The Secrets of Constellations by S. H. Clark

Author:S. H. Clark [Clark, S. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798886531039
Publisher: Melange Books, LLC

Dharma and I headed down the street with a depressive cloud hanging over our heads. Neither of us felt any better than we had when we said goodbye to her friends. Dharma offered to buy ice cream, hoping the sweet treat might lift our spirits, but my chocolate treat melted faster than my want to eat it. I ended up tossing it in the trash.

“Have you spoken to your parents?” Dharma asked, attempting to get our minds off Mrs. Reise and the fire. She picked up Niku and cradled him like a baby.

“I spoke to them last night.” I led the way across the street. “I think my mom would love you. You’re very similar.”

“Didn’t know I gave off the Samantha Stephen’s vibe,” she joked. “It’s great they’re so supportive and loving." We both knew Mrs. Reise didn’t have any of those qualities.

I took Niku from her and set him down. “They want me to be happy. I’m sure your parents are the same.” When Dharma didn’t respond, I glanced back at her. Something interesting I couldn’t see covered the ground, holding her attention. “Did I say something wrong?”

“I’m not sure I’ve ever pleased my parents.” Dharma headed toward an open bench outside Ruth’s, so I followed. The boys looked like they were finishing up at the register. “I haven’t spoken to them in four years.”

“Four years? Why?”

“They disapprove of my choices. We spent more time arguing than loving each other.”

“I don’t follow.”

Dharma sat down on the bench and stretched her legs out like she was getting ready for something exhausting. “I fell in love with a guy named Tornado when I was fourteen, and before you ask, his real name was Aaron. He changed it when he ran away from home. He was seventeen when I met him.” She traced patterns into the iron armrest. “He told me about life away from rules, curfews, and Sunday school. He introduced me to pot and showed me how he grew it in the back of his Chevy. He lived in that van, and in any open lot a cop wouldn’t search at night. I thought he was the best thing in my life. My parents disagreed.”

I watched Niku paw at a planter of succulents. “What happened?”

“I started skipping classes. I dropped out of Sunday school. He gave me my first tattoo with a knife and some pen ink.” Dharma tilted her shoulder forward. A sloppy, barely visible star decorated the spot above her shoulder blade. “I started breaking curfew. My parents knew the cops on a first name basis when I was fifteen.” She glanced up at me. “Ever seen the inside of an all-female juvie? It’s horrible.” Dharma didn’t go into detail, and I didn’t press that part of the story. “Eventually, I told my parents I didn’t want to be a lawyer. I wanted to live on the road with Tornado and his friends. They told me if I left the house, I wasn’t allowed to come back.”

“You left.”

“And I changed my name to Dharma.

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