Josephine Against the Sea by Shakirah Bourne

Author:Shakirah Bourne [Bourne, Shakirah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2021-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

My eyes burn as I read the folklore book, scanning the long chunks of paragraphs and small print. I have to force myself not to skip ahead, in case I miss the one line that could reveal how to get rid of Mariss. I so wish Ahkai could help because he’s a much faster reader, but he’s not in a place to help anyone … even me.

It’s been twelve days and Simba still hasn’t come home.

Waiting for news with Ahkai was almost unbearable, with him stationed by the phone. But that was nothing compared to his sullen depression when he began to lose hope. Miss Mo keeps fussing over him, forcing him to swallow raw aloe and rubbing him down in coconut oil. Between being worried about him and Daddy, it’s tougher to get through the heavy text than I imagined.

Mariss’s spiral pendant on my dresser gleams in the sunrise.

I need more time to find out what she wants and how to get rid of her. I’ve avoided her as much as I could, but I can’t maintain that behavior without upsetting Daddy. He keeps trying to get us to spend time together and hinted that we’re going to “spend time as a family” for my birthday tomorrow.

I’ve never been less excited. I know he expects me and Mariss to become best friends.

That’s when it hits me.

Maybe I can make Mariss think that we’re friends, so I can figure out her motives, once and for all. Today is the picnic at Brandon’s Beach and it’s the perfect opportunity to get closer to her. I push the book under my pillow and look at my reflection in the mirror; I think I can act like a friendly almost-eleven-year-old girl.

Miss Mo organized a park and ride to the beach, so everyone has to gather at Fairy Vale Academy, then board a shuttle bus to the city. When I get downstairs, Daddy’s already dressed in swim trunks and a sleeveless shirt, but the spiral tattoo on his chest isn’t visible. Mariss walks out of the kitchen with a large container of salad.

She immediately notices the necklace around my neck. “I knew you’d like it! You just had to give it a chance.”

I smile so hard that my eyes become tiny slits and she is a blur. I force myself to stay still as Mariss comes over and presses her cheek to mine. “Look Vincey, we’re twins!” she says, pointing to our matching necklaces.

“We’re so totally alike,” I respond, hoping my disgust isn’t evident.

“My girls!” Daddy beams at us. When Mariss turns away, Daddy mouths “thank you.” This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done—much, much harder than solving fractions.

I am excited to see Ahkai with Miss Mo at the meeting point, standing in line next to the shiny blue-and-yellow Transport Board bus that looks new, but chugs like an old locomotive. He refuses to talk to anyone, but when I sit next to him, I can tell he’s glad I’m there.

The

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