The Secret of Hailey's Comments by Kristy Tate

Author:Kristy Tate [Tate, Kristy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-11-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

I’m a swimmer, but I didn’t consider braving the waves that crashed among the rocks. Had I really been with the otters that long? My rumbling stomach said yes. I climbed the hill and headed for James’ friendly blue tent. Maybe he had something for dinner.

I ducked into the warm and stuffy tent. A down sleeping bag lay on top of an air mattress. I gave it a dubious look and hoped I wouldn’t need it. I rummaged through James’ belongings: bug spray, binoculars, a first aid kit, cooking supplies, and a cigarette lighter. I grabbed the binoculars, extracted a white T-shirt from a duffle bag and hurried back outside. With the binoculars I saw the Jensons, Ryan, Artie and James. Even though I knew they couldn’t hear me I tried calling, then yelling, and finally screaming.

I watched Artie. She stood a little too close to James and took every opportunity to touch him. James seemed oblivious and I wondered if I were misreading the situation. They’d known each other since childhood. Sometimes people who have known each other a long time fall into a pattern and the expected response is all that’s needed. Maybe Artie knew James loved her, and she didn’t need the outward signs of devotion. Or, what seemed more likely, Artie cared more for James than James cared for Artie.

Ryan stood with his hands on his hips, occasionally pointing toward the cottage. I wondered if he was looking for me. I waved but Dina turned her back. I sat down discouraged. Only gulls answered my calls. I looked at my watch. It was after six. Ryan should have left by now and a surge of hope ran through me.

Maybe in the twilight they wouldn’t notice, but after the sunset, surely, they’d notice a fire on the hill. I returned to the tent, retrieved the cigarette lighter and looked for something to burn.

The sky had turned pink by the time I returned to the camp and my friends on the beach had disappeared. “No, no, no,” I whispered. My stomach replied with a long, deep growl. I went back to the tent where I’d seen a promising-looking cooler and a propane stove. I found a collection of canned and packaged food and selected a can of chili, a box of crackers, and a large slab of chocolate. I broke off a hunk of the life-saving candy and decided that I’d misjudged James. He looked stiff and unfriendly, but unfriendly stiffs don’t keep slabs of chocolate. Good nature returned. Briefly.

I watched the boat house. The yacht remained tied and I was glad that Ryan wouldn’t leave without me, even if I hadn’t been very nice. In the small, stone-ringed fire pit I piled my kindling into a teepee. James didn’t have any newspaper, so I had to use strips of toilet paper. It didn’t burn very well, but unfortunately, the chili did.

I ate the blackened chili and crackers and then went to make further use of James’ toilet paper.

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