Almost There by Farrah Rochon

Author:Farrah Rochon [Rochon, Farrah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2022-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

“Eighty-five cents a day?” Tiana cried. “To rent this rickety boat? I’ll be lucky if it doesn’t sink the moment I take it out on the water.”

She couldn’t waste time haggling. She needed to leave as soon as possible if she wanted to reach Mama Odie’s before sundown. Otherwise, she’d find herself trying to navigate those narrow bayou passageways at night.

But she was her daddy’s daughter. She had to at least try to get the price down.

“I’ll give you fifty cents, and not a penny more,” Tiana said.

The grizzly fisherman moved his cigar from one side of his mouth to the other. “Sixty-five,” he countered.

“Fine,” she said. She looked at the washed-up pirogue, with its warped, weatherworn planks. The chances were pretty high that this thing really would end up at the bottom of the bayou, especially if the thick blanket of algae covering the river had made it out to the swamps. The insidious green scum had even started to grow along the sides of the posts holding up the pier.

“There she is!”

Tiana whipped around at the sound of Charlotte’s voice. She caught sight of her friend traipsing around the thick fishing nets and ropes scattered along the busy pier. And she was wearing trousers! Though she still looked completely out of place in a pink silk top with an embroidered collar and T-strap heels.

Tiana peered at the figure coming up behind Charlotte and nearly tumbled off the pier. Goodness, Almighty! She’d brought Naveen with her!

“Charlotte LaBouff, what is going on?” Tiana hissed.

“I couldn’t let you go out there all alone, Tia.” Charlotte panted as if she’d run all the way there from the LaBouff mansion. “It’s much too dangerous. Naveen and I are going with you.”

“Hey! Hey, what y’all doing here?”

Tiana looked past Charlotte and Naveen to discover Louis heading toward them, carrying his ever-present trumpet.

Was everyone she knew at the docks?

“I thought that was y’all,” Louis exclaimed in his boisterous voice. “What y’all doing here?”

“What are you doing here, my friend?” Naveen gestured to the trumpet in Louis’s hand. “Entertaining the fishermen?”

“I come out here to play every now and again. I like being close to the water.” He looked at Tiana. “Y’all going somewhere?”

“I am,” Tiana said quickly.

“We’re going to get help from a lady who lives in the swamp,” Charlotte insisted.

“Y’all going to Mama Odie?” Louis asked excitedly.

“How does everyone know about this Mama Odie except me?” Charlotte asked.

“Can I come with y’all?” Louis asked. “I was telling Tiana just the other day that I haven’t been home si—”

“Excuse us for just a moment,” Tiana said, cutting Louis off before he revealed more than he should. She grabbed Charlotte by the arm and dragged her several feet away.

“Charlotte LaBouff, what in the world is going on?”

“I told you, Tia! It’s too dangerous for you to go out there alone. There are gators and snakes and who knows what else lurking out there in the bayou. Besides, I told you I missed you. This may not be a Mardi Gras ball, but we’ll be spending time together.

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