Girls Like Us by Gail Giles Read Free Book Online Page A

already.

I’m going to do it! I’m going to find a feed store and I’m going to walk to it and buy dry corns. I don’t care what Quincy got to say.

I had me a bad dream last night. Inside my head, Robert jabbing his finger at me. I be seeing the look in his eyes and Jen saying, “He’s trouble, he’s trouble, he’s trouble.” I hope I’m just havin’ crazy bad dreams like Biddy and didn’t go get the second sight all of a sudden.
    I woke up tired after all my dreaming. I had me a long hot shower and went to Lizabeth’s. I drank extra-strong coffee whilst I made us omelets and toast.
    Biddy bustle in just about the time Lizabeth show up. Lizabeth look a bit peckish. I wondered what kind of dreams she had. Biddy was nervous and rattling the silverware until Lizabeth and me both got a case of the jumps. All three of us did a lot of egg poking, and more food got scooted around than ate.
    “Biddy, dear, could you please not tap your spoon like that? I have a touch of headache,” Lizabeth say.
    Biddy drop her spoon with a clatter. “Sorry, Miss Lizzy.”
    Lizabeth didn’t hear her. She was stirring and staring into her tea.
    “Miss Lizzy?”
    Lizabeth jerked like she been woke up. “Yes?”
    “Can you show me where to find a feed store? And tell me how to walk there?”
    Lizabeth stare at Biddy with worry and sad all mixed up in her face. “Yes. Let’s go do that now. I’m not hungry.” She turnt to me. “Everything is wonderful, Quincy. I’m having a bit of a bad day.”
    Woo, don’t I know how that feel.
    Those two went off in another room. I left the dishes for Biddy. That was part of the deal. My feet walked slow toward the Brown Cow. Seem like now that Robert was gone, I’d feel better, but I was feeling like a fairy story and the children heading into the dark woods.

Miss Lizzy drew a map. She made arrows on the street where I turn. She told me the directions like it was a story so I could remember. “Walk until you see a building that looks like a little cottage and then turn toward it, then go until you see a stop sign and turn the other direction.” She gave me money and said it was a “vance” on my salary. I helped Miss Lizzy back to her bed. She asked me to make her herb tea and to turn on the radio real soft.
    “You know, Biddy, I was raised to be a southern belle. That means that I always use good manners.”
    I look at Miss Lizzy. “Why, you got the best manners I ever see. You always dress up nice. Your clothes never got wrinkles — and you don’t slurp soup.”
    Miss Lizzy give a little smile, but she still look sad. “Good manners can mean keeping out of others’ personal business. But it also means helping right wrongs.”
    Miss Lizzy didn’t seem to be talking to me. But there wasn’t nobody else in the room. “I think of my youngest son often. My boy that died. I’ve often wondered what kind of man he would have been. How I wish I could see him just once more.” She sighed and looked back at me. “Why don’t you go get your corn now, Biddy. I need to rest and be alone with my thoughts.”
    Miss Lizzy had a child that died?
    That was worse than having a child being took away.
    I worried because Miss Lizzy didn’t feel good. But she didn’t want me to stay.
    I went to our apartment. I studied my map. I got down the stairs partways. I kind of freezed up. I always go across the yard to the big house. Now I would be out on the street with peoples besides Miss Lizzy or Quincy. Boys, maybe.
    I tore upstairs. Got my coat and buttoned it up. I could go now.

I got to the Brown Cow and, sure ’nuff, there was a ole beat-up car in the parking lot and Robert sitting in the front seat. He hung his arm out the window, and he had a knife. He tap the side of the door with the blade and watch me walk up to the doors. He didn’t say nothing, the man in the driver’s seat didn’t say nothing, but when I pull open the door to the Brown Cow, somebody tap the horn. I jump about a