Into White by Randi Pink

Author:Randi Pink
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250086907
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

FORSAKEN

Sunday I slept until I heard a knock on my bedroom door. “Toya? Can I come in?” asked Mom in an uncharacteristically soft voice.

I sat up to realize it was half past two. “Yeah, come in.”

Mom stepped through the door wearing a floor-length church dress and a giant sun hat that resembled a lampshade. “You missed a dynamic service this morning,” she said, cradling her well-worn Study Bible like a fragile newborn. “I figured you needed some time to yourself.”

I rubbed at my eye sockets. “Yeah, I did. Thanks.”

She took a seat on the edge of my bed. “A lot of people gave their lives over to Christ today. A few even joined when Pastor opened the doors of the church.”

“That’s nice, Mom,” I muttered.

“You should’ve seen it,” she continued. “In a few more months, Pastor will have to set up chairs in the atrium. The sanctuary is running out of room.”

I just nodded, picking at the loose skin surrounding my nails.

“Praise Jesus.” She reached for my cheek, but I jerked away.

“I’m really not feeling well, Mom.”

She nervously thumbed through the pages of her Bible. “I don’t know what to do, Toya.”

“Join the club,” I said without looking at her.

After a fair length of silence, she left my room.

* * *

On Monday, my eyes shot open at dawn to a spastic cicada hurtling itself against my bedroom window. I let out a mini scream, not enough to alert my parents with their hallelujah chorus or to wake Alex’s pitiful puppy-dog eyes—just enough to freak me out. After a dozen self-inflicted splats, the insect finally died on the outside sill, alone. The death of a cicada in Gump-town was in no way odd, but this particular bug’s manner of death disturbed me. I could see it in its expressive face, its twisted body, and its serrated wings. It had taken just about all it could take. It was done with life. It wanted to die.

I gave my hair a quick brush, slipped on a pair of jeans and an Auburn University sweatshirt, and headed for the curb. The twins would despise the outfit. They prided themselves on being the most stylish crew to walk the halls of Edgewood, but I wouldn’t take their crap that morning. Their usual pickup time came and went. Twice I saw the top of the Bug emerge over the hill, but they were both mirages in the form of Priuses.

“You’ve been stiffed, doll,” said Dad.

“Shut up, man! You can ride with us, Toya. Get in now, or we’ll be late,” Mom said with a gentle nudge.

Wordlessly, Alex let the seat up and slid in the back as close to the opposing window as possible.

“I didn’t like those gals anyway,” Mom said, finishing her makeup in the shattered passenger’s seat visor mirror. How she could see herself in between the cracks, I could not understand. She turned to look at us. “You guys can hang out again.” She smiled wide and hopeful.

“Your lips are uneven,” I told her.

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