way home.
I didn't want to leave without filling out a few applications. I'd never get a job at this rate, and I had to get one. How could anything at home get better if I didn't make some money? I slumped in the chair and let my head fall back. I'd never noticed the ceiling in the library before. The wooden planks joined together in the middle, making a type of V-formation like an upside-down boat.
When I focused again on the screen, the words SESSION OVER were flashing. I had forgotten there was an hour limit. Everyone else at my table had left, and I hadn't noticed. I scooted my chair back and stood up. My coat was falling off the edge of the table, and I grabbed it and put it on. I shuddered at the thought of biking home and wrapped my scarf around my neck three times.
The library doors were heavy glass. Before I pushed through them, I saw Marc and Jeannie standing outside. There was no way to avoid seeing them again. What rotten luck.
Jeannie saw me come through. "Oh, Emili, are you leaving too?"
"Yeah."
"We're waiting for Marc's mom. She's taking us home."
Well, isn ' t that sweet?
"Do you need a ride?" Marc asked, ever the gentleman.
Jeannie gave him the evil eye, and he flinched.
"No, I've got my bike."
"You're riding in this weather?" Jeannie asked, turning all sweet and concerned. "You should hurry. It'll be dark soon."
"Right. See you guys." I hoped I wouldn't.
I threw my leg over my bike and started home. The air cut through my coat as if it were tissue paper. I pressed my lips into a tight line and pedaled as fast as I could. The cold numbed my face, and my eyes dried in the brittle air. I made it home in record time, propped my bike against the side of the house, and dashed inside.
Mom was sitting on the couch. "Where have you been? I didn't even know you were gone."
"I went to the library." I yanked off my gloves and rubbed my hands together. I felt a tingle of warmth as the blood started flowing again. Now if I could only warm my heart.
"How'd you get there?" Mom proceeded to drill me.
"I rode my bike."
Her eyebrows raised. "In this weather?"
"It wasn't so bad."
She shook her head. "Yeah, I'll bet. Did you ask your dad if you could go?"
I pulled my coat and scarf off. "No. I didn't want to bother either of you. Thought you might be taking a nap or something."
"Because I'm always taking a nap," she snapped.
I cringed. I'd never get used to my mom spewing sarcasm when she used to scold me for it. I looked away and headed for my bedroom. I expected her to stay with the scolding, but she didn't say anything else.
I pushed open my bedroom door and went to my dresser. My perfume-making supplies were neatly lined up as usual, greeting me like old friends. I picked up the dark bottle of jojoba oil. I could develop a new recipe â making perfume was my go-to stress reliever. I loved to mess around with different scents and carefully record them in my logbook. Now I'd have to experiment like Scrooge â I knew how much all my oils cost.
Another reason to get a job.
I looked at the small dark bottles of perfume I'd already made. I could sell them. If I charged about seven dollars a bottle, I could make a profit. But where? It was the middle of winter. Otherwise, I could have had a yard sale or something. Sometimes there were sales in the middle of the mall, where people set up tables and sold all kinds of things. I could purchase a table and sell my perfume there.
I pulled out my phone and searched for our mall's website. It was easy to find, and there was a button for special events, which I clicked. I was surprised to find quite a few activities, but the only community sale event was right before Easter. Too far off to do me any good.
My door opened, and Sarah walked in. Her hair was rumpled and tangled down her back in a sloppy braid. She looked rested, though, which was a relief.
"Hey, Sarah."
"I tried."
"What do you mean?"
"Mom was in my room, asking me all sorts of questions. I
I didn't want to leave without filling out a few applications. I'd never get a job at this rate, and I had to get one. How could anything at home get better if I didn't make some money? I slumped in the chair and let my head fall back. I'd never noticed the ceiling in the library before. The wooden planks joined together in the middle, making a type of V-formation like an upside-down boat.
When I focused again on the screen, the words SESSION OVER were flashing. I had forgotten there was an hour limit. Everyone else at my table had left, and I hadn't noticed. I scooted my chair back and stood up. My coat was falling off the edge of the table, and I grabbed it and put it on. I shuddered at the thought of biking home and wrapped my scarf around my neck three times.
The library doors were heavy glass. Before I pushed through them, I saw Marc and Jeannie standing outside. There was no way to avoid seeing them again. What rotten luck.
Jeannie saw me come through. "Oh, Emili, are you leaving too?"
"Yeah."
"We're waiting for Marc's mom. She's taking us home."
Well, isn ' t that sweet?
"Do you need a ride?" Marc asked, ever the gentleman.
Jeannie gave him the evil eye, and he flinched.
"No, I've got my bike."
"You're riding in this weather?" Jeannie asked, turning all sweet and concerned. "You should hurry. It'll be dark soon."
"Right. See you guys." I hoped I wouldn't.
I threw my leg over my bike and started home. The air cut through my coat as if it were tissue paper. I pressed my lips into a tight line and pedaled as fast as I could. The cold numbed my face, and my eyes dried in the brittle air. I made it home in record time, propped my bike against the side of the house, and dashed inside.
Mom was sitting on the couch. "Where have you been? I didn't even know you were gone."
"I went to the library." I yanked off my gloves and rubbed my hands together. I felt a tingle of warmth as the blood started flowing again. Now if I could only warm my heart.
"How'd you get there?" Mom proceeded to drill me.
"I rode my bike."
Her eyebrows raised. "In this weather?"
"It wasn't so bad."
She shook her head. "Yeah, I'll bet. Did you ask your dad if you could go?"
I pulled my coat and scarf off. "No. I didn't want to bother either of you. Thought you might be taking a nap or something."
"Because I'm always taking a nap," she snapped.
I cringed. I'd never get used to my mom spewing sarcasm when she used to scold me for it. I looked away and headed for my bedroom. I expected her to stay with the scolding, but she didn't say anything else.
I pushed open my bedroom door and went to my dresser. My perfume-making supplies were neatly lined up as usual, greeting me like old friends. I picked up the dark bottle of jojoba oil. I could develop a new recipe â making perfume was my go-to stress reliever. I loved to mess around with different scents and carefully record them in my logbook. Now I'd have to experiment like Scrooge â I knew how much all my oils cost.
Another reason to get a job.
I looked at the small dark bottles of perfume I'd already made. I could sell them. If I charged about seven dollars a bottle, I could make a profit. But where? It was the middle of winter. Otherwise, I could have had a yard sale or something. Sometimes there were sales in the middle of the mall, where people set up tables and sold all kinds of things. I could purchase a table and sell my perfume there.
I pulled out my phone and searched for our mall's website. It was easy to find, and there was a button for special events, which I clicked. I was surprised to find quite a few activities, but the only community sale event was right before Easter. Too far off to do me any good.
My door opened, and Sarah walked in. Her hair was rumpled and tangled down her back in a sloppy braid. She looked rested, though, which was a relief.
"Hey, Sarah."
"I tried."
"What do you mean?"
"Mom was in my room, asking me all sorts of questions. I
Similar Books
