Read Watery Graves for Free Online Page A

Sebastian said.
    “What? It’s a boy thing to do that? Would you do that? You’re a boy…”
    “What? No. I’m reading a line. Someone gave a statement on behalf of the boys.”
    “Who would say that?”
    “One of their mothers.”
    “This town is so mean. A girl has been raped. It’s a problem for girls to worry about. I worry about it.”
    “Nothing like that will ever happen to you.”
    “I would hate everyone talking about me like this.”
    “You are so obsessed.”
    Emmy shoved the paper away. “I’m not. I just wanted to see what happens. That’s the thing with the news. They report on it and we as readers can follow it.”
    “Mum is sick.”
    “She’s going to be okay, Sebastian.”
    “If you live in a world where all you have to worry about is picking strawberries, eating pancakes, making beds and sweeping floors.”
    “Yes Sebastian that is the world we live in. It’s real for us.”
    “This is real. Mum’s really sick. There’s nothing to think about in our world. We just do things. Mindless things to forget what’s really going on.”
    “No we do them because it’s our life. It’s the way we live.”
    “And then you get all interested in some stupid horrible thing that has the town buzzing and you’re no different to all them. Gossip. Gossip and more gossip. That poor girl is probably a big mess and yes life would be pretty hard for her right now. But talking about it is just another way to block out Mum.”
    “I’m always thinking about Maya, Sebastian. Always.” Emmy tried to change the subject. “They’ll be here soon.”
    It didn’t work.
    “Mum is sick.”
    “Maya’s going to be okay. I know she is. They’re in town finding out what is wrong and doctors will know what to do.”
    “Really?”
    Emmy held his gaze, not wanting to be the first to let it drop. Yet , when Sebastian looked away first, it didn’t make her feel any better.
    They heard the van before they saw it.
    Sebastian reached for the discarded paper. Its edges flicked in the slight breeze. He folded it and stashed it in a crevice. “Did you know boys can be raped too? Did it say anything about how males can be raped in your little old dictionary?” He pulled Emmy to her feet.
    She wasn’t sure if he was teasing her or being sensible. But underneath the sentiment she knew it was his way of apologising . “I’m reading the newspaper not the dictionary.”
    “All I can say is that your dictionary might need a little updating.”
    “It’s not the point.” Emmy whacked him on the arm, just because it felt good . “Bottom line, a girl was violated and it was wrong.”
    The two of them sauntered towards the approaching dust trail.
    “It sounds like a big deal is being made out of something. Things like this don’t happen in Mercy Falls, but lots of gossip does. I say stop thinking about it.”
    “I can’t help it.”
    “Try. Otherwise you’re no different to all the people flapping their gums in town.”
    “I’m not like them.”
    “Do you go on about it with Libby?”
    Emmy shrugged her shoulders . “Not really. I usually just do lots of listening.”
    “Just as bad as gossiping.”
    “If it happens to one girl in town, it can happen to anyone.”
    Sebastian shook his head. “The other day you said you should stop reading papers. And I now fully agree. You can’t handle the news.”
    “I can so.”
    As they walked up the slope, Emmy averted her eyes. She could tell Sebastian was measuring her up, working her out.
    “No you can’t,” he said.
    “Yes I can.”
    “Nope. Obsessing big time.”
    Emmy sucked in her cheeks . “At Libby’s I read papers all the time. I see the TV and other things you’ve never seen. I can handle more than you think. I’ve seen more than you have.” She had Libby Bexley as a friend. She visited the Bexley family whenever she wanted. It was a sore point for Sebastian. It was her best trump card in these kinds of arguments.
    “But we’ve never