Read The Different Girl for Free Online Page B

said Isobel.
    “What about her?”
    “We went inside.”
    “Did they tell you not to?”
    “Irene said stay on the porch,” said Eleanor.
    Irene disappeared into the classroom. Robbert spread the last corner of cloth to dry. It covered half the yard. He saw us watching him.
    “Didn’t Irene send you inside?”
    We all went for the door, bunching up so no one could get through.
    “Wait!”
    We looked back at Robbert. He wiped his hands on his pants.
    “Did Irene send you inside or not?”
    “Yes, Robbert.” We all answered at once.
    “Then why aren’t you?” His voice was tired, but serious. This time no one answered. “Go. Sit on your cots and wait.”
    Isobel and I sat looking at Caroline, wondering what had happened on the beach. She was looking at us because Eleanor looked at us, too, which told Caroline something had happened that Eleanor hadn’t seen. Everyone wanted the others to talk, but we knew that when Irene got there she’d have us talk in just the way she wanted and we were supposed to wait. After not doing what she’d asked so many times, no one wanted to disappoint her. So no one said anything, except finally Isobel.
    “What if she tells Irene?” A clump of her yellow hair was out of place, flipped up, from hurrying across the yard.
    “What she?” asked Caroline.
    Irene came up the steps and in. She went to her table and poured a cup of tea. She sipped, then smiled, as if she’d just realized that she hadn’t been smiling and hoped we hadn’t noticed. Then she asked Caroline to tell everyone what she’d found.
    As Caroline talked, Irene watched the rest of us. I didn’t know if this was because she already knew the story and didn’t care, or something else, so I did my best to listen.
    Caroline hadn’t come back from the beach because she’d found too many new things washed up from the storm. The largest thing, now spread across the yard, was a sail, which Caroline knew could be useful in all kinds of ways and so she’d tried to drag it back. It had been heavier than she’d expected and her feet had become half buried in the sand from pulling. She’d been able to get free of the sand, but by that time she was late. When Robbert had found her she explained and pointed to all the other things still on the beach. Then Irene arrived, and she and Caroline looked at the beach while Robbert pulled the sail free of the sand and folded it up. What they’d found wasn’t so interesting after all—plastic bottles, plastic bags, coconuts, and more Styrofoam.
    Then Irene asked Eleanor about the cliff, Isobel about the dock, and me about the woods. I told her about looking at the circle of palm trees—which I had—but as if I’d done that for the entire time. Was it because I wasn’t finished thinking about what I’d seen? Why did I care if those questions stayed mine?
    “Did you hear anything?” she asked. “Any animals?”
    I shook my head.
    “Not at all?” she asked.
    I shook my head again. “It was too windy in the leaves.”
    “Well. Another busy afternoon. I think it’s time for naps.”
    • • •
    When Irene woke me the other three were still sleeping on their cots. Irene was behind me, doing up the top tie of my smock. She patted my back, which was a signal to sit straight. She gently wiped my hair with a cloth and then walked around to pour another cup of tea.
    “How do you feel, Veronika?”
    “Very well,” I said. “Did you have a nap, too?”
    “No, I’ve been talking to the others.”
    I nodded. We preferred to be talked to all together.
    “And I’ve been talking to our guest.”
    Irene waited. I was supposed to say something. “Will she die?”
    “No. She should be fine.”
    “What’s her name?”
    Irene smiled. “I don’t know, yet.”
    “Be sure to ask,” I said. “We’re very curious.”
    “I will.” Irene went to pour more tea but the pot was almost empty. Usually one pot lasted to after dinner. “How would you feel, Veronika, if