Landry 05 Tarnished Gold by V. C. Andrews Read Free Book Online Page B

woke to Mama's shaking the bed.
"Gabriel, you can't oversleep this morning!" she said, laughing.
"Oh. Oh, what time is it?" I looked at the clock and leaped out of bed.
We were getting our final report cards, turning in our books, saying our good-byes today, the last day of school.
"Go wash the sleep out of that face in the rain barrel," Mama ordered. "I'll have some breakfast for you."
"Did Daddy come home?" I asked.
"No. You would have smelled him if he had," she offered, and went down to make breakfast.
I washed my face in the rainwater, brushed my hair, and put on my clothes. Mama was mumbling about all the things she was still going to do in preparation for my graduation party. Every once in a while she would break to complain about Daddy.
"He better be back here today and make himself presentable for the ceremony," she warned.
"He will, Mama. I'm sure."
"You have faith in everyone and everything," Mama said. "You'd even give a snapping turtle a second chance."
I couldn't help it. Today, of all days, I wanted to think only good and happy thoughts.
There was a storm of excitement at school: torrents of laughter and giggling, smiles raining down over us, our hearts thumping like thunder. The classrooms only calmed down when Mr. Pitot visited them. Everyone sat with his or her hands folded, backs straight as we were taught, eyes forward. Some chairs squeaked.
Mr. Pitot congratulated us on a fine year, complimented the students who maintained high grades and who never misbehaved. He warned us about our behavior at the ceremonies.
"The public will be our guests. Parents, family members, friends, will all have their eyes on you, on us. It is incumbent upon us to put on our best faces."
I turned and saw Jacques Bascomb put his tongue under his upper lip so he resembled a monkey. It was hard to believe that some of the boys in my class would be out working and raising families in less than a year's time.
School ended after the morning session so we could all go home and get into our graduation clothes. When I arrived and found Mama setting up tables for our guests outside, I knew Daddy had not returned yet.
"Mama, this is too much for you to do by yourself," I complained.
"It's all right; honey. I'm fine. When you have your heart soaking in happiness, you don't feel the labor."
"But afterward you will," I chastised.
"Listen to you," she said, standing back with her hands on her small hips. "Just graduated and already bossy."
"I'm not being bossy. I'm being sensible, Mama."
"I know, honey. Okay. I'll wait for help 'fore I do anything heavy. That's a promise," she said. I hoped she would keep it. I saw the palms of her hands were red from lifting and sliding the tables and chairs. Where was Daddy? How could he be so
inconsiderate?
I went inside and after eating only half of the po'boy sandwich Mama had prepared for my lunch, I got into my dress and fixed my hair again. Then I went outside and sat on the gallery, waiting for the time to pass and hoping to see my daddy come walking up to the house, full of apologies, but eager to help make this one of the happiest days of our lives.
He never showed.
Mama put on her best dress and brushed and pinned her hair. We stalled and waited as long as we could. Finally she emerged, her face burning with fury, those eyes ready to sear through Daddy's and set his soul on fire.
"Let's go, honey. We don't want you to be late," she said.
I didn't mention Daddy. We both started down the road. When we joined the Thibodeaus and Livaudises, they asked about Daddy.
"He'll meet us at the festivities," Mama said, but anyone could see that shadows had come to darken and pain Mama's happiness. No one asked why. They all looked at each other and knew the answer anyway.
There was a big crowd at the school by the time we arrived. Yvette, Evelyn, and I hurried into the building to put on our graduation gowns and caps and get into place. Mr. Ternant was as nervous as a gray squirrel, marching up and down the