Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney

Author:Caroline B. Cooney
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780375895685
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: 2010-08-21T04:00:00+00:00

FRIDAY EVENING

The Linnehan house

CLAIRE DID NOT turn on the lights in her bedroom. She stood in front of her full-length mirror staring at her shadowy reflection.

Claire could imagine Missy in Mrs. Stancil’s class deciding to use the hoax idea. What Claire could not see was the benefit. Wouldn’t it have been better to wait for the weekend when the two families were together?

But parents who kept secrets all these years might not yield. Missy’s dad might roll his eyes. “Come on, Missy,” he might say. Claire’s own father might say “Huh?” while he helped himself to more food. Her mother might say, “Missy, don’t be annoying. There are enough annoying people in my exercise classes. I don’t need it from you.” Missy’s own mother would not have been listening. “Do you like this salad dressing? I don’t usually use lemon juice, I usually use vinegar, but I was out of vinegar and I saw this once on TV and I thought, it’ll be mild, but maybe people will like it.”

And what would she, Claire, the identical twin in question, have said when Missy presented her theory?

It wasn’t our parents Missy needed to convince, she thought. It was me.

Okay, Missy. You did it. I’m convinced.

Claire reached for her cell phone.

Missy answered instantly. “Thank God you phoned! I missed you so much. Don’t call me Melissa again. I don’t even know who she is.”

“I don’t know who she is either, Missy. Okay, two things. First, I lied. I knew the instant I left your high school foyer and turned right and looked down that long dim hallway and saw that pale pink blur. I knew who you were. I knew who I was. I just couldn’t admit it. I can be a twin instead of a cousin, I guess, but I can’t be adopted. Not yet. Maybe tomorrow.”

They didn’t giggle. But there was a softness in the silence.

“And the other thing?” asked Missy.

“The Genevieve person. I’ve decided that it’s some Internet junkie trying to invade our lives. But it’s making me nervous. Let’s look at her page together. We’ll have a good laugh and go to sleep friends.” Claire knew Missy wanted to go to sleep identical twins. But Missy let it go. “Let’s get our laptops,” she said. “I feel the need for a large screen.”

Claire put on her bed light. She got her laptop and arranged herself comfortably in bed. She plumped the pillows. Balanced the laptop on her knees. Tilted the lamp so it didn’t glare on the screen.

“Ready?” said Missy.

“Ready,” said Claire.

But of course she was not ready.

Who could be ready for this?

Genevieve Candler’s Facebook page featured album after album of little square pictures to click and enlarge.

There was Missy standing on white-painted steps leading to a red front door. Claire had never even seen white-painted steps. How did you keep them white?

There was Missy admiring a Christmas tree decorated with mauve and violet silk flowers. Their families celebrated Christmas in green and red. Where were these places?

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