Who Owns Kelly Paddik by Beth Goobie Read Free Book Online Page A

past. It would take no more than a second to climb, less than a second. My fingers grabbed for the fence, and I got one foot into the mesh, ready to swing myself up. But then a hand grabbed my arm, and Jim shoved me against the fence. I wanted to scream and push him off, but I stayed quiet. My whole body was like a hand, hanging onto that fence.
    â€œLet’s go back in, Kelly,” Jim said. “It’s time to go in.”
    â€œYeah, sure.” I didn’t look at him or Chris. “Anything you say. Anything at all.”

Chapter Nine
    I had to stay in my room all afternoon, and a staff checked me every ten minutes. I think I would have been put in the back room, but Pit Bull was already there. So I sat staring at the white bird on my poster and thinking my thoughts. At three o’clock, Fran came on shift. She didn’t say much, just looked in on me every ten minutes. The afternoon felt as heavy as the gray sky outside my window. Dead leaf after dead leaf blew past.
    I joined the group for supper, then was sent back to my room. I could hear the rest of the girls sitting down to watch a video. Then Fran knocked on my door.
    â€œChris and I are going downstairs to play pool,” she said. “Want to come?”
    Chris didn’t turn out to be the world’s best pool player. Sometimes she would cross her eyes, then take her shot. Fran seemed to be aiming at the ceiling or, better yet, the window. When I played pool, even with good friends, I played to win. But it was hard with Chris laughing and Fran whooping every time she shot a ball onto the floor. I rolled my eyes and went to get a ball that Fran had knocked behind the sofa.
    â€œSo, Chris, tomorrow’s the big day, eh?” Fran said.
    â€œWhat’s that?” I fished the pool ball out of some dust and stood up.
    â€œI get my outings,” Chris told me. “I get to go for a walk outside by myself — a whole twenty minutes without staff around to bug me.” Chris shot Fran a grin. “Jim said that if I handle these walks by myself, I’ll be able to move to a group home.”
    I listened for the lie in her voice, butChris didn’t sound as if she planned to run. “On top of all that, I’m quitting smoking,” she added grandly. “For the third time this month. Of course, I quit every time I finish a pack.” She sighed. “I want to save up and buy a horse.”
    â€œWhere are you going to keep it?” I asked. “Can’t keep a horse in a group home.”
    â€œI dunno,” Chris giggled. “I’ve always wanted to get a horse and call it Truck.”
    Fran chuckled. “Giddyap, Truck! Whoa, Truck!”
    I thought they were both very weird. I was trying to show Chris how to get her next shot right when the phone rang. Fran picked it up and listened. Right away she ditched her smile.
    â€œOkay. We’ll be right up.” She hung up the phone. “Sorry, ladies, but we have to head back upstairs. Maybe we can finish this heavy-duty game later, eh?”
    At the top of the stairs we saw another staff waiting for us. Next to her stood Pit Bull, one arm wrapped in a tea towel and pressed against her stomach. Blood had soaked through the towel onto her shirt. She stared at her feet and ignored us.
    â€œSee you later,” Fran said as we passed them.
    They must be going to the hospital
, I thought.
    When we got back to the unit, Chris and I went into my room. I flopped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling. Chris sat on the floor, her back against the wall. I couldn’t believe that Pit Bull had slashed her arm. Even if she’d surprised me by crying, I still couldn’t believe she would slash her arm. If there was anyone in this unit who had everything under control, it was Pit Bull. She controlled everything and everyone within breathing distance. But slashing meant you’d lost it — you were out of control. Believe me, I knew that.