Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton Read Free Book Online Page B

at those two words. I’d rather return to the school and face the psycho janitor than call Mom.
    My mother might have loved me, but she sure didn’t like me much. And who could blame her? I mean, I was the weird one. My sisters were so much easier—sharing Mom’s love of music and performing. They even kept their rooms clean. But my room—and my life—had never been tidy. The imaginary friends of my childhood hadn’t been imaginary, and I’d often known things—disturbing things, like our elderly neighbor falling down the stairs and lying there until I convinced my parents to check on her. Or the time I’d told my sisters’ piano teacher that her daughter had a broken arm—minutes before the hospital called.
    And I knew without being told that Mom was going to send me away. My bags were already packed when she gave me the news. Sure it hurt, but I didn’t let her know. Never once did I argue. Instead it was Dad who took my side, accusing Mom of overreacting. But in the end, he preferred peace to war and quietly gave in to Mom’s decision. Now my only contact from Mom was a monthly check to cover my expenses.
    So why had she called now?
    I awoke still wondering this the next morning. But I had no intention of picking up the phone to find out. If Mom had something important to say, she’d call back.
    Deciding not to call Mom was easy; picking an outfit proved a bit difficult. After trying on four shirts, two skirts, and five pairs of pants, I finally settled on a scoop-neck yellow shirt and dark jeans. Then, I brushed on a bit of makeup. For a finishing touch, I fastened on tiny gold stud earrings. Tasteful—even attractive—but definitely not unusual.
    When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I was smiling—thinking of Josh and anxious to get to school. Would he be waiting by my locker?
    He was. And his face lit up when he saw me.
    Josh talked about his weekend as I sorted through my locker. He’d gone to a meeting of magicians and learned how to make empty shoes walk on air.
    “Not really walk, of course, just appear to.” He snapped his fingers. “Like magic.”
    “How can I tell if it’s a trick or real magic?” I asked, grabbing my English book.
    “Easy. There is no real magic.”
    I wondered if he’d say the same thing about psychics.
    Josh went on to describe his great aunt’s ninety-ninth birthday party. Instead of gifts, everyone came with a funny story or joke to share. His story involved a bowl of green Jell-O and a teacup poodle, and I was still laughing when we reached our first class. The teacher hadn’t arrived, so we waited in the hall along with some other kids.
    Josh tossed his backpack by the door, then turned back to me. “So how was your weekend?”
    “Dull,” I answered with a shrug. “No poodles or Jell-O.”
    “Nothing interesting?”
    “Nope.” Except for seeing a ghost and getting caught by the janitor for breaking into the school. I hesitated, then added, “Well, there was something funny.”
    “What?”
    “My grandmother lost her notebook and I found it—in the refrigerator.”
    “Why’d she put it there?”
    “So she wouldn’t lose it.” I giggled at his confused expression. “You had to be there, but believe me, it was weird even for my grandmother.”
    “I believe you.” He squeezed my hand. And the way he was looking at me, we weren’t talking about Nona anymore. My heart sped up as he leaned closer. We were standing in the middle of a school hallway, with kids all around, yet it was like we were alone. And I was sure he was going to kiss me.
    “Sabine!” Penny-Love came rushing between us like a tornado, her curly red hair tangling around her freckled face. “Wait till you hear!”
    “Hear what?” I said a bit sharply.
    “Then you don’t know? Wow! It’s all over school!”
    “I doubt that.” Josh checked his watch. “School doesn’t even start for ten minutes.”
    “The buzz doesn’t run on school time.” Penny-Love paused