The Perfect Place by Teresa E. Harris Read Free Book Online Page A

stuff like Mommy said?”
    â€œNot even. Now, go upstairs and do like I told you.”
    Tiffany hurries past me and out of the kitchen.
    We take our time, neither of us in a rush to find out what Great-Aunt Grace has planned for us. I find our toothbrushes in one of the suitcases and head down the hall to the bathroom, Tiffany trailing behind me. The upstairs bathroom is small and tiled in the same dull shade of blue as the carpeting. Must be Great-Aunt Grace’s favorite color. There’s a small window in here, overlooking her backyard.
    â€œMommy said Great-Aunt Grace might take us on adventures,” Tiffany says, Crest foaming up at the corners of her mouth.
    I spit a wad of toothpaste in the sink. “Does Gag seem like the type of person to go on adventures? She’s three hundred years old.”
    â€œMr. Putter is old, but he does fun stuff with his cat, Tabby, all the time,” Tiffany replies. “Great-Aunt Grace has a cat, and Mommy told you not to call her Gag, Treasure.”
    â€œMy name is Jeanie and I’ll call
Gag
whatever I want.”
    â€œYou’re gonna be in big trouble if she hears you.”
    We hear Great-Aunt Grace’s feet on the stairs. Tiffany and I go tearing out of the bathroom, down the hallway, and back to our room. We pull clothes from our suitcases, like we were up here getting dressed all along and not lollygagging in the bathroom.
    Great-Aunt Grace appears in the doorway. “Movin’ like molasses, I see. Well, that ain’t gonna get you out of workin’, so you best come on.”
    â€œ
Working?
Where?” Tiffany asks.
    â€œIn my store, girl.”
    Suddenly I remember Mom saying that Great-Aunt Grace owns her own store. What does she sell? Cigarettes and burnt-up bacon?
    â€œI’ll tell y’all like I told your mama,” Great-Aunt Grace goes on. “You two ain’t gonna lay around doin’ nothin’ for the next two weeks after I done paid back rent and gave your mama money to chase behind your fool daddy. No, ma’am. Not on my watch.”
    â€œBut we’re already going to be doing chores,” I say. Great-Aunt Grace is unmoved. “We’re underage, you know. You could be violating child labor laws.”
    â€œAnd you’re violatin’ Rule Number Five: Tuck in your lips and do what I say.”
    Great-Aunt Grace fixes me with her death stare and goes to stand over Tiffany, who starts moving in fast-forward. She’s dressed in no time. I hurry up and finish too. I don’t want Great-Aunt Grace hovering over me like some geriatric vulture. Tiffany grabs Mr. Teddy Daniels; I grab my inhaler and some of the emergency money Mom gave me and shove them in the pockets of my shorts.
    As she turns to leave the room, Great-Aunt Grace stumbles over Tiffany’s three-gallon water bottle of change. She doesn’t fall, but a small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth just the same.
    â€œWhat’s this?”
    Tiffany answers in a small voice. “My Disney Fund. I’m going to Disney World one day.”
    â€œWith nickels and dimes, girl?”
    â€œThere’re eight dollar bills in there too!”
    Great-Aunt Grace rolls her eyes and starts down the hallway. We follow her downstairs, where she stops in the kitchen to grab her things. Great-Aunt Grace doesn’t carry a purse. She puts her keys and wallet in her pants pockets, picks up a small red cooler from the kitchen counter, and ushers us out the door in front of her.
    It’s even hotter now than it was before. Great-Aunt Grace starts up the walkway. I don’t move. I look over at the patch of grass where the driveway should be. Empty save for a big bald space in the middle.
    â€œDon’t you have a car? Aren’t you going to drive us?”
    She looks at me like I’ve asked her if she wants to bend over and let Tiffany and me climb on her back.
    â€œI don’t drive. Besides, that won’t