Shadow Girl by Patricia Morrison Read Free Book Online Page A

concert – and relief turned to sadness.
    She left school without speaking to anyone and trudged through the snow in the direction of the plaza. It was getting harder to be there – to be anywhere without feeling like a lonely nothing, but she couldn’t go home.
    Oh, Dad. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I won’t ask for anything. I’ll leave you alone. Just come back. Please!
    She walked listlessly over to the Christmas trees in the plaza parking lot. Not many left. Christmas was only seven days away.
    In Zellers, Mrs. Adamson was busy with a customer, and Frances was buzzing back and forth from the storeroom. The next couple of days would be hectic.
    Why don’t I give my doll a name? That’d be a good idea, even if I don’t get her for Christmas. Let’s see. Teresa, Terry, Elizabeth, Lizzie, Margaret, Maggie. Perfect! I call thee Maggie. And so it shall be for all time!
    Jules smiled a real smile for the first time that day.
    She wandered over to where the doll clothes were on display and pretended she had lots of money and could spend all of it on a complete wardrobe for Maggie. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mrs. Adamson watching. She had that same look of concern on her face.
    Don’t you dare worry about me!
    Jules finished playing with the dolls and decided to finish the book she’d started yesterday. Just as the announcement came on to tell shoppers the store was closing, she left the store.
    It was hard to come back to herself, to look as if she were just another kid walking home to her family.
    Please be there, Dad. Please
.
    She glanced at the houses on either side of her place before looking at her own.
    No, no, no. Oh, Dad
.

    At eight o’clock, Jules went to her bedroom, set up the fort, and lay inside. Craziness crept inside with her. If she fell asleep feeling this way, she might have her awful nightmare again.
    She crawled out, sat down by the window, and pulled her knees up to her chin.
    The Christmas concert was late this year because the gymnasium had needed repairs. It was all decorated and magnificent now. Each class would come to the stage and perform, just like they’d practiced. Maybe her class was playing their recorders right at that moment. She imagined the joyful notes floating over the audience.
    When the concert’s over and the lights come on, I bet Mrs. Fournier won’t even care I’m missing. Just Patsy. And tomorrow, I’ll have to face the mean kids and their nosy questions
.
    She got a blanket and wrapped it around her body.
    Dreams in my head. That’s all I ever had
.

CHAPTER
11
    A nother sleepless night.
    I can’t go to school. If someone asks me why I wasn’t at the concert, I’m going to start crying. I’m just going to do what I want today
.
    She went downstairs, made some toast, and turned on the TV. “Captain Kangaroo” was on. She never got tired of watching that program. Captain Kangaroo looked like what an older father or nice grandfather might look like, might act like.
    I’m going to walk to Zellers and play with the toys all afternoon. That’s way more fun than being with any of the kids at school
.
    No, it isn’t. I’m going because Mrs. Adamson’s there
.
    It was windy but warmer than the last few days had been. She took her time walking to the plaza. Mrs. Adamson looked surprised to see her. But lotsof people were buying toys, and Jules was glad Mrs. Adamson was busy.
    Jules played with Maggie – with all the dolls – for a long, long time. By two-thirty, her empty stomach hurt. She went to the book display and picked up a Nancy Drew mystery.
    This’ll take my mind off food
.
    She buried herself in the book.
    “Hi, Jules.”
    Patsy’s voice
.
    Jules looked up to see Patsy standing in front of her. She glanced at the store clock.
    Four o’clock already!
    “You weren’t at the concert last night or at school today. How come?”
    “I was sick.”
    “So why’re you here?”
    “I’m feeling better.”
    “Oh.” Patsy looked at