OMG, A CUL8R Time Travel Mystery by Bob Kat Read Free Book Online

completed the sentence, and Jane nodded her agreement.
    “Things will get better.  I can’t replace your mom, but I’ll do the best I can.”
    For about the hundredth time today, Kelly’s eyes filled with tears.  “I really appreciate this.  I know the last thing you planned to have in your life right now was a teenage girl.”
    “It might have been the last thing, but it could be the best.  You’ve been here only one day, and already you’ve met the neighbors.  That’s more than I’ve done in five years.”
    Kelly blinked away the tears and managed another weak smile
    “Good night, Kelly.”  Her aunt hesitated, then gave Kelly a clumsy hug.  She was clearly not comfortable showing affection, but she was trying.
    Kelly hugged her back, wishing, with all her heart, that it was her mom, but knowing that that would never be possible again.

 
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    WEDNESDAY
     
    Kelly had set her alarm clock for 7 a.m.  She had planned on getting into a pattern of swimming laps every day.  She opened her left eye slowly and glanced at the clock, then promptly shut it again.  She was wide awake and it wasn’t even 6 a.m.  She heard the kitchen door shut and imagined it was probably Aunt Jane leaving for work.
    A familiar squawk brought her out of her bed and to the window.
    “Good morning, silly bird,” she said to the colorful bird who was calmly grooming itself, feather-by-feather.  “My aunt doesn’t like you pooping on the furniture.  I’m going to see what I can do to build you a perch that you’ll like better than the chairs.”
    The bird, now properly identified as a scarlet macaw cocked his head and studied her with one beady eye.  He shook his head and fluffed out his feathers.  But he didn’t fly away like he had yesterday.  Instead, he sat, watching her like a peeping Tom while she made her bed and changed into a modest one-piece swimsuit.  Maybe she could work her way into a two-piece by the end of the month, she hoped.
    “See you outside,” she said to the bird.  She pulled an oversized t-shirt on over the swimsuit, grabbed a towel out of the bathroom and went downstairs.
    Three bags of groceries from Publix were on the island and a note. “Kelly, this should last until the weekend. I’ll see you around 7 tonight . . . I hope.”  Kelly dug through them, delighted to find cereal, grape jelly, peanut butter, fresh bread, macaroni and cheese and some bags of chips and pretzels.  In the refrigerator was a gallon of 2% milk and a drawer full of bags of peaches, plums and cherries.  There were even a couple of frozen pizzas in the freezer drawer.  Nothing else, just the pizzas, proving that her aunt rarely cooked.  On the counter, in a bowl was a tempting display of apples, oranges and bananas.  All in all, half healthy, half junk food . . . her aunt was trying.
    Kelly enjoyed a bowl of cereal with a banana cut up in it.  She loaded her dishes into the dishwasher and stretched.  Today was the day she would start that exercise program. She went outside, pulled off the t-shirt and dipped one foot into the pool.  The water was comfortably cool.  Already the sun was heating the air and the humidity hung around 90%.  It felt wonderful when she dove into the pool.  The smooth liquid enveloped her, making her feel weightless and graceful.  Her mom had taken her to swimming lessons almost before she could walk, and she had always loved the water.  Her strokes were powerful and long, swiftly moving her to the opposite end.  She did a quick turn against the wall, and headed back to the deep end.  Before long she had completed twenty laps.  Her arms and legs were trembling as she climbed out and collapsed on the closest chaise lounge.  She closed her eyes for a moment before changing to go over to Scott’s house.
    Fro m next door she was jarred awake by the sound of Scott’s voice, “Mom . . . I’ve got plans.  Can’t someone else watch Lilly?”
    “Scott, the