Year-Round Trouble by Miranda James

Author:Miranda James [James, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KaliOka Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

"Pearl," said Cherry, a few minutes later. Then grunted as they heaved a second-hand couch in front of The School of Athens. "I'm worried about that cat."

Pearl gave her a good eyeball, dusted her hands, and unrolled a rug over the scarred wooden floor. "What you should've done was painted these floorboards."

"They need sanding, not painting. That’s original oak. And they don't look too bad. Mine are in worse shape."

"Because they're splattered with paint. Now help me hang these curtains." Pearl picked up a plastic bag and yanked out a pair of sheers.

Cherry moved to the window facing Anna Mae's. Window shades concealed the interior of her house. Only a corner of the backyard was visible. A chicken bobbed into view then retreated. Cherry craned her neck, searching for Trouble. And the aunts.

"Be right back," she said.

From Casey's screened back porch, she scanned Anna Mae's yard. Two boots hung out of the hen house. Someone crawled inside. Likely not hunting for eggs.

"They'll be here soon," called Pearl, opening the kitchen door.

"Shh." Cherry pointed toward Anna Mae's yard.

Pearl, who also loved minding her neighbors' business, took a spot next to Cherry and lowered her voice. "What's going on over there? Someone stealing eggs?"

Cobweb crawled out backward. Her shirt slid sideways, baring the handgun poking above her waistline.

"Why is she armed?" Pearl whispered.

"I've been wondering that myself. And why do they keep showing up when Anna Mae's not home?"

Cherry and Pearl shrank back as Cobweb stood and dusted off her hands. She glanced over her shoulder at Casey's home, clomped up Anna Mae's porch steps, and entered the house.

"I don't like this." Pearl frowned. "Especially with a baby about to arrive. We can't have chicken snatchers and egg creepers going on next door."

"Don't think it's the hens they're interested in,” said Cherry. "Maybe they think something's hidden in the henhouse, though."

"What're you going to do about it?"

"I called Luke. There's nothing to do if Anna Mae doesn't want to press charges. Y'all complain about me getting into trouble, but when it comes to these situations, why am I expected to do something?"

Pearl folded her arms. "Since when do you worry about what anyone thinks? These are the situations you do get involved in because you know something's not right. Are you going to let our baby come home when there're folks with guns creeping around next door?"

Cherry pivoted to study Anna Mae's house. "No, I'm not."

"Didn't think so. Go figure out what's going on. Then ring Luke. If they're family, Anna Mae might not be able to make that call herself.”

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