Horus and the Curse of Everlasting Regret by Hannah Voskuil

Author:Hannah Voskuil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2016-08-09T04:00:00+00:00

Peter noticed how Tunie gripped the leather edge of her seat as the car bounced along the dirt road toward her house, headlights exposing the dusty trunks of trees.

“You’re the only people I know who have a car,” Tunie said, her voice rising at a particularly sharp jounce. “Fancy.”

Peter and his father laughed.

Peter’s dad said, “It isn’t ours. I borrowed it from the university president, who came by for coffee tonight.”

“Oh,” Tunie said. “That’s my house, straight ahead.” She turned to Peter. “Can we talk tomorrow?”

Peter started to say yes, but his father interrupted. “Sorry, Tunie, but Peter’s grounded tomorrow. He’ll be cleaning all day as punishment for fighting with his stepbrothers, and he’ll probably be grounded all next week for the stunt he pulled tonight, sneaking out like this. That old fellow was lucky you were there to see the person rob him, though.”

Tunie was silent for a moment as the car pulled to a stop, the headlight beams revealing what was little more than a hovel. This was where Tunie lived? Peter was stunned. His own cramped townhouse seemed like a palace by comparison. He felt ashamed all over again for how greedy he’d been at first about the reward money. Tunie’s mom was gone, and she was worried she might lose her dad, too. Peter couldn’t let her become an orphan. He’d give her a bigger share of the reward, he decided. He’d take just enough to go to camp. After all, without Tunie and Perch, he’d be nowhere with his investigation.

Tunie didn’t exit right away. Instead, she scooted forward on her seat.

“Professor Bartholomew,” she said in an urgent voice, “I’ve seen Peter’s stepbrothers gang up on him. Two to one. They’re mean and they beat him and…well, a person can’t blame him for fighting. I only wish I could be there every time, to make it fair. And also”—she spoke in a rush, to keep Peter’s dad from interrupting—“the only reason Peter was out tonight was because of me. My dad’s really sick, and Peter was helping me…finish some of my dad’s work. I asked Peter for his help. I really hope you won’t blame him for lending me a hand. Peter’s a…well, he’s a decent, good, and kind person. I’m the only one who should be in trouble,” she said. With that, she opened the door and slid out.

“Thanks again for the ride,” she said, and slammed the door shut, hurrying into the tiny house.

“Bye, Tunie!” Peter called through the window.

Peter’s dad was silent for a moment. Then he turned in his seat, looking over his shoulder as he backed up the car.

“Well, Peter,” he said finally, “it sure seems like you’ve found a friend.”

Peter thought of how Tunie had stood up to the twins when they were attacking him, and how she’d defended him just now. She was the kind of friend he’d wished for all year.

“Yeah,” Peter agreed. “Tunie’s pretty great.”

He spent the rest of the ride home answering his father’s questions as

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.