Red Sun by Raven St. Pierre Read Free Book Online

can in a bowl for him and the other half in a bowl for me.  This was not the meal I had in mind after the day I’d had.  I watched the microwave, waiting for my portion to finish and got frustrated.  I’d forgotten that Alicia was the only one in the house who had any sort of cooking ability which meant me and my dad were in for an interesting six months. 
                  I sat at the table and ate, pretending it was something better.  My dad, on the other hand, didn’t have any problem.  He wolfed it down like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.  In fact, he didn’t even speak again until he’d finished. 
                  “So, aside from your fall, how was your day?”
                  “Fine, I guess.”  An image of my Mohican flashed in my head again and I smiled a little. 
                  That made my dad suspicious.  “Just fine?”
                  I straightened my face.  “Yeah, fine.  What about you?  How was your first day?”
                  He got up to take his things to the sink.  “It was work I guess.  Johnson didn’t show up again, so I think I’m gonna have to let him go.  He does this at least once every couple weeks. You’d think he would’ve learned by now, so it doesn’t make sense to keep him around if I can’t rely on him.”
                  “That’s bold; I like him.”
                  My dad laughed.  “I like him too, but it takes more than that to keep your job.  For instance you have to show up.”
                  “I know.”
                  He rinsed his glass and sat it on the counter.  “Speaking of jobs,” he paused.  “I think I may have found you one.”
                  Me being here was not supposed to be about finding a job.  I know my face was looking crazy because I was shocked.  Shocked and appalled.  Only he could come way out here to Conway and scrounge up the only available job in the county.  “What?”  I asked, exasperated.
                  “I met a guy today; I think his name was Ted.  Anyway, we got to talking and I told him all about you and how you’d be stuck here with nothing to do.”  He smiled.  “Turns out his sister owns a flower shop on the Reservation and she’s been looking for help.”
                  “And there isn’t anybody else?  I mean, isn’t it against some sort of law for a non-Native American to work on a Reservation.”
                  He laughed.  “Solei, they can do whatever they want.  And fortunately for you, they want you to come help out.  In fact he called her while I was standing there with him and she wants you to start Wednesday morning.  So, tomorrow’s your last day to…..wrestle with the ground or whatever it is you did today,” he said, looking at my band-aids.  “She needs you there by eight.”
                  “Eight!?!  Who’s even up that early to buy flowers?  That’s ridiculous,” I protested.  I’d gotten up early for school the past 13 years including Kindergarten, and as far as I was concerned, graduating put an end to that. 
                  “Don’t start.  At least you’ll have some spending money in your pocket.”
                  “Yeah, and nowhere to spend it.  This place is a social graveyard; no malls, no movie theatres, I don’t know how they live!”
                  He rolled his eyes and turned his back on me.  “Ok, well, I suppose we’ll finish this conversation when you’ve finished with your diva routine.  But like it or not, you’re going.”  With that, he left the kitchen and disappeared in the bathroom.  I continued to sit at the table with my arms folded while I thought.  Why would he put me at a flower shop of all places?  He knows I hate anything having to do with plants and dirt or anything like that.  This