Vision of Shadows by Vincent Morrone Read Free Book Online Page B

brand new bone. I could almost hear her tail thumping on the ground.
    So, to take stock of my first day of school so far, I ha d made my first friend in Maggie, my first enemy in Pricilla, and met my first ghost of the school in Jake. It’s good to work fast.
    Later, when lunch came, I finally fel t free to ask Maggie questions. She would most likely be thrilled to answer them.
    Upon arriving at the cafeteria, I learned Maggie hadn’t lost any of her enthusiasm for our newfound friendship. In fact, the small separation seemed to have made her gusto grow. I found her holding a lunch tray, standing in the middle of the room , trying to find someplace to sit. There were plenty of empty spaces, but every time she approached a vacant seat, whoever was already sitting at the table would look up, causing her to shrink away.
    I went up to her and indicated a table where there was room before proceeding to walk over and park my derrière. Maggie followed and sat opposite me. 
    “So, how has your first day been?” she asked. 
    I shrugged as I struggled to open my milk. “Fine, I guess. You’ve been there for most of it. Except math.”
    “Yeah, I’m in Connoly’s class,” she said, looking down at her hands. “Stupid, really. Don’t see why.”
    “What’s wrong with Connoly?”
    Maggie shrugged. “Nothing.”
    I wondered if it was a remedial math class and decided to change the subject to not embarrass Maggie. “So tell me something,” I said as casually as I could. “What was Pricilla saying about preferring the McKnights? Who are they?”
    “Another family here in town,” Maggie explained. “Like your family, in a way. Seems to be dozens of them around. This town was built by Blackburns and McKnights.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah .” Maggie leaned in like she was going to whisper a deep, dark secret. “From what I hear, Blackburns hate the McKnights and vice versa. There’s some feud between the families that goes back years.”
    I bit into my apple. “Any idea what the feud is about?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
    Maggie shook her head. “Nope, but whenever something bad happens to someone in one family, they always blame the other family, no matter what it is. If a McKnight gets in a car accident, it’s somehow the fault of a Blackburn. If a Blackburn slips and falls in the tub and kills themselves, it’s the fault of a McKnight.”
    “That makes no sense,” I said. 
    “I know,” Maggie agreed . “But shouldn’t you know more than me?”
    “Probably,” I admitted . “But my parents never talked about Spirit.”
    “Wonder why ,” Maggie said. “Well, I’m not close with any Blackburns or McKnights, but I’ve never had a problem with a Blackburn. Can’t say the same for the McKnights. Most of them seem like jerks.”
    “Are there any around here?”
    Maggie peered around the cafeteria. “Yeah, over there. Archer and Blasé McKnight.”
    “Archer and Blasé?” I repeated as I scoped out the pair she was indicating on the far side of the lunchroom. “You’re kidding. What kind of names are those ?”
    “All the McKnights have weird names,” Maggie explained. “They’re also, well…kinda hot, if you know what I mean.”
    Looking at the pair, I was forced to agree. They looked like teenage models you’d see in an Abercrombie and Fitch catalog. One had dark brown hair, neatly trimmed, a square jaw and bright green eyes. He was wearing a T-shirt he magnificently filled out and blue jeans. His companion had blond hair that fell to his shoulders and blue eyes. He was taller and lankier, but still very easy on the eyes.
    “I can see what you’re talking about . But you said they’re jerks?”
    “Oh yeah,” Maggie said. “If you’re a freshman, one of those two will be the one to shove your head in a toilet or force you into a locker. They can’t seem to help it. Their grandfather’s really rich, so no matter what kind of trouble they get in , they always get away with