Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis Read Free Book Online Page B

satisfaction.
    Slowly she ground out the cigarette with her boot, then looked up. “I have to go now.” Her voice sounded flat, not even angry anymore, almost like she wasn’t even talking to me. And then she had her bag and her fake 7Up and she was weaving farther down the path, away from school. Into the woods. Typical. She would probably cut the rest of the day. She’d miss her calc test, Mom wouldget another call from Mr. Rich…
    I leaned against the cold boulder and sighed. I’d done it. I’d finally stood up to my sister. I felt different: grown up. Strong. I also felt alone. But maybe that was part of being grown up and strong. I watched her black-and-purple shape shrinking as the eucalyptus trees around her grew taller. When she was the size of an ant, she seemed to stand still for a second, and my heart thumped. Was she marching back here to fight with me some more? Then I Heard her, as clearly as if we’d been side by side watching Cartoon Network together on the old beanbag chair: I wish, I wish, I wish I could go back in time. A moment later, she disappeared behind a tree.

5
    Ten years, one month, and three days ago, my first day of kindergarten never really happened.
    Instead, Jessica’s cool small hand on my back woke me in the darkness. I wish you’d get up now, Joy.
    “Already?” I rolled my head to one side. Two stars twinkled outside my window. “Is this a dream?” I said hopefully.
    “Nope,” Jess said, whispering out loud this time. “It’s time for me to walk you to the school bus. Now hurry.” She tossed me the hot pink overalls and short-sleeved white T-shirt Mom had gently laid over my desk chair the night before.
    I must have dozed off again, because next thing I knewJess was shoving one of my arms through an armhole of the T-shirt, then the other. The shirt had a ribbon at the neckline. Even my sneakers, socks, and underwear were all brand-new and had lain in tissue paper for weeks, sacred, waiting for The Day.
    I frowned as she snapped on my overalls. “Mom’s s’posed to walk me.”
    “She was going to,” Jess agreed, “but then she found out today’s a special early day for kindergarteners and third graders, so she asked me to do it.”
    I took this in. Mom hadn’t mentioned a special early day, but Jess was eight. She knew everything. “What about breakfast?”
    “I’m bringing it with us,” Jess said in my ear. “We have to be really quiet till we get to the bus stop, okay? Let’s go.” I wanted to ask why we had to be quiet, and what about brushing my teeth, but she didn’t give me time, she just pushed me out the door. I had to keep moving forward or I’d stumble.
    In the kitchen, Jess swooped down and grabbed the pink tote bag she had waiting behind the back door. As soon as the latch snapped shut behind us, she grabbed my hand and Whispered, I want you to run! and together we ran in the cherry-and-peach-colored dawn up the street, and down another one. When we were several blocks from home and my heart was racing, Jess breathed a huge sigh. “We made it!” She consulted her Hello Kitty digital watch. “Twelve seconds before the bus.”
    I felt a funny feeling in my stomach. “Jess? I thought the bus was yellow.”
    “Not the third-grade bus,” she said, and she was a third grader so she’d know.
    She took my hand, and as I followed her up the steep steps I Heard her frantically praying I wouldn’t say anything in front of the driver. I didn’t know why, but I stayed perfectly silent. She plunked down four whole dollars, and the driver, a lady, narrowed her eyes and asked, “Shouldn’t you kids be headed for school this morning?”
    “We’re homeschooled, ma’am,” Jess lied smoothly. “We’re going to Canon Beach to meet our aunt.” I tried not to show how startled I was. Why did Jess lie to the driver? I kept quiet while she led me to the back row. As soon as we sat down, Jess pulled away from me so we weren’t touching.
    “Why’d you