The Ghost of Jeopardy Belle by M. L. Bullock

Author:M. L. Bullock [Bullock, M. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2018-04-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven—Harper

“Loxley wasn’t at school today, Momma. Can’t we go see her?”

A haze of cigarette smoke swirled around my mother’s face, and she wore her usual lost expression. She always looked like this when she’d spent the previous night drinking, and she did that more and more as of late. “She’s better off with Dot. In fact, you’d all be better off.” And she was still drunk.

I hung up the phone and stared at the back of her head. Her hair was unbrushed and unwashed. She wasn’t dressed either. Addison and I would have to hoof it, and quickly, if we were going to make it to school on time. One more tardy and I would face Mr. Alfred’s wrath. And possibly his paddle. Too bad he couldn’t paddle Momma.

“Where’s Jeopardy this morning? Jeopardy?” It of course wasn’t Jep but Addison. She came into the kitchen wearing new shoes, and her hair was brushed and tidy.

“Morning, Momma. What’s for breakfast, Harper?” she said as she frowned at the empty table.

Am I the only sane one around here?

“You don’t have time for breakfast, your majesty. We’re walking to school this morning,” I said as I picked up my books from the table and slung my purse over my shoulder.

“I can’t walk to school in these shoes. They’re brand new!” she whined as she pursed her pouty lips. “Grandfather would be so mad if I scuffed them up before he saw me in them.”

That woke Momma up from her stupor. She rose to her wobbly feet and put her hands on the table to steady herself. “What did you say? Who’s buying you shoes, Addison Lee?”

Addison backed away from Momma, and I pushed her behind me as I reached for the back door. “We better go, Addison.”

“Okay,” she said as she scurried out of Summerleigh. “Bye, Momma.” I could hear her voice breaking up as she sailed down the back steps.

“Addison, you get back here!” Momma shouted after her.

I closed the door and left Momma to stew in her own juices. I caught up with Addison around the corner of the house. The overgrown hydrangeas made the perfect hiding spot. “Come on out, Addie. She’s too drunk to follow us to school. Take your shoes off if you’re worried about getting them dirty, but the walk might be hard on your feet.”

Addison clutched her notebook to her chest and looked down at her shoes. “These are the nicest shoes I’ve ever owned.” She didn’t take them off, and we walked together down Hurlette.

I smiled at her. “Yes, they’re very nice.”

Addison smiled back, but her expression changed. Daddy always said she would make a horrible poker player. She could never hide her emotions. “I’m sorry, Harper.” She grabbed my arm gently. “I tried to get you a pair too, but you know how Grandfather is. Maybe if you apologized to him, he’d like you again. I tried to explain it to him, how hard it was to live with Momma, but I think…I think you really hurt him.

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