The Toll by Jeanette Lynn Read Free Book Online

a lady, you wouldn’t get so starved
and pack on so much stuffing,” she mumbled.
    My smile fell and I felt my needles
faltering.
    With a nod and a wave in my direction,
I got up to give Mamma my seat.
    “ Go do something useful,
child,” she instructed, “I can finish it from here.” And just like
that, I was effectively dismissed.
    Not bothering to look back, I went to
my room and sat on my bed, staring out my window.
    “ I hope you’re okay, Otvla.
I really do,” I whispered out loud, but nobody heard.
     
     
    Barterers And
Beggars

     
    Papa came home, had supper, then
immediately left.
    Mamma seemed hopeful with their new
plan, supposedly unbeknownst to me, but I could tell he’d, for some
reason or another, despite her femininity, informed
Mamma.
    She probably brow beat it
out of him, I thought to myself, then
immediately felt bad for entertaining such untoward thoughts. It
was kind of disrespectful, and I knew better. Even if they were more than likely
true. Glancing up, I snuck a surreptitious glance at Papa and
Mamma. Mmm. Most definitely true, but
that’s beside the point.
    And even though Papa assured Mamma he
thought it would all work out, using hushed tones, thinking I might
accidently overhear, I knew better.
    The last part confused me, though, as
I unashamedly listened in. I may have said I was respectful, I
didn’t say how far that line was drawn. This is about Otvla getting
released from the evil clutches of an ugly troll, so, I felt
justified as I pressed my ear closer to the entry way, catching on
to that last bit, but not understanding a word.
    “ And then, will you
consider it, then?” Mamma urged. “You have to choose, one way or
another, Nathem, and as I’ve said, I’ve already made
mine.”
    Papa sighed resignedly, and I could
make out him clearing his throat uncomfortably. “It won’t be as
easy as you’re thinking, heart. You can’t just hand ‘em over like
that and call it good.”
    “ Well,” she growled, “what,
then? Does it need our permission? If so, you will give
it!”
    “ No,” he whispered lower,
“it has to be…”
    The rest was cut off as someone banged
on the door, and then, as if they felt ignored, they banged loudly
a few more times, until I heard Papa open it and rush
out.
    Staying hidden, I hesitated
to join my mother as Papa left, still feeling the bite of her
words, the harsh sting. I flinched and
fidgeted self-consciously where I stood, just thinking about
it. It was a horrible thing to tell
someone, let alone your own child, but I still loved her, just the
same. She’s my mother. I’m supposed to
love her, right?
    Mamma sat down heavily at the kitchen
table, I saw as I poked my head around the corner. Throat catching,
I went to her as soon as I saw her shoulders silently shaking as
she cried.
    Grief stricken sobs tore from her
throat, and I rested my chin on top of her head, wrapping my arms
around her comfortingly.
    “ I love you, Mamma. Don’t
cry. It’ll be okay,” I whispered over and over, not surprised at
all when she didn’t respond in kind. Heart breaking, I felt my own
sob well up in my throat, but I held it back. There would be time
for me to do that later, much later, when I’m all alone in my
room.
    I didn’t stay up this time to wait for
Papa, exhausted from keeping after Mamma, ultimately fearing the
outcome of Papa’s quest, and too chicken to face it.
     
     
    A Price To Pay
     
     
    I must have overslept, waking up to
Mamma shaking me viciously.
    “ Daphedaenya! Daphedaenya,
wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!”
    “ Huh?” I mumbled, rolling
over and wiping at my eyes as I squinted into the light coming from
the lantern mother had lit, waving it around madly over my
head.
    “ Wake up!” she hissed, and
I felt something soft and billowing hit me square in the
face.
    Groggily, I sat up, pulling the
offending material, whatever it was, away from my person. It was my
warm dress, I realized, grunting when my stockings,