SURPRISE IN THE SNOW

“Is it ever going to stop snowing?” Josie asked herself.

It was Wednesday afternoon. The snow had come down all day, a blizzard of large white flakes adding to the white piles already on the ground.

Josie hitched her backpack up on the shoulder of her blue down jacket and stepped out of the school building. The sky was charcoal gray even though it was only three o’clock. Heavy gray clouds hovered menacingly low.

The front walk hadn’t been shoveled, and Josie’s boots sank deep into the fresh snow as she made her way toward Park Drive. Swirling wind sent powdery snow flying around her as she walked.

She swung her maroon wool scarf around her neck and pulled it up over her chin. The big trees near the street shook in the breeze, sending down a silent shower of fresh snow.

“Hey, Josie! Wait!”

Recognizing her sister’s voice, Josie turned back toward the school.

She watched Erica trying to run, stumbling over the slippery walk, her coat unfastened and flapping out behind her.

She looks like a big clumsy bird trying to take off, Josie thought cruelly. Erica isn’t as pretty as Rachel and me, Josie realized, with a bit of sympathy. Her face is too round. Her hair is that mousy light brown. She could lose some weight too.

“Josie, where are you going?” Erica cried breathlessly as she caught up to her sister. Breathing hard, she wrapped her coat more tightly around her without zipping it.

“Erica, what’s your problem?” Josie asked. “Why are you screaming like a lunatic? I’m going to meet Steve.”

“You can’t!” Erica cried. She tried to stamp the snow off her boots, but it was useless.

“Sure, I can,” Josie said softly, glancing at the street where several Shadyside High kids were blocking traffic with a spontaneous snowball fight. “I’m meeting him at The Corner.” She motioned with her head toward her favorite hangout, a few blocks away.

“But you can’t!” Erica insisted shrilly. She started to say more, but someone behind Josie caught her attention. “Look. There’s Jenkman,” Erica said, lowering her voice. “Over by the side of the school. Trying to get your attention.”

“Who cares?” Josie snapped.

“He’s coming this way,” Erica reported. “He’s waving at us.”

“Thrills and chills,” Josie said sarcastically.

“Hi, Josie!” Jenkman called from a few yards behind her on the walk.

Josie pretended not to hear.

Jenkman came closer. “Josie, how’s it going?”

She continued to ignore him.

Erica saw the hurt on Jenkman’s face.

“Josie, I just want to talk!” Jenkman said, stepping up beside her.

Josie turned her back on him.

Erica saw Jenkman’s face turn bright red. He uttered a loud curse and hurried past them to the street.

“Wow,” Erica said, following him with her eyes. “Wow. Was he mad!”

“He’s a creep. What do you want?” Josie demanded impatiently. “I’m late.”

“You have to take care of Rachel this afternoon,” Erica said, grabbing the sleeve of Josie’s coat. “I told you this morning I have Brigadoon tryouts. You know. For the drama club.”

“You’ll have to try out some other time,” Josie said brusquely. She started to pull away from Erica, but Erica held on.

“No way,” Erica said angrily.

A gust of wind made the powdery snow swirl all around them. Josie closed her eyes and tried to slip her face down into her wool scarf.

Go away, she thought. Please. Just go away, Erica.

“You’re supposed to help take care of Rachel when she gets home from her school,” Erica scolded. “You know that, Josie. It’s not supposed to be my full-time job.”

“I know. Give me a break,” Josie said, starting to walk toward the street. “I’ll take care of her tomorrow. Promise.”

“No. Today!” Erica insisted, following her. “I don’t want to miss the tryouts. It’s just not fair. This is my first year in high school. It’s supposed to be such a big, exciting year for me. And instead—”

“Tomorrow,” Josie told her, picking up her pace. “I can’t leave Steve waiting there.”

“Yes, you can,” Erica told her. “You can call and leave a message for him.”

“I don’t want to,” Josie said nastily. She began to jog across the snow.

Erica caught up to her. “I don’t believe you, Josie,” she cried breathlessly. “I can’t believe you don’t take more responsibility for Rachel. After all, it was your fault—”

Erica stopped herself.

Uttering a silent gasp, she raised her hands to her face, as if trying to hide behind them.

She realized she had gone too far.

She had no right to say that.

She could feel her face grow hot. She knew she was blushing.

She should never have said that. It had just slipped out. Slowly she lowered her hands. Josie was glaring at her.

“I’m—I’m sorry,” Erica stammered. “I—I didn’t mean...”

She waited for Josie to say something.

A loud thud startled her.

To Erica’s horror, Josie let out a painful squeal. She watched Josie’s eyes go wide, her mouth drop open. Then she crumbled to the snow.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20