The Hurricane Girls by Kimberly Willis Holt

Author:Kimberly Willis Holt [WILLIS HOLT, KIMBERLY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2023-08-29T00:00:00+00:00

MONDAY NIGHT NANA DROVE Kiki to Bitsy’s house. On the way, she asked, “What happened to the other job?”

“Oh, I told her I couldn’t go. Those kids are brats.”

“You told her that?”

“No, of course not,” Kiki said. “I’m sure she knows. Well, maybe not. She thinks they’re perfect.”

“Your dad used to change jobs all the time too.”

“It’s not like that.” Kiki wasn’t like him. Not one bit.

“Ooooh-kay,” Nana said. “I just hope you didn’t put Ms. Bastrip in a bad spot. She was counting on you.” Nana was starting to sound like her mom.

Bitsy’s house was a plantation-style two-story in Timberview with tall columns at the entrance of the porch. All the houses in the neighborhood were large with sprawling lawns. She was still thinking about what her grandmother said when she got out of the car. Maybe she should have been honest with Eleanor and told her she already had a job. When Bitsy opened the door and gave Kiki a tight hug, Kiki knew she’d done the right thing.

Bitsy had already changed to her pajamas.

Eleanor came downstairs in jeans and a floral top. Kiki wondered if her husband gave her a huge settlement before they divorced instead of leaving her with a big bill for a swimming pool they couldn’t afford.

“You look nice,” Kiki said. She looked down at Eleanor’s perfectly manicured orange toenails and wondered where she was going with flip-flops.

“Didn’t you say you lived in Marrero?” Eleanor asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“No ‘ma’am’ necessary with me. I like to think I’m only a little older than you.” Eleanor winked. “I’ll actually be in Marrero. We usually head to Gattuso’s for girls’ night, but we’re going to one of our friend’s houses because her babysitter flaked out on her.”

Kiki felt like she’d swallowed a brick. Was her friend Ms. Bastrip?

“It’s so hard to get a good sitter,” Eleanor said. “I’m so glad to have found you.”

“I found her, Mommy,” Bitsy said.

“That’s right. You sure did.” She gave Bitsy a peck on the top of her head.

Kiki felt like an imposter. After Eleanor found out that Kiki was the flaky babysitter, this would probably be the last night she’d ever babysit for Bitsy. Maybe her friend wasn’t Ms. Bastrip. A lot of people lived in Marrero.

Before leaving, Eleanor scribbled on a piece of paper and handed the note to Kiki. “Here’s where I’ll be just in case you can’t reach me.”

Kiki stared down at Liddy Bastrip’s name and number.

“Oh, yes,” Eleanor added, “Bitsy has to go to bed at nine.”

As soon as the door closed, Bitsy asked if she wanted to see her room. Kiki followed her upstairs to a bedroom that was bigger than any room in Kiki’s house. It was pink. Everything. Even the wicker swing that hung from the ceiling.

“Do you want to get on my swing?” Bitsy asked.

“That’s okay. I’ll watch you.”

Bitsy fixed herself on the swing and tucked her legs under the seat, then leaned back, pointing her toes toward the ceiling. The swing couldn’t go very high like outdoor ones, but Bitsy was having fun.

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