Margaret's Ark by Daniel G Keohane Read Free Book Online Page A

the cart down, and the duel folding plastic saw horses jutted at odd angles making navigation of some aisles problematic. Still, these she could wrangle these into the tailgate once she got outside. It was the lumber she worried about.
    A man sporting an orange nametag turned and smiled as she rolled into that department. She had to act rational. This was going to be an interesting order - more so if the man listened to the radio.
    Thankfully, her request for forty eight-by-four foot sheets of plywood, along with two-by-two and four-by-two beams of low-grade oak, was taken graciously. She then explained that she would need the wood delivered. Her heart skipped a beat, dreading what was coming next, but the man simply smiled and told her to give all the delivery details to the cashier at the lumber desk. He led her to a large square counter in the center of the store, behind which two clerks rang up orders for other customers. Contractors most likely, stocking up for the next Big Project. She supposed what she was doing was not much different. That’s what she told herself as she waited her turn.
    The wait was shorter than she would have liked. The customer in front of her moved aside, leaving a shopping cart's width for Margaret to roll toward the smiling young girl behind the counter.
    “Do you have a lumber order? Otherwise you'll need to check those items - oh, thanks.” She took the form Margaret proffered. It took a few minutes for the hand-written manifest to get into the computer. All the while Margaret's heart beat furiously. What was she nervous about? What would anyone care what she was going to do with the wood?
    Because, eventually, everyone would know. And Margaret didn't think they would like her too much when that happened.
    “OK. There. Now, can I have your name?”
    “Margaret Carboneau.” She spelled her last name.
    “How are you going to pay for this?”
    She held out the Discover Card. It's the end of the world, but why not get cash back? she thought without humor.
    “Address?”
    Margaret gave the address. Beat-beat went her heart.
    “And you want delivery to this address?”
    The girl was already typing when Margaret whispered, “No. Not there.”
    “Oh.” Backspace a few times. “Sorry. Where would you like it delivered?”
    “The Lavish town square.” When offered a blank look, Margaret added, “The grassy area in front of the fire department. Between Center and Cambridge Streets. I’ll be there when they come and can point out the exact location.”
    Another pause, then a wide smile. It looked forced, but the girl said, “Great! What are they going to build?”
    Margaret's mind whirled. What to say? Tell her an ark , she thought, and say goodbye to the order. No, definitely don't tell her. Yes, tell her . Margaret smiled sheepishly as her cheeks burned. “To be honest, I'm really not sure. But it's supposed to be ready by early June.” Then Margaret actually laughed. A nervous laugh, to be sure, but the girl behind the counter smiled and typed in the delivery instructions. Something began happening to her expression. The cashier typed slower at first, then stopped. When she looked up, the smile had faded.
    “Early June?” She looked sideways, as if doing some mental calculation. Margaret felt tiny balls of sweat running from her armpits. The girl added, “You don't know what they're going to build?” Her eyes bore into Margaret, as if begging for a straight answer.
    The look wasn't accusing. It was something else - enough to make Margaret say, “Yes, I do know, but please,” a quick glance around the store ( please let her know what that means ), “don't ask me. Not now. Please.”
    The young woman's face went pale, but she completed the order.
    Margaret looked at her nametag. All it said was “Holly”. The name filled her with an unease she didn't understand. Margaret needed twenty-seven people, not counting her own family. Was this how missionaries felt when they arrived