I calculated my money in my head. With the twenty dollars from the Greystones’, plus this cash, plus the hundred I’d make with Mr. Keating – “Hey, I’m only ten dollars short of affording the dress I want to buy at Esmeralda’s,” I blurted.
“Far be it for me to stand in the way of your dress,” said Bea, and she placed ten more dollars in my hand. “Maybe you could come by tomorrow and help clean up. It’s getting late for that now.”
“Really? That’s fantastic,” I said, thrilled. “Thank you.”
“That stupid dance,” said Clive. “You should be spending time working on your soccer plays. You’re just as distracted as the rest of the girls.”
“Who put you in charge?” I asked, not a bit embarrassed to be arguing in front of Lea and her aunt.
That is, until Sookie said with a humph, “It’s not so fun getting bossed around, is it, Cat?”
Ignoring Sookie, I suddenly wished that Lea could come to the dance too. Everything was falling into place – me getting the dress, and my friends looking forward to Valentine’s again. “Not everyone thinks the dance is stupid,” I said glaring at Clive. “Loads of kids will be going to the dance next Friday – practically everyone in our grade. Maybe even Lea?”
I hadn’t exactly asked if Lea could go – I only put it out there. But one look at Lea’s face made me regret it. She went pure white, which wasn’t easy as her skin was already fair.
“I’m afraid Lea will be busy that night,” said Bea.
“Why? What are you doing Friday night?” I asked Lea as we were leaving. But Bea was right beside us, and before Lea could answer, her aunt sent her into the kitchen to put on the kettle. Lea said goodbye to us and then went inside.
“Your friend Lea’s cool,” Clive said as we walked through the side yard to get to the gate. Even though I was with Sookie, Jasper, Clive, and Skeeter, I got the oddest feeling.
I didn’t believe in ghosts, even though I’d thought I’d seen a ghost once. That time I’d been wrong. Still, I thought I could tell when I was having a brush with the supernatural. A cold chill settled over my skin as I passed the creepy tangled vines that grew along the graveyard, and something made the hair stand up on the back of my arms and neck as if I’d brushed through a cobweb. I could feel the stickiness cling to me.
Everyone chatted happily as we left the front gate and headed home.
Why couldn’t I relax?
CHAPTER 11 - A Deadly Mix
THAT NIGHT I tossed and turned and kept my lamp on all night – the shrill wail of the easterly wind was getting to me. Sunday morning I was still quite groggy, so as I was snipping lavender and yarrow from Sookie’s potted plants – or what I’d now call Sookie’s jungle – it took a minute for me to process what Sookie was yammering on about.
“You don’t have all the ingredients,” Sookie almost shouted.
At first I was confused and thought she’d been talking about the pancakes Mom was making. “Huh?” I asked.
“For the love charms you’re assembling,” Sookie said, getting impatient. “Those ingredients will never work. Not if you want to conjure a good spell.”
“What was that?” Mom called from the kitchen as she flipped pancakes.
“Oh nothing,” Sookie said in her most innocent voice that still fooled Mom – sometimes.
“I’m not casting a spell,” I said as I glared at my sister. “And neither are you. This is simply a little bit of fun – I’m only giving the girls a little push in choosing a partner for the dance instead of always complaining about it and blaming me. I don’t care if these charms actually work.”
“That doesn’t sound like the real reason,” Sookie frowned as her face clouded with doubt.
“I want to get along better with my friends. They seem to think I’m … well, they just don’t get me, and this seems to make them happy.”
“I want your friends to like you, Cat. Can I at least help a little?” Sookie proceeded to bug me all through breakfast.
“Fine,” I said. “You can help me sew the bags for the charms.” I was no good with a needle and thread anyway, and this would keep my sister from driving me crazy.
Later that afternoon, I used the mortar and pestle from my old chemistry set to crush the buds of sweet-smelling lavender. Then I sprinkled the crumbled petals into Mom’s big mixing bowl. I stifled a sneeze – between the dust in the attic and the flowers and seeds, my allergies were acting up. Reaching over to the pile of herbs on the table, I grabbed the catnip and mashed it up. “Here’s to the power of love.”
Sookie scowled as she watched me. “Cat, why do girls want boys to go crazy over them?”
“You’ll understand in a few years,” I assured her. I sliced the stem of yarrow and remembered how Lea had said if I slept with it under my pillow, I’d see the initials of my true love. Staring at the stem, I thought suddenly, What if there were no initials there for me, or if there were initials of someone I didn’t like. Better not to know, I decided, crushing the stem and throwing it into the mixture.
Sookie sprinkled the crushed buds into red conjure bags. I really hoped Mom wouldn’t miss her old red scarf.
Sookie had gotten a bit carried away and declared only red silk would do, and she’d cut it into squares and had sewn the squares up like pockets before I realized what she’d been up to.
“These charms will work better if the girls gather in a circle and stand under a February storm moon at midnight.” Sookie took a red conjure bag and held it to her chest. “Then each girl has to hold the charm like this, choose the boy she likes, and say his name out loud.” Then with a sly smile she said, “Then all of you must hang the conjure bag around that boy’s neck.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” I laughed. “Plus, how would we all ever get together at midnight?”
“You could invite your friends for a sleepover. That would be fun, and then they’d like you again.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” I said, wondering if Mom would allow it. I could invite the popular girls and my old friends, and if everyone enjoyed themselves, I wouldn’t feel pulled in all directions. I could make everyone happy.
“Are you sure you don’t want to let me add some Spanish moss, which makes the charm potent, or some licorice root so the boys shouldn’t even notice they’re falling under your power?” Sookie asked.
The Spanish moss was the eerie-looking plant – all grey and kind of wormy. And I remembered Lea’s half-joking warning about the licorice root. I shuddered. “No way.”
“But if you mix the moss with mullein, you should be able to get the boys under your spell – at least that’s what Auntie Bea advised.”
“No way, Sookie, there will be no casting spells. This is supposed to be for fun. And I thought I told you Bea wasn’t your aunt.”
“Mom said I could call her that,” she said, but she didn’t talk about Bea again. Instead she seemed deep in thought as she finished sewing up the conjure bags. I scooped up the love charms and tossed them in my backpack.
“Tuesday is a district professional day at school,” said Sookie. “We all get a holiday, so why don’t you ask Mom if you can have the sleepover tomorrow night? There’s going to be a storm.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do,” Sookie said mysteriously. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to my sister’s strange abilities.
“Maybe,” I said. I guess if I wanted a sleepover, that would be the only available way we could get together, activate the love charms, and pass them on to the boys in time for the dance.
Sookie and I went to Bea’s house in the afternoon to clean up. No one was at home as I picked up gardening tools and rinsed them off under the outdoor tap. Even though I was getting an extra ten dollars, I was regretting coming back here. No one was at home, and the backyard was dark even in the chilly February afternoon. Sookie was right – a storm was brewing on the horizon and the wind picked up, scattering old leaves into tiny tornadoes.
“Aren’t you going to give me some of the money?” Sookie interrupted my thoughts. “I’m your assistant.”
“Assistants don’t get paid – this is my part-time job. But I’ll treat you to bubble tea later this week.”
Sookie frowned, but she didn’t complain.
At dinner when Mom was pulling macaroni casserole out of the oven, I prepared to ask her about the sleepover. First I washed my hands and began setting the table. After dinner when Sookie begged to watch T.V., I scooped up a sponge and began washing dishes, even though I preferred drying them.
“Well, aren’t you helpful tonight.” Mom smiled and folded her arms. “So, what do you want?”
I decided to come straight out with it. “Could I have a sleepover tomorrow night? Please, please Mom?” I begged. “All my friends want to stay over and try out different hairstyles.”
“Ah,” Mom said knowingly. “You’re all getting ready for the Valentine’s dance on Friday.”
“Exactly,” I said in all honesty.
“So this means quite a few girls?” Mom asked.
I tried a charming smile as it usually worked for Sookie. “Most of the soccer team.”
Mom’s eyes widened. “Well …”
I held my breath as I swirled the suds of the dishwater and scrubbed the casserole dish.
“Maybe,” said Mom. “I guess they could bring sleeping bags, and you could camp out in the attic.” Then Mom gave me a stern look. “As long as you promise lights-out by eleven-thirty, because I need my sleep. I’ll have work in the morning. Staff and teachers don’t get the day off.”
“You won’t hear a peep,” I promised. I waited and time seemed to stretch with each tick of the red kitchen clock.
Finally Mom said, “Well, who am I to stand in the way of all your important preparations?”
I almost jumped in excitement. Even though Alice had told me to stay watchful, visiting the Greystones had taken a weight off my chest – I could enjoy the Valentine’s dance, I could make peace with Mia and Amarjeet. Maybe even Lea could come to the sleepover.
“A sleepover!” Sookie stood in the doorway and squealed with glee. “I can’t wait.”
Great. I should have known. Sookie would insist on hanging out with us. So that’s why she suggested the sleepover and sneaking out to cast charms under a storm moon. I’d been set up. Suddenly I was regretting letting my little sister in on my problems.
*
Monday morning before school, I went to Esmeralda’s dress shop after I’d finished up at Mr. Keating’s. The shop wasn’t open yet, but Esmeralda spotted me staring in the window and she opened the shop door for me. The smell of rose petals drifted out. “Yes?” queried Esmeralda without inviting me inside.
I pulled one hundred dollars out of my wallet – Mom would freak if she knew I was carrying that much cash around – and handed it to Esmeralda. “I’ll have enough money on Wednesday for the dress I like, just as soon as Mr. Keating pays me.”
Esmeralda leaned out of her door and called out to Mr. Keating as he stood under his striped awning admiring his vegetables. “Yoo-hoo, Mr. Keating! My, don’t you look robust today.”
Huh? What about my dress? And Mr. Keating didn’t look robust. He appeared, well, round.
“Would you care to join me for some coffee?” Esmeralda asked him.
Mr. Keating gave her a distracted wave and then went inside his shop.
Esmeralda pursed her lips in a disappointed frown, but at least she remembered I was standing there. “Yes, the dress, certainly. I’ll put it aside for you immediately.” And then she closed her shop door. I would have liked to see the dress against me again, but I shrugged my shoulders and hurried to school.
Later at school, a cold and absolute terror surged through me.
“Cat, I asked you where your report is.” Ms. Dreeble moved toward my lab table and leaned over me, peering at my binder.
I’d completely forgotten about writing my biology report and turning it in this Monday morning! I’d been too busy mixing love potions and mailing e-vites to my sleepover on Facebook. The acceptances started rolling in right away, and I stayed up late reading them – everyone I’d invited had accepted! Except that now …
Ms. Dreeble stood beside my desk and waited. It’s hard coming up with a good excuse when fear races through your brain.
“Um …” I sputtered. “Symbiotic and parasitic relationships are …” think, Cat, think, “… fascinating. I …”
Lea grimaced in sympathy. Finally I said, “I got carried away with the research.”
“Oh really,” said Ms. Dreeble in a way I could tell she didn’t believe a word. “Do tell us a bit about that research, Cat.”
Amanda stuck up her arm, ready to step in if I couldn’t deliver. I could feel sweat beading under my pink scarf, so I loosened it up at the neck. “Symbiosis,” I said as I glanced at Lea who gave me an encouraging nod, “is a mutually … beneficial … relationship in the plant and animal world.” I finished quickly.
Ms. Dreeble looked a bit surprised. “So that means what, Cat?” Was that enthusiasm in her voice? Amanda waved her arm.
“That plants and animals help each other,” I said. “But it’s the opposite in a parasitic relationship. In that case, one animal or plant is going to end up sick or even dead.”
Whew. Ms. Dreeble actually smiled. Amanda dropped her arm, and I stopped sweating. Lea clapped her hands.
“Well, run with it, Cat.” Ms. Dreeble nodded enthusiastically, maybe more to herself than to me. “Turn this research into a report, and I will give you bonus marks.”
“Report?” I squeaked. “How long is a report?”
Ms. Dreeble tossed back her hair – were those new blond highlights? They shone even in the drab light of the classroom. “Well,” she said, “If you’ve been researching it all weekend, I’m thinking you’ll have enough information for the report to be about five pages long. You can have until next Monday.”
Five pages! My doom was sealed. The bell rang and I threw my binder in my backpack.
I shook my head wondering how I’d managed to get myself an even bigger homework assignment with Ms. Dreeble, when Mia said laughingly, “Either you’re going to end up a top science student or you’ll end up with detentions your entire high school life.” She shook her head. “I can’t decide which.”
“Sorry,” said Lea.
At least Lea seemed to care about how Ms. Dreeble was always on my case. She didn’t think it was all so funny. I hadn’t sent an e-vite to Lea last night because she didn’t have internet yet, but now I asked, “Can you come to my sleepover?”
Delight spread over her face as she tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “You’re inviting me?”
Why would she seem so surprised? She really must have moved around a lot because I’d imagine she’d be the most popular girl in any neighborhood. Besides, I suddenly realized, despite the fact that everyone else had accepted, I hoped she’d come to my sleepover most of all. “So you’ll be allowed?”
A shadow crossed her eyes. “Maybe I can come later … for a while,” she said. “I hope.”
“Sure,” I said. “Whatever time works for you.”
Lea’s aunt always seemed super nice. Even though she wasn’t allowing Lea to go to the dance, I didn’t see why she wouldn’t be allowed to stay the whole time at my sleepover.
I just didn’t get it.
But something about Lea’s expression stopped me from pressing her further.
CHAPTER 12 - A Storm Brews
AFTER SCHOOL, THE dance lessons started going better. I was able to relax and enjoy myself, but then I got distracted. Slide, back-step, slide … I couldn’t
wait for the sleepover … slide, back-step, slide … it would be a blast … turn and …
“Ouch. Watch it, Cat.” Yet another boy looked over his shoulder, hoping to switch to a better dancer.
If only I could focus and remember to step back first with my right foot so I could twirl and sashay without a misstep. Not that Ms. Dreeble or Mr. Morrows noticed – they were too busy practicing the dance steps with each other. They got so caught up in waltzing around the gloomy gym as if they were dance stars, they forgot to demonstrate the new steps to us – not that I cared – which, I began to decide, was my problem with dancing. I just wasn’t that interested. I liked fast dancing and bouncing around the gym a whole lot better. But no matter how many guys seemed reluctant to be my partner, somehow Clive ended up dancing with me again.
“Cat, your dancing really isn’t so great for a – ”
“Girl?” I said ready to step on his toes.
He shrugged his shoulders. “I was going to say for such a good soccer player. It’s not like you can’t do great footwork.”
Well … I loved soccer …
“I was wondering if …” Clive paused, and the slide-step of the other students and the tinny music on the dance CD drowned out other sounds. “Um … although I wasn’t exactly excited about this dance …” Clive stumbled a bit, which wasn’t his usual style.
Clive was – what had Lucinda called it? “Bold as brass.” As if tiny needles jabbed my skin, I wondered what was up with him.
“Well,” Clive began again. “Mr. Morrows offered our band a job playing at the dance; it seems there was enough money left over from the Christmas show – and well, jobs are hard to come by in this town …”
I knew that. What was his point?
“Anyhow, you know my brother’s in the band and … um, you should see, ever since Skeeter got that drum from Lea’s aunt, he can’t stop playing it. He’s way better than our band’s last drummer.”
“Right …” What. Was. Clive. Getting. At.
“So, I, like, thought because Sookie is Skeeter’s friend … and I’m already going to be with him, and I’ll have to stick around to take down the equipment, maybe if your mom brought Skeeter home, we could like …”
Grim Hill: The Forgotten Secret (Grim Hill Series) Page 7