Horse Camp by Nicole Helget Read Free Book Online Page B

almost sacrificed by his father, Abraham, before God intervened in all His mercy and saved him.
    June Bug: I didn’t know that. Rachel must have been really beautiful for Jacob to work all those years.
    Me: Well, he thought he only had to work seven years for her, but her dad tricked Jacob into marrying her older sister, Leah, who wasn’t nearly as attractive as Rachel, and then made him work another seven years to get to have Rachel, too.
    June Bug: What?! That’s wild! That Bible sounds like the soap operas my mom watches.
    Me: No, it isn’t like a soap opera at all, but you should really read it for yourself.
    Anyway, June Bug just said one dumb thing after another. I couldn’t believe she had never even heard of Rachel from the Bible! Even the dumbest kid knows about her. And even though she asked me if I wanted to help with the chickens, I could tell she really hoped I’d say no, which I did, so she could have Percy and Pauly all to herself.
    Later, Stretch and Sheryl went on a horse ride together on Brenda (even sitting in the same saddle!) and didn’t come back for a long, long time. They were gone long enough to do some sinful things for sure. Sheryl was only wearing a thin tank top that was sure to lure Stretch’s eyes to her bosom. And she was wearing jeans with a hole in the butt cheek, and I saw skin underneath, so that means she either A) was wearing a thong, or B) wasn’t wearing any underwear at all. Either way, temptation city .
    I would have followed them, but I couldn’t because, for once, Stretch wouldn’t let Pauly come with him, so I had to babysit. As soon as Stretch said, “Pauly, you stay here with Penny,” I knew something was up. I mean, Pauly sits right outside the bathroom door while Stretch goes to the bathroom, even when the stench coming from inside is enough to make anyone, human or animal, pass out. That’s probably what happened to Stretch’s family. He probably stunk them to death.
    Seriously, not knowing what happened to his family is driving me crazy! I mean, it could be anything. He could be divorced. Or, his wife could have died, like his son. Or maybe he could have her hidden in the attic like that guy in Jane Eyre ! I mean, how am I supposed to live here without knowing whether or not I’m in the same house as a psychotic killer! One of these days, I’m going to snoop in every box and trunk until I get to the bottom of what’s going on around here.
    Dear Mom,
    I am not being nosy. Wanting to know what happened to Stretch’s family is a natural thing. What is the big secret? If I were you, I’d be very worried that I’d be endangering my everlasting soul by covering up the crime of my brother. The Lord’s work is supposed to be your first priority, not being an accomplice to Stretch’s crime! But, then again, what do you care about crime? Apparently, the laws of God and the laws of the United States simply don’t apply to you . You , apparently, can feel free to do whatever you want.
    And, as far as Stretch’s relationship with Sheryl goes, it is my business because I’m not comfortable with two unmarried people having sexual relations around my brothers, which I know Stretch and Sheryl are doing. And, no, I don’t think that what happens between two consenting adults is fine and dandy and none of my business. I’d think that, as our mother, you would be concerned about the type of example Stretch is setting for us and would be writing to Daddy to tell him to come and pick us up and bring us home. While you’re at it, you can tell Daddy you’re sorry, so we can just put all this ridiculous business behind us. But, apparently, the rules of motherhood don’t apply to you , either. If you didn’t want to raise us, why did you even have us?! Why have kids at all if you’re just going to abandon them?! Sometimes I wish I was never even born!!!
    (I had to take a