Read Outside for Free Online Page B

running around looking like Laura Ingalls. Everyone will think you’re crazy.” She takes a sharp left into the driveway of a large tan house that is easily twice the size of Beth and Holly’s.
    “Who is Laura Ingalls?” I ask, unbuckling my seatbelt.
    Holly ignores me and gets out of the car. I hurry to catch up.
    The idea behind newspaper delivery is simple enough. But actually doing it is much harder. The bag is heavy and by the sixth house I understand why Holly was concerned about my clothing. I am pouring sweat.
    Holly walks ahead of me, flinging a paper over someone’s fence. It hits the front door with a thud before landing neatly on their porch. I suppose that’s the way to do it. And here I’ve been walking up to each house and placing each paper gently on the stoop.
    The door to the house swings open and a woman sticks her head out, looking around. She spots us.
    “Y’all banging on my door?” She scowls.
    Holly shakes her head. “No ma’am. Just delivering papers.”
    The woman glances down at the paper at her feet before shooting us one more dirty look and closing the door. I notice that she leaves the paper on the porch.
    Maybe throwing papers isn’t the best method.
    Holly pulls her keys out of her back pocket. “I’m going back. It’s hot as hell and this is your job, not mine.” She turns on her heel and starts up the street toward Jacki’s house.
    I sigh and watch her go.
    Walking up to the next house alone, I take a moment to admire the perfection. It's huge and white with a navy blue front door. The windows have navy shutters with red, decorative stars on them. Silver urns on either side of the front steps hold bushes that have been trimmed into spheres. A three car garage boasts the letter “G” monogrammed on each door in navy blue paint.
    If everything here requires money, I wonder what kind of job a person has to do in order to afford a house like this.
    The front door rattles before opening wide and I'm face-to-face with a boy who appears close to my age. I suck in a breath, suddenly dizzy. He’s tall with dark hair and the most pretty blue eyes; a combination I’ve never seen. There’s a silver ring through the left side of his lower lip. For a moment, all I can do is stare. Even with the strange ring in his lip, I’ve never seen someone so attractive.
    “Can I help you?” His shirt is similar to Holly’s; sleeveless and fitted to his body in a way that makes my mouth dry. He crosses his bare arms over his chest and my eyes fall on intricate images embedded in the skin on his shoulders.
    Tattoos! Marks on the body that are forbidden by the Lord! I’ve only ever seen photos of tattooed people when we studied the book of Leviticus in school.
    “Hello?” He stares down at me, waiting for a response and I realize I’m still just standing there, staring at the filigree pattern on his left shoulder.
    “I’m sorry,” I mutter, averting my eyes, holding out the newspaper.
    “Where’s Devon?” He takes the paper from me.
    With my eyes still on the ground, I say, “I don’t know who that is.”
    “The kid who usually delivers the papers.”
    I peek up at him. Devon must be Jacki’s younger brother. “He’s away for the summer.”
    He nods as his eyes rake me. “Nice skirt. What is that? Wool?” His mocking tone isn’t lost on me.
    Bristling, I straighten. “Deuteronomy states that a woman of the Lord shall not wear the clothing of men. My skirt ensures that I remain desirable to a man of the Lord.”
    Smirking, he leans forward. “What if that skirt isn’t what he desires?”
    Boldly, I lean forward too. My heart pounds, either from righteous indignation, or something else entirely. “Then he isn’t a man of the Lord.”
    “So does that mean you think I’m going to hell?” His tongue glides over his lip ring.
    Taking a step back, I scowl. “Well, no. I…” What? I what? I shouldn’t be speaking to him! That’s what!
    He laughs. “Later, Papergirl.”