    “Constanza de Luna, what I give up or don’t give up for Lent is none of your business.” Jerry turned now and looked at her aunt, waiting for the next retort. It was like watching a tennis game. She had never heard so many consecutive sentences coming from her aunt. Suddenly Sister Evangelina threw her brown hands up into the air and hooted. “Mercy, we’ve shocked the child, Constanza. Bet you’ve never seen your aunt so crabby or talkative?” When Evangelina laughed, her eyes became little slits above her plump cheeks. “You see, this is one of my gifts. I bring out a different side in people.” She fanned her plump fingers in the air.
    “Is that why you were called to be a bride of Christ?”
    Jerry gasped. “Aunt Constanza!” The words exploded this time, not like before when they slipped out so gently. No, the two words burst off her tongue with a rat-a-tat-tat . But this time Aunt Constanza did not tremble. She simply carried on as if nothing special had happened and so did Sister Evangelina.
    “Sister Evangelina is used to it,” Constanza said.
    “Oh, my week wouldn’t be complete if I didn’tcome over and get insulted by Constanza. She’s the only person around who back talks nuns. It reminds me of how relieved I should be that I never had her in a classroom.”
    “Seeing as I’m twenty years older, that would have been hard.”
    They sat for a few more minutes, and then Constanza went and got the box with the Communion host for Sister Evangelina. They all walked out to the car together. Sister Evangelina stuffed herself behind the wheel. “Are you coming to the church rummage sale, Constanza?”
    “What do I need to do that for?”
    “There’s bound to be some interesting stuff.”
    “I don’t need any more stuff. I’ve been collecting stuff for ninety-four years.” Jerry bit her lip lightly and thought of the root cellar with its old sandstone walls. Ninety-four years seemed like nothing compared to rock time. But it was as if time stopped down there, or was suspended, or maybe just didn’t count for much. Something happened down there. She thought of the mouse. Did it ever come up into the daylight? Or the spider, the invisible spider. If she went back, would the beetle be gone? Eaten? Not escaped. She felt certain that nothing reallyescaped from the root cellar.
    “Well, then it’s time to get rid of some stuff.”
    Constanza scuffed the toe of her boot in the dirt. “Naw, I don’t think so.”
    “You should see the two of you,” Sister Evangelina said suddenly. “Both of you scratching your heads exactly the same way. Constanza, Jerry’s been here barely a week and is already picking up your bad habits.”
    “Well, maybe I should send her over to you and she’ll get some of your bad habits and pork up.”
    Aunt! The word rumbled Jerry’s head but remained silent.
    “Oh my word!” hooted Sister Evangelina. She started the car and began to back out. There was a screeching sound.
    “Damn. She’s going to grind those gears out. Nuns are the lousiest drivers.”
    “I know what you’re saying, Constanza,” Sister Evangelina yelled from the car. “‘Nuns are lousy drivers.’ Well, as little Miguel Guiterro said to Sister Clara the other day, ‘Up yours.’” She waved gaily out the window as she drove down the driveway.

Chapter 6
    “M AYBE YOUR FRIEND will help you get that sewing machine up from the cellar,” Constanza said when Sinta came over later that afternoon.
    “You got a sewing machine here?” Sinta said.
    Jerry shrugged and smiled. She wished the words would come again with Sinta.
    “Yes,” Constanza said. “I was telling Jerry, though, that it is an old one. Not electric, just a treadle that you pump.”
    “Let’s get it,” Sinta said.
    Jerry didn’t know what to do. She did not want to go back to the cellar with anybody. It was as if