My Fairy Godmonster by Denice Hughes Lewis Read Free Book Online Page B

be in shock when my best
friend loses his freedom.”
    David laughs. “You’re jealous because I met
Claire first.”
    “Darn right,” John says. “I’ll have to
remember your technique and sprawl over
    some beautiful girl’s car hood.”
    Everybody laughs, except Weasel. “Charles, we
need you and Scott to accompany us to town.”
    “We need measurements for your tux, Dad,”
David says. He takes Dad aside.
    I scoot over to listen.
    David adds, ”I need your support and approval
for my garden plans.”
    “I expect at least two hundred guests,
David,” says Weasel. “Where do you plan to seat them? From what
I’ve seen, you will need a bulldozer to make room.”
    “You can’t rip up the garden!” I yell. My
heart beats like it will explode.
    “Calm down, Sis.” David pats my head and I
pull away angrily. “I’ve got a plan that will keep the integrity of
the garden, yet enhance it.”
    “I want it the way it is.”
    Weasel interjects, “We don’t always get what
we want when other people are involved, Winifred.”
    I almost scream at her until I see Dad shake
his head at me. I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth.
    Mr. Dudley says, “I’m sure that with David’s
talents and my money, the garden will be beautiful.”
    Dad stiffens.
    Mr. Dudley’s phone rings, breaking the
tension in the room.
    Daria pulls on his sleeve. “Daddy, you
promised. No phone today.”
    “In a minute, Daria.”
    The hurt in Daria’s eyes matches the growing
crack in my heart. She sees me watching her and turns away.
    I plead with Dad. “Dad, you can’t - ”
    “We’ll handle it Winifred. You have enough to
do. Have you talked with Erminia about the division of chores?”
    “No.” I swallow the lump in my throat and
hold back tears.
    Mr. Dudley’s usually quiet voice raises to an
ugly roar. “Sell immediately! I don’t need your opinion!” He hangs
up. It rings again. “Yes?” He relaxes and nods his head. “The
limousine is waiting outside.”
    Wow, I wouldn’t want to work for Mr. Dudley.
When he’s mad, he’s scarier than Weasel.
    She announces, “The limousine seats eight
comfortably.”
    I count nine.
    She continues, “I’d like to ask a favor of
Winifred.”
    I don’t raise my eyes to hers.
    “David says you have excellent penmanship.”
She pretends to smile.
    I look at David. He mouths, ‘I’m sorry.’
    She continues, “I was hoping you could stay
here and address the invitations for Claire. They need to go out
tomorrow. We only have three weeks, which isn’t a proper amount of
time. It can’t be helped. Will you be a dear and help us out?”
    Now I exist? When she wants something from
me?
    “Sure,” I say. I can’t stand the thought of
going anywhere with Weasel. My idea of a limousine ride has me in a
prom dress sitting next to a boy. Besides, how hard can it be?
    “We need a dress and shoes for Winifred,
too,” says Claire. “She can’t stay here.”
    “I’ll stay and help Winifred.” Scott smiles
and I look at him gratefully.
    Weasel says, “Tux measurements are more
difficult. We need you to come with us, Scott. I’m sure we can find
an appropriate dress for Winifred. What size do you wear?”
    I squirm as everybody looks at me. “Two in
dresses, four in shoes.”
    “Measure the length, Claire.”
    Claire frowns. “Do you have a measuring tape,
Winifred?”
    I get the tape and Claire whispers, “I’m
sorry. It’s my responsibility to do the invitations.”
    “Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to go
with you anyway.” I see her wince, and feel bad.
    Claire sighs. “I hope someday we can be like
sisters. Please stand on your toes while I measure.”
    Daria runs over and wraps her arm around
Claire. “She’s my sister. You’re just an outlaw.”
    I lean over and whisper in her ear. “Yeah,
and you’d better watch out. You know what outlaws do.” I turn away
from Weasel and point my imaginary guns at Daria.
    Daria scuttles to her mother.
    Weasel corrects