Runaways Read Online Free Page B

forearms. On his right arm was a tattoo of a shark, something he had gotten when he had been in the navy.
    â€œI don’t expect to see no lollygaggin’ about today. Right after breakfast, everyone get to his or her assignments pronto. We got an inspection in a week and I want this place looking tip-top.”
    I wanted to shout out “Then burn it down and start over,” but I just looked at my food. Louise came bustling in behind him, full of smiles. She was somewhere in her fifties, a five-foot-ten brunette with shoulder-length hair. I thought her best feature was her startling cerulean blue eyes. She had a way of looking at you, but clicking on and off you as she spoke so that you never felt you had her full attention. It was as if she really was afraid of what Gordon told her, afraid that if she looked too hard or long at one of the state’s wards, she might form a deeper relationship and suffer if and when the ward was adopted.
    â€œGood morning, everyone,” she cried, looking more at the ceiling than at us. She turned toward the windows. “Isn’t it a glorious day? Let’s all do our work quickly and efficiently so we can have time to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. You know, children, years ago, people came to these mountains to recuperate from lung ailments like tuberculosis and that’s because we have the best fresh air. You’re all lucky to be living here,” she declared, slapping her hands together before she went to a table to help some of the younger kids.
    â€œShe has syrup in her veins instead of blood,” I murmured. “I can’t imagine them making love. They look like oil and water. She probably keepsher eyes closed the whole time and holds her breath until it’s over.”
    Raven laughed so loud she drew Gordon’s gaze for a moment. All of us dropped our eyes to our plates. When we looked up again, he was marching out. There was a collective sigh of relief.
    â€œWelcome to another joyful weekend of slave labor at Hell House,” I said, loud enough for the kids at the next table to hear. Some laughed, others checked the doorway to be sure Gordon was gone.
    â€œI don’t want to whitewash that fence again,” Raven declared. “He better not have put that down for me. The fumes from the paint make me cough for days.”
    â€œThat’s because it’s bad for your lungs,” Crystal explained.
    â€œCome on,” I said, wanting to change the subject. “Let’s eat this mush and get outside, even to work.”
    The assignment list was posted. I was given the task of cutting grass—I didn’t like that chore but at least it got me outside. Crystal and Raven were told to rake up and Butterfly was assigned dusting and polishing in the recreation room.
    â€œIs she all right enough to be by herself this morning?” I asked Crystal before we left to go outside.
    â€œShe’ll be fine,” she said. “Won’t you, Butterfly?”
    â€œI’m okay,” she said. She gave me her Sweet Pea smile. “Really, I am.”
    â€œIf anyone bothers you, especially that Megan Callaway, come outside,” I told her.
    â€œI don’t like being a tattletale.”
    â€œYou’re not a tattletale if someone is bigger than you and picks on you, Butterfly,” I assured her.
    â€œEveryone’s bigger than me,” she moaned. Ilooked at Crystal. I always looked to Crystal when I needed another answer or a better one.
    â€œEveryone’s bigger than Grandma Kelly, too, but that doesn’t make her less of a person and certainly not less of a cook, does it?” Crystal said. “When you think of what she accomplishes with what she’s given . . .”
    â€œThat’s right. Good things come in small packages,” I said.
    Butterfly beamed again.
    â€œPicnic lunch today,” I announced. “Near the tennis court.”
    Grandma Kelly wrapped sandwiches