Skinny Dipping Season by Cynthia Tennent Read Free Book Online Page A

by my rescue.
    â€œDo you have a Family Fare super-shopper card?” asked the young checkout girl as she scanned the magazines Cherry had tried to pilfer. Looking down, I realized that although two of the magazines were teen-gossip rags, one was a craft magazine.
    â€œNo, I’m new here,” I said, puzzling over the craft magazine.
    My words got the cashier’s attention. Her head came up and her eyes widened. “You mean you’re new—as in you are going to live here?”
    I nodded.
    â€œYou mean you’re not passing through, you actually live here?”
    â€œWell, yes. I just moved into my grandmother’s old house on Crooked Road. I plan on staying a while.”
    â€œReally?” Yelling across two vacant checkout lines, she said, “Hey, Marva, we’ve got a new lady moving into town who needs a super-shopper card.”
    Now everyone in line gathered around. The large woman at the front desk stood up. She seemed to be in charge. Her teased brown hair surrounded her head like a halo and her pink rimmed glasses perched on the end of her nose. I couldn’t help thinking that she looked like John Travolta in drag.
    She picked up her clipboard and walked over. “New to town?”
    â€œI hate to hold up the line. Do you want me to fill it out later?” I asked, handing the magazines to Cherry, whose head hung so low her hair covered her face. It would be nice to chat with the women, but maybe I could come back later. My young accomplice and I needed to have a little talk.
    â€œOh no, don’t worry about holding us up. Nobody minds waiting. Do you?” The lady smiled excitedly as she peered around and nodded at the people behind me. A young mother, pushing a plastic race-car shopping cart with a redheaded little boy in the driver’s seat, waved. And another middle-aged lady, wearing an oversized man’s hunting jacket, shook her head.
    Taking a wad of brochures from the bottom of her clipboard, the manager continued: “My name is Marva O’Shea. I am the manager and these are for you. You should know there are some really special deals that will help you meet the ladies in town. It’s hard being new. And this summer, the usual town gatherings leave a lot to be desired.” She leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “The sheriff and his wife are out of town, and the mayor’s wife is trying to take over. The priest has retired and the young one in Vernon only comes every other week. Things are just a little off, if you know what I mean. So I’m keeping things together all on my own. These little home-selling parties are a great way to get to know people around town. It would be perfect for a newcomer like you.”
    The lady in the oversized coat leaned in and said, “Marva is kind of the unofficial CEO of home-based businesses in Truhart.”
    â€œMore like the pimp,” the cashier mumbled. Someone in the other aisle laughed, and Marva sent them a withering look.
    Pointing to the first piece of paper, Marva pushed her glasses farther up her nose and continued. “This here is for Cozy Candles. I am a Cozy Candle representative and if you host a party I can sell you anything you want at a ten-percent discount. If I sell up to a hundred dollars’ worth of merchandise you get a free candle. And believe me, these are the best things you could ever want. They make your house smell wonderful and give such a beautiful glow on a cold winter night. Don’t they, girls?” The ladies standing behind me in line were all nodding their heads.
    â€œDon’t forget to tell her about Bountiful Beauty Makeup. Carla’s got a free introductory offer for anyone who lets her give a full makeover,” shouted the lady two carts back in line. “She has some colors that would really bring out your lips.” Cherry suddenly stiffened and covered her eyes, then she moved around me to stand at the end of the