It Burns a Lovely Light by penny mccann pennington Read Free Book Online Page B

sighed. "Well, the child received a failing
    mark for her brilliance. I have to say; she did put up a good argument. She said all forms of art should be open to interpretation, and this was hers."
    The mudroom door slammed behind William as he stumbled into
    the kitchen. He juggled his hands in excitement. "You're not going to believe this! Dion saves her scabs in a jar!"
    The girls came in behind William, their faces moist with sweat.
    "Veda Marie and Claire, this is Dion," said Farley, pointing to the two women.
    "Why are you saving scabs?" asked Claire, her mouth full.
    "I'm going to be a nurse when I grow up."
    Veda Marie handed both girls a glass of iced tea. "Welcome to Bridge Manor, Dion. I'm Veda Marie Tendersheets."
    "That's a really cool name."
    Veda Marie patted her hair. "I know it."
     
    Pauline polished off the last of her potato chips as she examined the to-do wall. The to-do wall was actually an enormous black chalkboard the three women had found at a flea market. They all agreed; only
    the high ceilings of the kitchen could handle such a large board without taking over the room. Suspended with heavy wire and framed by the red brick wall, the effect was both sensible and striking.
    Veda Marie had insisted on writing the list - saying no offense, but Claire's handwriting was practically illegible and Pauline's was too fancy to be taken seriously:
    Immediate Repairs
    Leaks in roof
    Un-stick stuck windows
    Tape broken windows on east side of house
    Repair steps on second floor main
    stairway
    Throw away all mouse-infested or mildewed anything's
    Remove rotten wall-to-wall carpeting in the old drawing room
    Replace disgusting/broken toilets
    Large hole in bedroom wall next to kitchen
    Patch drip under kitchen sink
    Replace washer
    Purchase heavy duty dryer
    Seal around doors and windows
    Increase insulation in attic
    Close off fireplaces in bedrooms
    Improvements That Will Have to Wait
    Paint, inside and out
    Wallpaper stripping
    Strip, sand, and refinish hardwoods
    Have fireplaces cleaned
    Repair Carrara tile in bathrooms
    Untangle weeds from front and back
    Renew old path through woods
    Pie in the Sky
    New roof
    Finish Cellar
    Lose weight
    "I swear," said Veda Marie, talking around her cigarette as it bobbed up and down between her lips, "that list doubles while we are sleeping in our beds."
    Pauline ran her finger down the list. "I'll start with
    taping the broken windows."
    She spent as much time as possible at Bridge Manor, insisting that hard work was just the thing to keep her sanity in check. And it seemed to be working, for the most part. She shuddered as she thought about the
    ring game.
    It started by accident shortly after they moved back to Pittsburgh. She had placed her wedding ring on the side of the sink while she washed her hands. As she dried her hands, the edge of the towel flipped the
    ring into the sink and twirled closer and closer to the drain. She screamed and clawed at the sink, trapping the ring against the side with the palm of her hand. Clutching the ring, she sobbed, euphorically relieved.
    Then she began to press fate, giving her ring the occasional, horrific twirl in the sink. Oh, but the rush. The pounding of her heart as she watched the symbol of their love move closer to the gaping drain. The unspeakable thrill each time she saved her precious ring.
     

     

Chapter 7
    On the last day of school before summer break, the girls were still in their scratchy wool uniforms. Saint Bridget's had seasonal
    uniforms for the boys; heavy blue trousers and a jacket for cold weather, cool cotton trousers and a lightweight sport coat for the warmer months. The girls had to wear the same plaid skirt all year, along with thick stockings and long
    sleeved button-down in the winter, and white knee socks and a peter pan blouse in the fall and spring.
    "Come on, you guys." Exasperated, Farley lowered her camera. "Walk like real zombies."
    Dion slapped her pimply thighs. "That does is it. I quit."
    "Me