Seaglass Summer by Anjali Banerjee Read Free Book Online Page A

clasped in my lap. “Are you psychic?”
    “I rescue animals. I can tell when they’re disturbed. Same goes for people. I’m a nurse up at Nisqually Island Retirement Center. I know when the residents are in distress, and I see that you’re in distress, too.”
    “I’ve always wanted to be a vet like my uncle, but things aren’t going too well.”
    She leans in toward me and lowers her voice. “Doc and I, we’re friends. You know what he told me? Things didn’t go so well for him at first, either. He’s such a caring man. Too bad his father never understood….”
    “What do you mean?”
    “His dad wanted him to be a surgeon, or an engineer. Veterinarians are not well respected in India. Your uncletold me so. That’s partly why he came here. His father wouldn’t talk to him for a while after he started veterinary school—”
    “But Uncle Sanjay didn’t tell me all this.”
    “He doesn’t want to tarnish your dream. He had many bumps in the road to becoming an animal doctor.”
    I want to hug Uncle Sanjay. I’m glad he didn’t listen to his father. Now I understand what Dadu meant when he said,
If that Sanjay had become a surgeon, he could’ve taken care of my heart
. “My parents say I can be anything I want.”
    “Good thing, but even here, doctors like your uncle don’t always get the respect they deserve. Your uncle is a very determined man. He forges ahead because he loves what he does. He had to learn about many species in school, not just one. Dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs—”
    “I want to learn about all those species, too.”
    “Maybe you will, honey. The universe has a plan for you.”
    “A plan? Like what?”
    “I won’t know unless I read your soul. I dabble in the spiritual arts. I could do a reading for you tonight, around seven?”
    I nod, my heart beating faster. “How do you do a reading?”
    She laughs. “First, I meditate and communicate withthe spirits. I receive information clairvoyantly, in the form of visions. Clairsentiently, through feelings, and clairaudiently, through sounds. Clairolfactorily, through smells.”
    “How did you learn all that?”
    “I started when I was twelve, after I shoplifted a pack of tarot cards.”
    “You stole?” My mouth drops open.
    Francine snorts, and Toni nervously brushes the dog hairs off her dress. “Not my proudest moment, but I wasn’t allowed to have those cards. My parents thought I was possessed by the devil. I was actually channeling spirits of long-dead loved ones and transcendent beings.”
    Uncle Sanjay comes in. “Sorry for the delay.” He flips through Francine’s chart. “How’s my favorite bulldog today?”
    Even though my uncle looks like he just walked past a fan, even though his hair sticks out wildly and he needs to clean his glasses, he looks strong and wise. He didn’t give up, no matter what anyone said. He traveled halfway across the world to follow his dream.

Chapter Twelve
THE READING
    “Y ou’re going where?” Dad says on the phone. The line is full of static.
    “To see a psychic!” I shout with my mouth full. We’re in the middle of supper. I’m scarfing down my curried tofu. It’s nearly six-thirty.
    “What’s that uncle of yours up to?” Dad sounds worried.
    “Nothing. I’m just getting a reading.”
    Mom comes on the phone. “We saw some cousinsyesterday. Your auntie makes the best
mishti doi
. Such smooth, sweet yogurt. Delicious. Dad couldn’t stop eating. I’ll try to make some when we get home. Are you all right?”
    My mouth waters for
mishti doi
. “Everything’s great. I’m going to see a psychic who hears the universe clairaudiently.”
    “Clair-what? Poppy, what’s going on there?”
    “Don’t worry about me. I’m about to discover my inner self.”
    “Your what?”
    “Stu! No!” Stu is trying to steal tofu off my plate. “The universe has a plan for me.”
    Mom sighs. “Put Uncle Sanjay on, will you?”
    I hand him the phone. He nods, listening, then