The Obituary Society by Jessica L. Randall Read Free Book Online Page B

Betsy's car drive away, she slipped outside.
    Ada had an air of authority, and it was clear she wasn't accustomed to being challenged.  Lila didn't mean any disrespect, and certainly wouldn't dream of offending Ada.  But it was her property now, and she'd convinced herself she needed to be familiar with the whole of it.  Since she'd been too overwhelmed to step foot back in Isaac's house again yet, not even to clean, she considered this checking off her first item of business.
    That was what she told herself, but Ada's high pitched voice, her attempt and failure to sound casual about it, the look in her eye, made Lila determined to see the pond as soon as possible.  It couldn't be all that dangerous.  She knew Ada and her friends were so afraid of falling and breaking a hip like Cousin Alma that they tended to err on the safe side.  But why did Ada want to keep her away?
    Lila searched behind the old house for a path.  She was about to make her own way through when a bird flapped it's wings in the bushes nearby.  She turned her head toward the movement and noticed the shrubs parted slightly.  She pushed through to a neglected path.              
Apparently, Ada’s authority really was unquestioned.  Regardless of it being private property, and there were several threatening signs along the way stating as much, one would think there were kids nearby who would be tempted to search for a cool pond on a sweltering summer day.  It was obvious that no one had walked this path for some time, as the bushes grew so far into the path that Lila wished she had worn pants rather than a light dress.  Already there were scratches all along her bare arms and legs.  She gingerly touched a wound that ran up her calf.  Blood welled up along it.  She searched through the tall grasses until she found a large stick.  Waving it before her, she held back the branches blocking her way.
    The path began to thin, and she saw light glinting off water through the trees.  The sight of the pond surprised her.  Ada had told her it was dirty, and that would have explained why no one trespassed here.  True, it was no brilliant oasis, but water ran in and out, and overall it looked like a refreshing alternative to the heat. 
    Everything was in shade, except for the dappled light which broke through the leaves here and there.  The air still hung heavy and warm, but it was cooler in amongst the trees;  cool enough that she had to slap a few mosquitos that left stinging welts on her shoulder and arms. 
    The locusts were in full force.  The metallic, buzzing sound swelled and pulsed, like an alien army.  The maddening noise grew louder until it almost threatened sanity, then broke off suddenly.  It was eerily quiet.  She’d never heard anything like the strange insects before coming here, and she wondered if she’d ever get used to them.  She expected them to start their raucous chorus again any moment, but inexplicably, they remained silent.  
    Lila walked to the edge of the pond and stood teetering on one foot while she removed a flip flop.  Then she removed the other, holding them in one hand as she stuck a toe tentatively into the water.  It was cool but not frigid, just as she'd expected.  Lila bunched her skirt up in one hand and waded further in.
    Suddenly she froze and looked around her.  It was still perfectly quiet, but she felt as though someone was watching.  She tried to shake the feeling, telling herself that she was just spooked, and that the whiff of Old Spice cologne that floated across the water was only her imagination.  She didn’t know when she'd ever felt so isolated before.  Country living would definitely be an adjustment.
    She pulled a foot up, about to take another step, when something swooped down at her, wings flapping wildly in her face.  She shrieked in surprise, throwing her arms over her head, then laughed at herself when she realized it was only a bird;  a gigantic, creepy