The Earth Painter by Melissa Turner Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

idea.”
    “Poor Maggie,” Mom shook her head.
    Then mom turned her attention to me. “Just try not to look down on Shelby for all of that. It’s not her fault.” She said the words, but her tone made it clear she looked down on them.
    I put down my coffee mid-sip. “Why would I look down on her? She’s not her dad.” A horn honked outside. I jumped up from the table and grabbed my book bag.
    “Shelby’s here. I gotta run.”
    I ran down the back steps and out onto the gravel, hearing it crunch as my feet made indentions in the driveway. I pulled open the door to Shelby’s car and sat down letting out a loud sigh.
    Shelby’s eyebrows creased. “You didn’t have to run. We’re not late.”
    “My mom…she…” I didn’t want to get into it. “She was getting on my nerves.”
    “Oh, I can totally relate,” she said rolling her eyes then looking back at the road. “If my mom does something, I want to do the opposite. I plan to do everything in my power to make sure I don’t end up like her.” Shelby glanced at me, “You know?”
    “I feel the same way.”
    Shelby looked in the rearview mirror and pushed her multi- colored blonde hair behind her ear. “I get along great with my dad. I miss him.”
    I was surprised to hear that. “Do you get to see him often?” I didn’t want to let on that I knew where he was.
    “Once in a while. Not often enough. It’s a long story. If Mom hadn’t made him so mad…I don’t want to think about it right now. Can we drop it?”
    “Sure. Thanks for the ride.”
    “No problem.” We were at school and parked pretty quickly. Shelby got out and headed for the bus for the vocational campus while I walked to homeroom.
    ***
    I pulled out my monologue as I walked out of third-period for one last look before drama. I was so nervous that my hands shook. My throat felt dry too. I reached for my water bottle only to realize I hadn’t packed one. I hated to use water fountains. I couldn’t help but think of the germs left behind, but the dry sandpaper feel of my tongue didn’t leave me with much choice.
    I walked over to the fountain just outside the auditorium, held my hair in my hand and took a drink. The water was sweet, almost like candy. I’d never tasted water like it. I drank and drank until I was satisfied. I stood back up, and my eyes fell on the auditorium doors. Suddenly my fear was gone. I could do this. It felt like I had been made for this. I wanted to go in. I wanted to be on stage. No, it was more like a need than a want, and it was exhilarating. I shoved my script in my backpack before I opened the door to the auditorium.
    I didn’t even pull out a book to read. I wanted to be present, not off someplace else via my kindle. Anthony met me at the door before I could make it to my seat.
    “Listen, I have to warn you before lunch.” Anthony shook his head and looked down at his feet before he looked at me to speak. “Wayne is getting on my nerves today. He got the results back from Clemson University about the water, and there was something unusual about it. Now, I don’t know what he’s talking about half the time, but I’m used to him. I just wanted to give you the heads up.”
    My brows furrowed. “Thanks for the warning, but what’s that got to do with me?”
    “At lunch, he’s going to want to tell you all about it since you brought up the whole water thing. He even mentioned asking you to help him collect the next sample.”
    “Help him get a water sample? What, like turn on the faucet?”
    “No.” Anthony shook his head. His eyes doubled in size. “He and Mr. Winters are going down to the basement where the well is. Clemson wants a sample that’s not been through the pipes yet. Wayne’s going down into the well.”
    “Oh my goodness.” My mouth hung open at the thought. I turned and continued down the aisle to the stage. Anthony followed. “But why does he want me there?”
    “He likes you. He has a thing for redheads, says