Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent Read Free Book Online Page A

aside. “Don’t let nobody push you around, Jessilyn. You hear? Let people say what they say. It don’t mean nothin’ to us; ain’t that right?”
    “I don’t care if people say things about us.” I looked over at Gemma, where she leaned against the truck. “Ain’t no reason Gemma shouldn’t be treated like anyone else.”
    “No there ain’t, but that won’t change the fact that we’re gonna hear it from people. Now, you get on in that store, get what you need, and then walk back to the truck. If anyone gives you any trouble, start yellin’ your head off for help.”
    “I ain’t never had any trouble yellin’ my head off,” I replied, coaxing a grin out of him. “We’ll be okay.” But I felt less confident than I talked, and my heart skipped as I watched Momma and Daddy walk off.
    “‘Flour, sugar, cornmeal, salt’ . . .” I read nervously as Gemma and I walked together. “The same old stuff. I’ve gotta find me some work so I can get somethin’ good when we go shoppin’.”
    As we walked, I knew we were being stared at. We’d been stared at from the time our truck had pulled along the sidewalk. I just kept talking like nothing was different, hoping my chatter would keep Gemma from noticing the dirty looks we were getting. But my efforts didn’t matter at all, I knew. She was a smart girl even if she was quiet these days, and she could sense the hostility as much as I could. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her put her head even lower than it had been. Instinctively I grabbed her arm to support her, but she yanked it away.
    “Don’t do that,” she told me sharply.
    I did as she said and stuck my hands in my pockets. I may have been a tough nut to crack most times, but the stares were starting to get to me, making me squirm. It was a first time for me, being watched like that, and it didn’t help having Gemma act so harshly.
    When we reached the store, Mr. Hanley, the owner, raised an eyebrow at me. “Ain’t seen much of you of late, Miss Jessie.” Then, being one of the nicest men I knew, he smiled a little at Gemma and said, “Ain’t seen much of you lately either, Miss Gemma. I was sure sorry to hear about your momma and daddy.”
    Gemma nodded, and I chipped in by telling him quietly, “Gemma ain’t been much for talkin’ lately. But I’m sure she appreciates you thinkin’ of her.”
    Mr. Hanley put a hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I understand that, no doubt. Now, do you girls have a list?”
    While Mr. Hanley put together our order, Gemma stood off in a corner, and I wandered around looking at some dresses. Mr. Hanley gave me a funny look when I stood in front of the mirror, holding a blue dress up in front of me, but he didn’t say anything. I felt pretty dumb doing it, but I did like the way I looked behind it.
    I heard the brass bell on the door jingle and put the dress back quickly so as not to be caught looking so vain. Peering over the stack of cans in front of me, my throat tightened. Walt Blevins had come in that door, and if there was anything I knew about Walt, it was that he hated colored people. Some five years before, Walt’s daddy had been found dead behind the place Daddy said wasn’t fit for good people, and Walt had always said he’d been killed by Sam Dickerson, a colored man who had worked for my daddy for two years. Even though Daddy insisted that Sam wasn’t capable of hurting a fly, Walt wouldn’t hear of anything else.
    The law hadn’t seen it Walt’s way, thanks to Sheriff Slater, who was a decent soul, and Walt had made it plain he meant to get whatever vengeance the law wouldn’t. In the end, Daddy had helped Sam hightail it out of town before Walt could get hold of him, and that made Walt mad enough to kill.
    I well knew he’d use any opportunity to harm our family, and our having Gemma would be a perfect chance for him to stir things up. I glanced at Gemma, where she stood in the corner by the hammers and nails. She