Lesser Gods by Adrian Howell Read Free Book Online Page A

who was a priest at the local church, found time to join us even though it was a Saturday.
    Mark arrived quite early and helped Cindy cook our turkey dinner. We had shooed Terry out of the penthouse to prepare, and I helped Alia put up a few decorations including a large poster she had made that read, “Happy Sweet 16th Birthday, Teresa Henderson!” I had told my sister to write that as a joke, and it was good that the crayoned message was clearly in her writing. Terry absolutely forbade anyone from calling her by her real name, and I suspected that had the poster been written by me, a great deal of “more pain” would follow in the dojo tomorrow.
    When Terry came home, she had brought another girl about her age, who was slightly shorter (though still taller than me) and had semi-long auburn hair. The girl was wearing a plain, light brown dress, and I suspected that she didn’t know she was coming to a party until after she met Terry today. Or perhaps she knew that Terry didn’t want anyone to make a fuss over her.
    “Hope we have room for one more,” said Terry as she showed her friend into the penthouse living room.
    “Of course we do,” said Cindy, coming out from the dining room. “Hello, Laila.”
    “Good evening, Ms. Gifford,” the girl replied politely.
    Then Terry introduced her to Alia and me, saying, “This is my friend Laila Brown from school. My best friend from school.” Terry paused for a second before adding, “My only friend from school.”
    Laila turned to her. “Oh, don’t say that, Terry. They’ll come around. They’re just scared.”
    “I don’t care,” Terry said stiffly. “They’re perfectly welcome to be cowards.”
    Laila didn’t reply, and Terry continued the introductions, saying, “Laila, this is–”
    “Adrian and Alia!” Laila exclaimed happily. “I know. It’s great to finally meet you both in person.”
    “Hello, Laila, nice to meet you,” Alia carefully said aloud, and I was pleased to see that Laila made no visible reaction to my sister’s speech impediment.
    Laila and I shook hands, and I asked her, “How do you know us?”
    “I saw you on stage last year at the party, and I’ve heard a lot about you too,” she replied brightly. “My mother is on the Council and she’s friends with Ms. Gifford.”
    “Oh,” I said. “Well, whatever you heard, I’ll deny.”
    Laila laughed.
    Terry said to me with an evil grin, “Laila’s been dying to meet the, uh, ‘hero’ who saved New Haven. Apparently, she’s just fascinated with you.”
    “Terry!” cried Laila, horrified.
    Terry’s grin widened as she continued, “I tried to explain to her that you were just a village idiot, Adrian, but she insisted on discovering that for herself.”
    “Thanks a lot, Terry!” I said sarcastically.
    As we made our way to the dining room, Laila Brown, who apparently thought she was whispering quietly enough not to be overheard, nudged Terry and said, “You’re right, Terry. He is too cute for you.” I wished I could get a mind-writer to remove that one from my head.
    We entered the dining room where Mark was putting the final touches on our table.
    “Laila!” exclaimed Mark, turning to her. “Welcome, welcome! I’m sorry I didn’t greet you at the door, but I wanted to hurry up and finish setting the table.”
    “Father Parnell?” Laila said with a surprised look. “I knew you were friends with Ms. Gifford, but I didn’t expect to see you at Terry’s party.”
    “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” said Mark, smiling at her.
    Then Terry and Laila caught sight of Alia’s message pinned up on the far wall. I could tell that Laila was desperately trying not to laugh.
    Terry smacked me over the head with her right palm.
    “What was that for?!” I demanded.
    “Alia’s poster, you idiot!” she snapped.
    I laughed. “Then hit Alia!”
    Terry fixed me with an accusing stare. “You told her what to write.”
    “Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you