An Autumn Beginning by Jessie G. Talbot

Author:Jessie G. Talbot
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: teenyoungadultyacomingofagegrowingupolderlifekid, contemporaryromancesweetcleanfirstlovekisshetero, christmasholidaythanksgivingautumncelebrationfall, stronggirlheroinepowerfulequalfemaleprotagonist, familygatheringdinnerfeastfooddysfunctionfunnyaunt, bravedefybullydefensestandtoughguybadboyfightwill, Romanceholidayautumnfall, shortreadnovella
Publisher: Jessie G. Talbot
Published: 2016-12-19T00:00:00+00:00

ALEX HADN'T HIT HIS growth spurt yet so Hollin doubted he was intimidating enough to use her good advice. Still, she had to try. "You're the leader of the pack now, Alex, not their buddy. Not even Ellery's buddy, even though she's only a year younger."

"Grandma wants you to be the boss just because you're a girl." Alex was red.

Hollin almost laughed at his fury. What did he think girls went through every day? But now wasn't the time for one-upmanship. "Is it fair to me?" she asked. "Being forced to watch all the kids, and you, just because I'm a girl?"

Alex blinked. "No," he muttered.

"And how old is Grandma?"

"Seventy-something." He thought about it a moment. "Oh."

"Right. She's old school and not the good kind of old school either. So don't listen," Hollin said. Alex swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "And don't lose your poise, whatever happens."

Alex muttered, "It's just so frustrating. And those little shits! Those little, tiny shits. Like mouse turds."

Hollin did laugh then. It felt good.

Alex wasn't through. "And Dad thinks I'm stupid."

"Your dad's a dipstick."

Alex smiled and his spine slowly straightened again. "He is. He really is," he said but he said it quietly.

Hollin suddenly felt like throwing a toddler's tantrum. She should've had this talk with Alex before lunch. She should've talked to the little kids, too. Alex's total failure at lunch was all her fault.

She hid her dismay and carried on. "Let me tell you about the Voice of Death."

"Oh, I remember you using that on us." Alex threw his head back. "Stop sword fighting with the turkey legs!" he shouted then he looked for her approval.

Hollin shook her head and he drooped. "You have to say it as if you hate everyone's guts. You have to say it mean. And low. And deep. They won't believe that you actually hate them but they'll believe you mean business."

"Stop that!" he tried again and it was pretty good.

"One more time and lower, you've got a deeper voice than I do. Project like Darth Vader," she encouraged.

"STOP THAT," he said and the very birds in the trees checked themselves to see what they were doing wrong.

Hollin applauded. "That's it! That's it. Good!" And Alex raised victorious fists.

A loud clatter followed by a terrible WHOOMPH! of rushing air cut across the property.

Hollin's cheer died. That wasn't a healthy sound.

There was a man's pained shout.

"What was that?" Alex asked, standing.

Hollin was already down the steps. "I don't know, it came from around back." She smelled an oily stench. "Something's burning!" she shouted and started to run, Alex right behind her. They tore around the corner.

The back yard was on fire. A spreading patch of hot orange flame was eating everything near the shed in front of the woodpile.

Hollin stared, shocked. Nearby, backed against the fence, Hal was holding half a broomstick with one hand and wiping his face with the sleeve of his jacket with the other. Clear on the other side of the yard Mr. Barkis was leaping at Ned who had the other half of the broom and was staring at the disaster in horror.

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