Shadows 02 Girl in the Shadows by V. C. Andrews Read Free Book Online Page B

my options. How long could I last out there on my own? What would I do to earn money? Would I go back to live with Brenda?
"What's going on in here?" I heard, and turned to the doorway to see Mrs. Westington standing there. "I called for you to come down."
"Oh. I'm sour, I didn't hear you."
Echo quickly took the photo from me and buried it again in her dresser drawer. I could see from the look in her eyes that she didn't want her grandmother to know she had that picture.
"What are you two doing?"
"Oh, nothing much," I said, standing. "She was showing me her room and I was practicing signing with her." I held up the ASL book.
Nevertheless, she looked suspicious, probably because Echo looked so frightened. Why wouldn't Mrs. Westington permit her to have pictures of her own mother? That was silly. I thought, but also thought I should keep my opinion to myself when it came to Rhona.
"Yes, well, she's been in all day. That's why I was calling for you. You should get her to go out and get some air. I always worry that the child doesn't get enough sunshine."
"Okay. Wait, let me tell her," I said, and looked into the book.
I grasped my downward opened right hand and drew it up and out of my left hand's grasp. As I did so. I brought the right fingers together and then made the 0 sign with my left facing the right.
She smiled and nodded.
"Very good," Mrs. Westington said.
I reached for Echo's hand and we started out of the room.
"There's a little lake in back," Mrs. Westington called to me as we continued. "She likes looking at the frogs and such. A fresh stream feeds it and sometimes there are trout. It's rare. but Trevor's pulled out a few and cooked 'em. She'll show you. There's a rowboat, too, if you want to go for a ride. She can swim, so don't worry about that. Trevor taught her. Wouldn't take her in the boat until she learned. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take a letter."
I nodded and we went downstairs and out. Echo had been very eager to get away. Now that we were outside. I thought about the fact that she couldn't hear any birds. It came to mind because a large crow was cawing loudly off to the right while it perched on the branch of an old oak tree. To my surprise. however. Echo pulled an my arm and pointed to the crow while she imitated its cry. It made me laugh.
"How did you know the sound?" I asked. She just stared at me.
I started to thumb through the book. Now I truly felt like some visitor to a foreign country, hurrying to find the right words. I put together a how and know and she nodded, understanding,
"Ty," she said, then put her right hand softly to her throat and repeated the crow's call.
"So, you've gone for walks with Ty and he's taught you about nature, too? That's nice," I said. She didn't read my lips and I didn't sign anything. I was really speaking my thoughts. "He's making you aware of much more than just math, science, social studies. and English. No wonder you have a crush on him. I wonder if he's aware of it. To me, he looks like he'd be oblivious to that sort of thing."
Beside a deaf person. I could safely voice my thoughts. I could talk to myself aloud, rattle on and on, and not worry that she would tell him anything I had said.
She wasn't quiet. however. As we walked, she tugged on my hand frequently and pointed out things. One was the inside of a dead tree where bees had created a hive. I never would have seen it if she hadn't shown it to me. She was like a tour guide, anxious that I not miss a thing, whether it be birds, squirrels, rabbits, or the frame of an old hammock on the rear patio. Everything excited her in her small world. Her hands went everywhere, her fingers moving quickly.
I have to learn this signing thoroughly and quickly. I thought. The faster I did so, the less lonely she would be, and in fact, the less I would be as well. More important perhaps. Tyler Monahan wouldn't have as firm control over both of us.
We paused at the lake, where there was a small dock and a