Leaving Serenity by Alle Wells Read Free Book Online Page A

plate with a solid blue trim around the edge.
    “Thanks.”
    I picked up the mustard bottle and squirted some on the burger. “How did you know my name?”
    He looked past me, out the front window. “I’ve seen you around. I’m Andy.”
    I nodded in the middle of a bite, and then said, “Nice to meet you. Do you like working here?”
    “Yeah, it’s cool. My Aunt Rosie owns the place. The work’s not too hard or anything.”
    “I wish I had a job. I hate school.”
    Andy laughed. “But you’re the principal’s kid!”
    I took a swig from the bottle and put it back on the counter. “Exactly!”
    Andy snorted a half-laugh, and then his face fell as he looked down at the countertop. “Look, I know you because I saw you on homecoming night.”
    The thick burger stuck in my throat. I grabbed the bottle to wash it down.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean I saw you at the equipment shed.”
    My body stiffened, and I whispered, “You were there?”
    He lit a cigarette and rolled the tip in a tiny tin ashtray. “Yeah. I don’t hang around those guys anymore. I mean, I didn’t know what they were up to. I thought we were goin’ in there to smoke a joint. It wasn’t until Luther – you know – that I figured it out.”
    I felt tears welling in my eyes. “Which one was Luther?”
    “Luther’s the big guy. The other one is Gip. I don’t know the other guy’s name.”
    Andy took a drag from the cigarette. “Damn them. Ain’t none of them worth a flyin’ crap.”
    I pulled a paper napkin from the silver dispenser and wiped my eyes. “Greg. Greg was the first one. I knew him but not the other two. You know, nobody beli eves me, not even my family.”
      Andy finished his cigarette and opened a M ountain Dew . “That’s too bad. Well I know. And if it helps any, I’m real sorry they did that to you.”
    My face softened . Talking to Andy ma de me feel l ike I ha d a friend. “Thanks, you’re nice. Maybe I’ll come here for lunch every day.”
    “Yeah, sounds good.” Andy showed a mouth full of crooked teeth when he grinned. His easy manner and his imperfect teeth made me feel better about th e zits on my face.
    After that day, the Bluebird became my hangout and my escape from school. I tried smoking cigarettes for something to do but didn’t like the taste. Andy said that smoking would soothe my nerves, but just being at the Bluebird was enough for me. I liked watching the customers come and go while sipping on Dr. Peppers and talking to Andy. I dreaded the end of the school year and losing my getaway.
    Andy snapped me out of my daydream. “Hey, Annette! What’s eatin’ you? You ain’t said two words since you got here.”
    I twirled the lip of the bottle around with my fingertips. “This is the last week of school. I was thinking about how I’m going to miss coming here.”
    Andy leaned his long arms over the counter. “Whatta ya say I ask Aunt Rosie to give you a job here?”
    I perked up and grinned. “For real?”
    Andy shot me a look that said, Trust me . “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
    He disappeared behind the metal door. I waited and wondered what they were saying about me. A couple of minutes later, Andy followed his aunt back through the kitchen door. Andy’s Aunt Rosie was a stout woman with flaming red hair piled twelve inches high on her head. Her hair was so tall that I wondered how she walked without toppling over. She wore a white uniform like Miss Ruby’s at the beauty shop.
    “Aunt Rosie, this is my friend, Annette.”
    Rosie held out her hand to me. My reflexes responded, even though I’d never shaken anyone’s hand before. “Hey, Hon. Call me Rosie.”
    I blinked. “I’m Annette.”
    Rosie folded her arms over her ample chest. “Have you ever worked anywhere, Annette?”
    I shrugged. “No, ma’am, other than helping Mama in the kitchen.”
    I recognized the kinship between Andy and Rosie when she smiled. “Well, that’s a good start, I reckon. The main