The Mason List by S.D. Hendrickson Page B

umbrella
covered table, I focused again on my sketch, adding a few more lines of shadows
around the windows.  I had to admit, the architecture of Mason Manor was very
interesting to reconstruct on paper.  Jess hated the nickname I gave the
house.  I used it as much as possible just to grate on his nerves. 
    “Alexandra,
would you care for some lemonade?”  I looked up to see Mrs. Mason standing over
me.  Her drawn out words practically turned the last one into four. 
    “Yes,
ma’am.”
    She
handed over a glass with her perfectly manicured fingers.  Mrs. Mason’s eyes
paused briefly on my Rangers baseball cap.  I thought the blue canvas looked
nice with my red braids sticking out on each side.  She apparently thought
otherwise.
    “What are
you working on, dear?” she smiled, the sun reflecting off her glossed lips.
    “Um, some
drawings.” I noted her carefully selected outfit.  The crisp white pants and
gold dress sandals complemented the yellow sleeveless sweater top. 
    “Do you
mind if I have a look?” Reluctantly, I handed over the paper.  I didn’t like
someone seeing my work.  Even if it was just a building, the picture was a
little part of the person I was inside.  Mrs. Mason scanned over the drawing.
“Very nice, Alexandra.”
    “Hey Al,
show her your book.  She’s really good.” 
    Thanks, I glared at him.
    Taking a
deep breath, I opened my backpack.  Thanks to Jess and his big mouth, I really
didn’t have a choice except show her my drawing pad.  A flush of nausea shot in
my stomach mixed with the pretty lemonade.
    Mrs.
Mason thumbed through the pictures of animals and buildings and flowers from
the meadow.  She paused on the sketch of Jess perched on Clive’s saddle.  The
entire picture was gray and white pencil except a few highlighted points.  I
added bright blue watercolor to Jess's eyes and the blue bonnets in the
background. 
    “Your
sketches are very good, Alexandra.  Did you ever take lessons?”
    “No,
ma’am.  Not formal ones.”  Feeling the judgment, I absently chewed on my bottom
lip. 
    “Hmmm, I
see.  Well, carry on, dear.”  Handing back the sketch pad, she walked toward
the house.  “Jessup, you really should put on sunscreen.”
    “Yes,
ma’am.” Jess agreed to her motherly request even though he never burned.  The
sun just turned his skin into dark caramel.
    Jess and
Natalie climbed out of the pool to get some lemonade.  They each took one of
the decorative poolside cups, accented with a lemon wedge in the top corner. 
    “Stop
dripping all over my stuff!”  I spat at Jess, pulling my sketch book away.
    “Maybe you
should just get in the pool,” he grinned, taunting me.  Bending down, he
scooped me up from the chair.  I kicked my feet in every direction and tried to
elbow his chest.  Walking over to the edge of the pool, his arms held me in a
vice grip, making my clothes wet. 
    “Don’t
you dare!”
    “What’d
ya think, Nat?”
    Natalie
just nodded her dyed black head in agreement. 
    “What? 
You two are agreeing on things together now!” 
    I twisted
around trying to get free, but Jess gripped harder into my skin.  He’d spent the
entire summer training with the high school football team.  I couldn’t beat him
anymore.  His toned up body got stronger every day.
    “Ok,
let’s do this,” his voice cracked with a laugh. “One, two… and three!” 
    I flew in
the air and then landed in the cold, blue water.  Thrashing around, panic
climbed from my chest into my throat.  My toes fought against the cement bottom
until I stood upright in the shallow end.
    “You
asshole!”  I surfaced, coughing up water.  “I hate both of you!” 
    Jess
landed with a cannonball next to me, sending another splash over my head.  I
wiped the spray from my eyes. “I’ll get you back.  You better watch it.”
    He
laughed, getting close to my face. “What’re you gonna do ’bout it.”
    “Take you
down.”
    “ Really. ”
    “