No Way to Run by Greene Janice

Author:Greene Janice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing
Published: 2014-08-12T17:51:58+00:00

Jasmine sat up and looked at the clock—12:30. She was tired now, but her brain refused to shut down. She called the hospital. Patty was in critical but stable condition, they said. “Hang in there, Patty,” Jasmine said softly as she hung up the phone. Then she dropped onto the pillow and finally drifted off.

Early the next morning, Saturday, Jasmine awoke with a groan. There was nothing to look forward to this weekend but laundry and house cleaning. The only bright spot was basketball practice. Her team, the Flaming Wheels, practiced two hours every Sunday afternoon.

All weekend long, the thought of returning to work loomed like a dark cloud in the distance. She wished she could quit. She never wanted to go back to De Lanza Jewelers again.

Monday morning came all too soon. Shauna showed up on time, very quiet but calm. Jasmine left her bookkeeping chores and did what she could to help her. She’d never dealt with the public before. But to Jasmine’s surprise, she actually enjoyed showing customers the beautiful jewelry and watches. She sold a pretty bracelet to an older man and helped him plan a way to surprise his wife with it.

“You could put it someplace where she’d be sure to see it,” said Jasmine. “Someplace that’s part of her routine.”

“Good idea!” said the man. “I always bring her coffee in bed in the morning. I’ll fasten it to the mug handle!” As he laughed delightedly, Jasmine felt a painful pang of envy. She was sure that no one would ever love her like that.

That afternoon, as she was getting on the bus, something caught her eye. A man standing near the bus stop was wearing a knit cap, even though it was a hot day. Then she noticed how long and pale his arms were. Fear gripped her chest like a huge, cold hand.

“Excuse me,” a woman’s voice said. Jasmine moved to get out of the woman’s way. When she looked again, the strange man had disappeared.

The bus lumbered away. Was it really the thief she had seen? She couldn’t be sure. She longed to get to the back of the bus and see if he was following in a car. But the walkway between the aisles was solidly packed with people. She gritted her teeth in frustration.

Jasmine considered getting off at a different stop—but what difference would it make? If he was out there, he could follow her, no matter what. She remembered how fast she used to run. In those days, she could have gotten off at a different stop and easily snaked through the park to get to her house. She could have lost him for sure.

“Stop it!” she told herself. Those days were gone, lost in the car accident. Today she had only her arms—and her brain. She must use them as best she could.

Jasmine got off the bus and quickly sped down the sidewalk toward home. The cottage was two blocks away. One block ran along a row of houses.

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