Read Pompomberry House for Free Online Page B

haven’t seen the embarrassing compliments
she writes about me? Awkward !”
    “I really don’t ...”
    “She usually just comments on Rafe and Montgomery’s threads,”
explained Annabel. “Although, once she did say that she hadn’t been able to
look at her boss in the same way since reading Falling for Flatley . As if my book could have that much power over somebody! Honestly!” Her lips did
an involuntary march of glee but she managed to control them enough to continue
her speech. “Everything she says is over the top. Changing the way she looks at
her boss, indeed!” She managed to tilt her head down before the smile broke,
but I could just make out the corners of Annabel’s little, satisfied smirk. Feature
enhancing makeup and secret expressions don’t get along.
    “What I want to know,” began Dawn, “is how she finds the
time to read so many books. She read my whole trilogy in four days.
There are three of them!”
    “She once commented on my thread twenty times in the same
day,” replied Montgomery, sharply inhaling air through his chipped yellow
teeth.
    “She once commented on my thread thirty times!”
    “She really is over the top!”
    “ Stalker! ” Screech, screech, screech.
    “I wonder what she looks like.”
    “Ugly, I bet. You don’t read if you have a life.”
    Wow, there’s an indie who knows how to promote.
    “She must be enormous, if all she does is read.”
    All twenty-five stone of Dawn chuckled nastily.
    “Or, she could be old and too frail to leave the house.”
    “Well, let’s hope so!”
    “I hope she does not develop a crush on me,” yearned Danger.
To be honest, I’d forgotten he was in the room.
    Everybody stared at the insipid little man, and said nothing.
It was a horrible, agonising silence and, even though I agreed with the
sentiments that were sealing other mouths, I couldn’t let this continue. Every
silent second that passed was like another slur catapulted at him from a giant
insult machine.
    Finally, I thought of something to say. “Well, if she can
fancy this motley crew, I’m sure you’ll be fighting her off with a stick!”
    Shwoo ...
    Alas, my comment did not break the silence, but redirected
it. Now, everybody was staring at me. I smiled and forced a chuckle, to show
that my comment was meant in jest, but apparently you’re not supposed to
challenge the awe-factor of self-proclaimed admiration haters.
    Eventually, Rafe’s deep voice broke the silence. “Well,
Danger, at least you would be able to fight her off, what with your line of
work.”
    What? Danger worked a physical job? I looked down at his
twiggy limbs, wondering if it was possible that he weighed even less than I
did.
    “What do you do?” asked Dawn.
    “I am a bodyguard,” explained scrawny Danger, in his usual
drippy, dreary voice.
    In my shock, I choked on a piece of unidentifiable, curried
meat. Apparently this was a big faux pas.
    The staring began once again — disapproving glares coming
from every angle, like a laser beam security system. I tried to disguise my
shock as a general coughing fit, but I knew I was clutching at straws. Once I’d
cleared my throat a few times, I found that the others were still glaring at
me. I got up from my seat and doubled over, pretending to have the worst
coughing fit of my life. Anything to disguise the fact that I was surprised by
Danger’s macho job. I peered upward, and still their death stares attempted to
freeze me. Eventually, I sat back down and continued eating in silence.
    Finally, Dawn spoke. “Still, at least it’s free proofreading.”
    “Wait!” exclaimed Rafe, “Emily Whistlefoot is going to be
our proofreader?”
    “What’s wrong with that?”
    “She can’t write!” he cried, aghast. “She doesn’t even
successfully proofread her own reviews.”
    “Well, she offered to do it, and it can’t hurt, can it?”
    “She might add mistakes!”
    “Well, we won’t approve all of her suggestions.”
    “I still