I slid my hands in my lap and trailed a drifting leaf with my eyes.
"Does anyone want to play a game?" Jason asked.
Sarah agreed like she usually did, always smiling, always happy.
Jason jumped up. "Okay, let's play hide and go seek!"
"I'll be the seeker," Tom said and went to one of the oaks near the house and placed his arm against the trunk and buried his face. The rest of us quickly scattered to our hiding places. I hurried inside a small shed behind some trees. I didn't even realize it was here until just then. And it looked abandoned, breaking apart at the roof. Which meant it was the perfect hiding place. I climbed through a broken window and hid behind a rusty barrel.
I lowered my legs to the floor, getting dust on my jeans. The dust made me want to sneeze, but I kept it inside.
Suddenly, I heard an airy hiss coming from behind me. The fear inside of me made me turn slow and when I saw it my body stiffened. It was a copperhead! I screamed and tried to move but I couldn't. The fear had paralyzed me. I felt the blood rush from my face and the shed began to spin. Moments later, the lights went out.
I opened my eyes feeling weak and shaky. I was in my room and Ella and Jane were standing around me.
"How do you feel?" Ella asked. She didn't look concerned, like the kind of concern that would indicate I had been bitten. She looked calm and simply relieved.
"What happened?" My voice squeaked.
"You nearly got bitten by a copperhead, that's what. You shouldn't have been in that old shed, you know."
"Yes, I know that now. I guess I must have fainted. Who found me?"
"Tom. He said he heard you scream and when he found you, you were passed out on the floor and the copperhead was hissing by your legs. It's a pure miracle he didn't strike at you."
I took a deep breath and wondered what would have happened to me if it had. At least there was no need to worry myself with the 'what ifs'. I'd just be more careful in the future. That's for sure.
Chapter 10
Learning to Read
The next morning after a healthy breakfast of oatmeal – Ella made it with blueberries, walnuts, and cinnamon and a pinch of salt – she decided to give me a checkup. This always consisted of her pulling out the scales and bringing them to my room. Stepping on them scared me. Well, the thought of stepping on them scared me. But once I did, everything usually turned out good. Meaning I had gained more weight.
"You have progressed greatly since when you first arrived. But one-hundred-and-five pounds is still a little underweight for your height and age. I would like to see you gain a little more."
The news didn't surprise me. I knew I was still boney compared to other girls.
I walked to the porch with Jason babysitting him while Ella washed the breakfast dishes.
"I have this red truck in a secret place in my room," he said.
"Really?" I asked, forcing myself to concentrate. My mind was on Felix. Blast it. Why did I have to miss him so much? Why did it have to hurt? Why couldn't I just be satisfied in knowing he was coming back?
"It's my favorite so I keep it safe." He began talking about his other toys and brought some of them outside to show me. Then, he went inside to play with them. I became lonely and there was nothing to do, so I walked to my favorite tree.
It felt like months ago since Felix was here with me. But it had only been a couple of days ago when we said goodbye.
I sat beside the tree and gazed at the yellow grass that was once flourishing green. The trees were no longer plump with leaves, their branches were empty with only a few dead leaves grasping on.
A crow called through the silent sky, spreading its blue-black wings and landing ahead to peck the ground.
I was tired of this spot. Probably because I was alone. Probably because the spot in my heart felt uncomfortable and achy. The spot that missed him dearly.
I walked to the pond, climbed the fallen tree and sat with my knees drawled up to my chest. My hair danced freely over my shoulder as I thought about the kiss and how it had happened on the rock below me. It was my first kiss. I closed my eyes and remembered how it felt.
Leaves crunched from someone's feet walking over them. I looked up; it was Tom. He walked until he was standing in front of the fallen tree and stared up.
"What do you want?" I asked and my voice echoed off the trees.
"I, uh, came to find you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I mean, that was a narrow escape yesterday."
"I'm fine." I was done talking to him. But it occurred to me that I was forgetting something. So, I added, "And thank you."
"For what?"
"Saving me from the snake of course."
"Oh yeah, for that."
He edged closer to the tree and touched its dark spikey bark.
"Sarah has really enjoyed spending time with you. She told dad about all the fun the two of you have had."
"I enjoy spending time with her as well." The feeling I had about Tom was a mystery to me. Although he wasn't doing anything wrong, I wanted him to leave. And it's not just that he made me feel uncomfortable. He annoyed me. That part was the mystery.
"How's your reading coming?" He asked.
"How did you know I was learning?"
"Felix told me. Was I not suppose to know?"
"It's fine." It wasn't. But I knew Felix didn't mean any harm. And if he thought sharing was a good idea, then I didn't mind either. I just didn't like Tom. And that's why
