Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif Read Free Book Online Page A

silence.
    “ Nothing, Mrs. Higginson,” I said with a sniffle. “I’m fine.”
    I quickly gathered the pieces of my hair, hoping that she wouldn’t see what I was doing. I hid my hands behind my back, walked over to the garbage can and deposited the hair. Then I grabbed my backpack and hurried out of the school.
    “ What took you so long?” Goldie asked when I caught up to her at the bus stop.
    “ Mrs. Higginson wanted to talk to me,” I lied.
    I didn’t mention the haircutting episode with Annie because I wasn’t sure if they were friends or not.
    On the bus, I was quiet.
    “ What’s wrong?” Goldie asked me.
    “ I’m just tired.”
    When the bus reached my house, I hurried down the steps, waved goodbye and rushed inside my house. I hung my jacket in the closet and called out for my mother.
    “I’m upstairs!” she yelled back. “I’m almost done painting for today. Be down in a bit, okay?”
    Minutes later, she trotted downstairs and joined me on the deck where I was drinking chocolate milk.
    “ How was school?” she asked.
    “ It was…okay,” I said hesitantly. “Can you cut my hair?”
    Her face registered her shock. “Why on earth would you want to cut your hair? It’s beautiful the way it is. And you know your father likes it long.”
    “I know,” I mumbled. “I just want…a change. Can you cut it to the top of my shoulders?”
    After supper―much to my father’s dismay―my mother dug out her scissors and comb. When she found the section that Annie had already attacked, she paused and I held my breath.
    “ What happened here, Sarah?”
    “ I, uh, tried to cut it myself,” I said quickly.
    She resumed cutting. “Well next time just ask me. Don’t try to do it yourself. You made a mess back here.”
    Yeah, I made a mess of something.
    I thought about Annie. Obviously I had said or done something to offend her. But I couldn’t think of what that was. I had barely spoken two words to her.
    “ There,” my mother said, brushing my hair. “All done.”
    I ran upstairs to my room and looked in the dresser mirror. I swung my head from side-to-side, admiring myself, pleased to discover that my new hairstyle actually suited me. My brown hair was streaked with copper by the summer sun and a natural wave had bounced back because of all the layering my mother had done.
    I smiled. “Not bad.”
    I had no idea the attention I’d receive the next day, but I did know one thing. Annie had done me a favor.
     
    The next morning, I plodded up the steps of the bus and made my way to the seat beside Goldie. When she caught sight of my new hairstyle, she gasped.
    Then she grinned. “It looks good. But why’d you cut it?”
    I shrugged. “Annie Pierce gave me the idea.”
    She frowned. “What do you mean?”
    When I told her what Annie had done, Goldie’s eyes grew dark and stormy. Part of me was nervous about what she might do, but the other part was thrilled at having such a loyal friend.
    As we stepped off the bus, I noticed that Annie―with her short uncombed hair and mean eyes―was huddled in one corner with a small group of friends. I drew in an uneasy breath, but was surprised when she paid no attention to me at all.
    I don’t think she recognized me at first.
    But once she did, her dark eyes flared with surprise. Then they narrowed in anger. She didn’t say a word to me when Goldie and I walked by. My friend’s furious expression, I think, told her enough.
    I entered the classroom and Mrs. Higginson complimented me on my new style. I didn’t know until much later that she had discovered the pieces of my hair in the garbage can. Or that she had found Annie’s scissors.
    When the day was over and the last bell rang, I grabbed my books and followed Goldie to the door.
    “ Sarah and Annie,” Mrs. Higginson called. “Stay behind please.”
    I exchanged a worried look with Goldie who glared at Annie before disappearing into the hall. Reluctantly, I trudged toward Mrs. Higginson’s