Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (9781429993074) by Kelly Jacqueline

Author:Kelly, Jacqueline
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780805088410
Publisher: Macmillan

VIOLA RANG her bell on the back porch as I reached the driveway. There’d be trouble for arriving late to dinner, especially since I was so filthy, Arriving late for dinner was a serious offense in our house, but if I went in right away, there’d be explanations and delays and cleaning up to deal with, all postponing the critical moment of putting the vetch in water. I drew back under the trees and skirted around the house to the laboratory, adding to my tardiness and the repercussions I’d have to face at the table.

The laboratory was dark. There were several empty jars and a carafe of drinking water on the counter. I filled a jar with water and put the vetch into it, thinking, Please let this be the right one. If it’s not, I’ll have to kill myself. Either that, or run away from home. I walked to the back door, trying to remember how much money was in the tin box hidden under my bed. At last count, I’d saved twenty-seven cents for the Fentress Fair. I couldn’t run very far on twenty-seven cents. Best not to be pessimistic, Calpurnia. It has to be the one.

I got through the back door just as Viola pulled the roast from the oven. SanJuanna stood ready to take it into the dining room.

“You late,” Viola said. “Warsh up in here.”

“Sorry,” I said. “Is Mother mad?”

“Plenty.”

I pumped water at the kitchen sink and attacked my hands with the nail brush.

“Sorry.”

“You said that already.”

I looked down at my torn, dirt-stained pinafore.

“Take that off,” Viola said. “Nothing you can do. Go get in there.”

I took it off and hung it on the hook by the sink and hobbled into the dining room hiding behind SanJuanna and the roast. I may have exaggerated my lameness a tad. Conversation stopped. I ducked my head and murmured “pardon me” as I took my place. My brothers looked expectantly back and forth between me and our mother.

“Calpurnia,” said Mother, “you are late. And why are you walking like that?”

“I stepped in the world’s biggest badger hole, and I think I hurt myself. I’m sorry I’m so late, Mother, I truly am. It took me ages to get back, what with being so injured and all.”

“See me after dinner, please,” said Mother.

The older boys went back to eating, disappointed by the lack of a public scourging, but the baby, Jim Bowie, said, “Hi, Callie. I missed you. Where have you been?”

“I’ve been collecting plants, J.B.,” I said in a loud, exuberant voice. Both my mother and my grandfather looked up. “And then I stepped in the badger hole,” I added. “Maybe my ankle’s broken.”

“Really?” said J.B. “Can I see? I never saw a broke ankle.”

“Later,” I muttered.

Mother turned her attention back to her plate, but Granddaddy continued staring at me. I was about to bust a gut.

I turned to Jim Bowie and said, “J.B., I might have found something special, a special plant. Yes, indeedy. I left it out in the laboratory.

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