Extraordinary Birds by Sandy Stark-McGinnis

Author:Sandy Stark-McGinnis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

After school, Eleanor honks the horn and waves. Soon as I get into the truck, it starts to rain. As we’re driving down the road, windshield wipers squeak. Out the window, through raindrops, a blurry pink figure appears. It’s Cheryllynn. I think about Jenny’s deal, and look in the side mirror to see if her mom’s car is behind us. “Can you stop the truck? That’s a girl I know, Cheryllynn.”

Eleanor pulls over, and I open the door. “Want a ride?” I say it so quiet, Cheryllynn doesn’t hear me.

“Would you like a ride home?” This time she does. She looks up at me, but doesn’t move toward the truck.

“It’s not that far of a walk,” she says. I don’t blame her for not wanting a ride from us, from me.

“Maybe not …” I scoot across the seat. “We still can give you a ride.”

She plops inside the truck, drops of rain falling from the ends of her hair.

“You’re Cheryllynn?” Eleanor says. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Eleanor shakes Cheryllynn’s hand. “Where are we taking you?”

“Just to Sav-Mor Market. My mom works there.”

Eleanor turns down the music. “How long have you lived here?”

“Since I was in second grade,” Cheryllynn says.

“You like it?” I ask.

“Yeah, but I’d be okay living anywhere with my mom, you know?”

I kind of know what Cheryllynn means. I think I could live anywhere with Eleanor, whether it was the coldest place on earth, Oymyakon, Russia, which recorded a temperature of ninety degrees below zero, or the hottest place on earth, Death Valley, where scientists have recorded the temperature at one hundred thirty-four degrees. As long as there was a chance to fly, I’d be okay.

Sav-Mor Market is at the end of the block. Eleanor parks in front.

Before Cheryllynn gets out of the truck, she asks, “Want to come in and have a slushy?”

Eleanor follows behind us, and as Cheryllynn opens the swinging door to the store, she starts chattering again. “My mom will probably tell you this when you meet her, but call her Rhonda. She doesn’t like to be called Mrs. Watts by anyone who’s friends with me.”

Rhonda stands behind one of two cash registers. Her hair is cut really short. She wears lots of makeup—pink eye shadow and red, red lipstick. Long peace-sign earrings dangle from her ears. Soon as she sees Cheryllynn she gives her a hug. “How was your day?”

“Good.” Cheryllynn points back at me. “This is December, and her mom, Eleanor.”

I don’t correct Cheryllynn about Eleanor being my mom. She is, for now.

Rhonda reaches her hand out for me to shake. “Hello. Nice to meet you.”

I hesitate, then put my hand in hers. It’s warm, and soft.

She turns to Eleanor and shakes her hand, too. “Good to meet you. If you two want a slushy, help yourselves.”

Cheryllynn pulls me down the aisle. There are two flavors, cherry and blueberry. “I like to mix them,” she says, pressing down on a lever.

I fill my cup with cherry and follow Cheryllynn to aisle eight.

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