Something Stinks! by Gail Hedrick

Author:Gail Hedrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tumblehome Learning, Inc.
Published: 2013-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

CHILL IS IN THE AIR

It was the usual Friday lunch choice: fish stick surprise or the salad bar. I was trying to make up my mind when Leanne tapped me on the shoulder. “Come sit with me when you get through the line.”

I nodded, thinking how long it had been since we’d eaten lunch together. I hummed happily, assembled my salad, grabbed two milks, and plopped down beside Leanne. “I can’t believe you’re sitting with me. Or that you’re solo.”

“I’m by myself because we need to talk,” said Leanne in a low voice. “And if you don’t watch out, you’re going to be the one who’s all alone.”

Suddenly realizing this was no friendly lunch reunion, I asked, “What did I do?”

“You ran your mouth,” said Leanne, folding her arms like a judge. “You should try keeping some of your opinions to yourself.”

“Like which ones?”

“First, about the fish, of course, since now that’s all you ever talk about,” answered Leanne. “Second, who caused it. Sam said you were blabbing about it at the newspaper meeting. Fish die for lots of reasons, you said it yourself. It could be the golf course or some crazy boaters, you don’t know. The Cayenne plant doesn’t have anything to do with those stupid fish dying.”

“How would you know?”

“The owner happens to be a personal friend,” replied Leanne.

“So now you know some big conglomerate from New York?”

Leanne sighed one of her best stage sighs. “You are so pitiful. As of this past summer, Buford T. Craver has controlling interest in the Cayenne Corporation. Ring any bells? Cynthia’s great-grandfather was one of the people who started the company back in the day, and now Mr. Craver has taken control of the whole operation.”

“I remember you said her dad worked there. I didn’t know he owned it.”

Leanne shook her head. “It’s more than that. He’s trying to save it. You know a lot of companies around here have gone out of business?”

“Yeah, I know the towel factory closed in June and that little table plant by the hospital shut down in the past couple of weeks. Guess a bunch of our neighbors are out of work.”

“Right. People who have jobs are happy they’ve still got them. And with Mr. Craver trying to turn things around he’s pretty popular. He thinks Cynthia should major in design so she can work with him and help carry on the company.”

“Of course,” I said, stabbing around in my salad for stray croutons. “The fashion queen.”

“Em,” said Leanne, slapping the table, “why do you hate her so much?”

I bit my lip, then spoke. “I don’t hate Cynthia. I just don’t like her. And I don’t like how you act when you’re around her.”

“Well, I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” said Leanne, sniffing and tossing her hair a lot like Cynthia. “I just know the Cravers have been very nice to me and I don’t want to hear them bad-mouthed. Sam doesn’t like it either.”

“Okay, I hear you. I just want to find out why the fish died so we can write about it in the school paper.

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