Vulnerable by Elise Pehrson Read Free Book Online Page B

up.”
                “What’s the first event for this evening when we get to the grounds?” Michael asked quickly, as though waiting would have permitted her from answering.
                This time her face was more relaxed and her voice sounded much more animated, “We’re going to make crafts with the kids and tell stories.” Her smile widened and her eyes softened, “It’s not that big of an event for today, but that’s because our main event will be the hike since we won’t have much time once we get there.”
                “How long will it take to get there?”
                “About four hours, give or take.”
                “Hm,” was all Michael could think to say this time. Nevertheless, he was quite thrilled with the accomplishment of getting her to speak so much and actually getting her to smile for the first time he’d seen that day. He loved her smile…
                They finally arrived at the church, as other cars pulled in as well. There were about fifteen kids in the parking lot; they were ranging between twelve and eighteen years of age—most of them were boys it seemed.
                “Sister Millie, Sister Millie!” two young girls bellowed out as Millie got out of the car. Both of them had two long braids stretched tightly around their heads like a swim cap with dreads; they looked pretty similar: both with auburn hair and almond-shaped hazel eyes. The only distinguishable difference between the two adolescent young women was that one of them had pouty lips and a hooked nose while the other had a tipped-up nose and thin lips.
                “Tisa, Liz,” Millie smiled at the girls, “How are my favorite twins doing?” She put one arm around each girl. They looked about the same size as Millie. All three of them had the same physique of about five foot three inches and a flat, slender build. Actually, now that Michael thought about it, he hardly ever saw Millie eat anything, and when she did eat, it wasn't very much at all.
                “Great!” The two girls said together just before giggling in unison. They all began talking at once, overlapping one another in conversation, yet, still comprehending what the others were saying. It was an amazing thing, Michael thought, women were so talented in talking.
                “Well, when is this party going to get started?” Michael asked. His voice was fluctuating weirdly and by the look on everyone else’s faces he figured he was trying too hard. His mouth closed in embarrassment, and felt them nearly retract inside of his mouth to spare the discomfort.
                Millie detected his uneasiness and tried to help him out by replying coolly, “As soon as Brother Raymond gets—ah, here he is! Speak of the—,” but she stopped herself just before saying “devil” as though it would place some sort of ancient evil curse upon Brother Raymond.
                Michael turned to see Brother Raymond himself. He almost laughed at the gawkiness emanating from his olive-shaped eyes that were magnified behind his rectangular spectacles, but composed himself and tried to just examine his other features to distract himself from laughing.
                Brother Raymond was a middle-aged man whose graying brown hair was slightly thicker on the sides and almost translucent on the top; his legs were knobby and thin, which looked even clumsier beneath his large round belly.
    “Pleasure to meet y’all!” he piped in with the thickest Southern accent in the world while entering the circle of people. Michael had to close his eyes in order to compose himself. Really , he thought, why must he have a Southern accent too?
    “Now, I don’t believe we’ve met. The name’s Raymond Allen, but you can call me Brother Raymond. It’s a pleasure to meetcha! And what do you call yerself?” He was violently shaking