A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

Author:Anna Sheehan [Sheehan, Anna]
Language: fra
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 2011-07-18T19:15:29+00:00

– chapter 15—

Dinner was quiet and friendly. There was a rule that everyone had to say something about their day. Mr. Sabah complained good- naturedly about having to create a new lock for the subbasement door. Hilary had reached a new level on some hologame. Kayin had started reading Misty of Chincoteague for the third time. Bren grinned, saying he’d battled against a merciless, unconquerable foe, bent on my destruction. Kayin laughed until Hilary said,

“No, Kayin, he’s telling the truth.”

Then it was my turn. “Who, me?” I asked.

“You’re at the table. Those’re the rules,” said Kayin.

I didn’t know what to say. Today I was struck by a stumble stick. Today I broke down and told someone about Xavier. Today I’m still suffering from residual affection for a boy who doesn’t want me. “Today I drew a self- portrait,” I said finally.

Bren looked at me thoughtfully.

Mrs. Sabah spoke up. “Today, I prevented your grandfather from giving himself an aneurism yelling at police of ficers. Who’s up for dessert?”

After dinner we watched an old movie on the holoview. Old for them; I’d never seen the thing. There were sixty years of holovisions I’d never even heard of. I actually thought that might be the first entirely good news I’d had about my sixty- year jump.

Bren showed me and Zavier to Hilary’s room once the movie was over. I felt awkward, but my parents had taught me to be a gracious guest. “I’ve had a really great time tonight. Thanks.”

“Good,” said Bren.

I wanted to get something out of the way. “Your mom says it was your idea to invite me,” I said. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did.” Bren looked uncomfortable, but he squared his shoulders. “You know, the reason I was so mad at you this afternoon, when I thought you were trying to make me feel guilty, was because it had worked. I was unconscionably rude to you, and what I said wasn’t even true. Well, no, it was true that Granddad asked me to keep an eye on you, but as soon as he said it, I realized he was right. I mean, you don’t know anyone. I probably would have tried to be nice to you anyway. Besides, Otto wanted to meet you.”

“He did? From the beginning?”

“Yeah. Why do you think he wouldn’t look at you at first?”

“I thought he was shy.”

“No, he’s just noticed that he makes people uncomfortable, so he wanted to be sure you were firmly seated before he surprised you. He’s actually quite bold.

Tends to delight in freaking people out. Doesn’t have a lot of friends, but, no, he’s not shy in the least.”

“Oh.” Otto didn’t have a lot of friends? If that was the case, I was rather flattered that he wanted to spend time writing to me. “Um . . . can I borrow your notescreen? I should probably tell him I’m okay. I’ll bet he’s worried.”

“Yeah, he probably is. Hil’s got a wallscreen; you can reach him through that.

Otto’s number is on our household linkup.

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