Forget This Ever Happened by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Author:Cassandra Rose Clarke [Clarke, Cassandra Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 2020-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

That afternoon, Claire nails flat pieces of wood over the kitchen window to protect the cracked glass until the repairman can come out to fix it.

Grammy sits on the porch with an iced tea in one hand, watching Claire work. Her presence puts Claire on edge, but at the same time Claire doesn’t want to be out here alone.

The broken window isn’t the only evidence of the monster. The colocasia plants growing up next to the house are trampled, the soil ripped up: an unsettling sight that Claire tries to ignore. There’s also the lingering scent of metal, sharp and burning and tickling at the back of Claire’s throat.

“When you’re finished with this,” Grammy says, “I want you to call up Audrey.”

Claire pauses, her hammer poised to strike. She looks at Grammy over her shoulder. “What?”

“Audrey Duchesne. I want you to call her up when you’re finished.” Grammy sips her tea and settles back into her chair. “You haven’t seen her in a few days and you know I’d rather you spend your time with her than with that Julie Alvarez.”

Claire hammers the nail into place, remembering the man who’d shown up at the house. He’d gone around back, but the monster had already vanished. That’s another reason why they’re boarding up the window. Just in case the monster comes back.

“I thought I was grounded.” Claire steps away from the window and plucks another nail out of the old coffee can. The wood’s in place; at this point she’s just fortifying it. She doesn’t ever want to see that monster’s face peering at her between its own clawed feet again.

“I figured you’ve been punished enough,” Grammy says. “And besides, I’m sure Audrey’ll want to see you. It’s summer and she doesn’t have to work. Give her a call.”

It sounds not like a suggestion but a demand. Grammy uses the same tone of voice as when she informed Claire that Claire would be covering the window.

“Are you sure it’s safe for me to be out?”

“You’ll be safe,” Grammy says.

Claire sighs and hammers in another nail. She doesn’t want to see Audrey Duchesne. She wants to see Julie. After the monster attack, and cowering in the bathtub for nearly an hour, Julie’s the only who will make her feel protected.

“Call her,” Grammy says.

Claire sighs and admits defeat. “Fine.” She picks up another nail.

“I think it’s secure enough,” Grammy says. “Go on in, give Audrey a call.”

Audrey, Audrey, Audrey. Claire’ll be happy if she never hears that name again. She tosses the nail back into the coffee can and then gathers up her tools and goes inside. Grammy doesn’t follow, only stays in her spot on the porch, staring out at the empty yard.

The kitchen is darker than usual with the board across the window. Claire puts the tools back in the cabinet and then goes over to the phone. Might as well get it over with.

Audrey’s number is written on a Post-it note and stuck on the wall next to all the numbers that Claire’s mother left behind.

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