The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren by Wendy Toliver Read Free Book Online Page B

“Nope, I’m good. I’ll just wait here and get the check.”
    I hurry to the hall by the restrooms and plop down on a little bench. Framed black-and-whites of Hollywood movie stars cover the wall. A picture of Marilyn Monroe is right in front of me. She’s wearing a cute white bathing suit, looking over her shoulder coyly.
    I pull out my cell and dial Grandma’s number. “Hi, Roxy. How are you? It’s fun being beautiful, isn’t it?”
    Roxy Zimmerman, beautiful. Roxy Zimmerman, a hottie. A girl can totally get used to this. “Grandma … are you busy? Are you, like, on a date or something?”
    She laughs her lovely laugh. “Of courseI’m on a date, honey. You don’t expect me to pay for my
own
seafood dinner, now do you? I’m in a delightful five-star restaurant in Maine. I had a hankering for some lobster, you see, and it’s not like Colorado—”
    â€œMaine?” Just like that.
    â€œWas there something you needed to know? Something about your …
birthday present,
perhaps?” I can all but see her giving me a long-lashed wink over the phone.
    â€œNothing important. Just a little bummed about having to lie to my best friend, you know, to keep it all on the down-low. I feel like a lying scumbag.”
    â€œOf course you do. I had the same concerns when I was your age.” I hear a muffled, “James, my granddaughter is on the phone and I need a little privacy. Do you mind excusing yourself for a moment or two? Thank you.” Next, in a hushed tone, she says, “You see, lying is perfectly acceptable because this is a very special case. It’s a tip-top secret that cannot be leaked, no matter what the circumstances. If you blow your cover, you’ll blow the cover for all of us—today and forevermore. If you tell anyone our secret, you will lose your powers.” She continues in her regular voice, “That,my dear, is the sobering truth. So. Is there anything else I can help you with before the main course arrives?”
    â€œYeah, one quick question. How long do I need to play my flute for someone? You know, for it to work?”
    â€œThat depends, honey. I’d give it at least thirty seconds until you learn to recognize the signs that they’re under your power. Each man is different, but most will get a peaceful look in their eyes, as if they’re hypnotized. Men who are already under the spell of your beauty tend to be more susceptible and are quickly entranced, so they may only take twenty seconds or so. If you happen to use your Siren powers on the same man more than once, he’ll be under your spell almost immediately. Remember when I went to Europe with those Frenchmen last year? I had them under my spell in less than five seconds of singing.”
    â€œWow.”
    â€œExactly.”
    Out of the corner of my eye, I see Natalie approaching. I tell Grandma Perkins, “Oh, gotta go. Ciao!” and then hang up.
    â€œWho was that?” Natalie wants to know.

    â€œMy grandma.”
    She gives me a weird look. “I know she’s cool and everything, but what’s the deal? It’s like you two are best buddies all of a sudden.”
    â€œYeah, it’s pretty bizarre,” I agree, dropping my cell into my purse. “But I think she’s just lonely or something.”
    Natalie snorts. “Grandma Perkins,
lonely?
I don’t think so!”
    I just laugh, but I know what she’s getting at—and it bothers me. Of course, Natalie’s not the only one who thinks Grandma’s a bit of a slut. My parents do—not that they’ve ever said it outright, but I can just tell. And I used to think that too. But now, well, I’m thinking we might have it all wrong.
    I stand up and Natalie follows me into the bathroom. After I’ve done my thing and am washing my hands, Natalie says, “So, I handed the waiter my Visa, and he just shook his head and