Sugar by Hall Deirdre Riordan

Author:Hall, Deirdre Riordan [Hall, Deirdre Riordan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyscape
Published: 2015-05-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Christmas lights and slush decorate town. I still hold on to hope for a fresh white blanket of snow on Christmas morning. Like Thanksgiving, I’m not sure what this year will bring. Maybe everyone will come back to our house, but I doubt it. We weren’t the most gracious of hosts.

Skunk got rid of the snake, but holds me responsible and is nastier than ever. I meet Even after school the day before the last day leading up to Christmas break.

“Plans?” he asks.

“Nothing. You?”

“Same. My dad’s arm is still healing, and he’s zonked out on pills. I think he’s smoking pot, too. Kill the pain, y’know?”

“It’s just his arm. I’ve broken my arm. It’s bad, but not like—I mean—” I’m suddenly afraid I’m saying the wrong thing, but then I realize Even’s probably talking about another kind of pain. Grief, nearly two decades’ worth, that he and his father have suffered in their own ways.

I’m quiet as we walk through the streets before we each go to our houses. The backs of my pants are damp almost up to my calf. However, this pair is getting looser, evidence that sticking with walking, staying away from soda, and eating a little more sensibly is helping. The day after next, I’m going to Keene to pick up a couple of Christmas gifts, including one for myself, a new scale. Then I have an idea.

“Want to go to Keene and go Christmas shopping with me?” I ask.

“I’d love to, but I can’t. I have a couple extra shifts at the shop; guys with families requested them off, and I snapped them up. Still gotta save for the trip. Not long now. Just slog through this winter, then spring, and graduation. That reminds me, when is your eighteenth? We’ve got to get your motorcycle license.”

Even knows I repeated first grade, making me the oldest and fattest girl in eleventh, but somehow, we’ve never discussed birthdays. Skunk repeated two grades, so I don’t feel bad about it. As for Fat Henry, he breezed through, but caused a fair number of gray hairs on the teachers’ heads.

“New Year’s Day,” I say. “The big one-eight.”

“No way, New Year’s Day? That has to be good luck or something. Cool. We’ll have to celebrate. Hmm . . . I already have a Christmas present in mind for you, but now your birthday, too. The pressure is on.” He smiles like this is a good thing, and I reward him with one of my own. His grows bigger, he winks, and then he heads down Birch Road.

When I get home, I text Brittany and ask her if she wants to come Christmas shopping with me. I suppose we’ve both been preoccupied with boys this year, so we haven’t spent as much time together as we used to, but it’s as if she and Mason are glued together at the hip. I’ve noticed she’s been absent from school a bit the last few weeks but haven’t thought much of it. She texts back a few lazy minutes later, and we make plans for the next day.

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