Finding Someplace Read Free Page A

slammed open and closed.
    â€œYou could retire right now. You and Reesie and I could go together, just for a few days, to get out of harm’s way.”
    â€œIt’s Reesie that I’m doing this for, Jeannie. You know that!”
    â€œShhh!” Mama hushed him.
    There was a long pause. All Reesie could hear was the hum of the central air-conditioning unit outside her window. How was she in the middle of the drama? She wanted to know, but at the same time she didn’t.
    This was supposed to be the perfect birthday weekend. She’d had it all planned: later this morning was her hair appointment, then Ayanna was coming over for a preview of the birthday outfit. Sunday would be her special dinner. And there would be her neighbor Miss Martine’s lip-smacking coconut cake. But now it seemed like the universe just wasn’t going to cooperate.
    She heard chair legs scrape against the kitchen floor.
    â€œJeannie, baby, I know you worry over me and the job. I promise, soon as I bank a little bit more for Reesie’s college—”
    â€œLloyd, we’re okay with that!” her mother said.
    So that was it. Reesie felt a little guilty, as if she were making trouble for her folks. Her mother went on, sounding calmer. “I’m just anxious. It’s everything they’re predicting about this storm.”
    â€œListen,” Daddy said, “if it eases your mind, I’ll call Pete on my way to the station and have him take Reesie back to Baton Rouge with them tomorrow. She can stay over with them a few days. Missin’ some school in the first weeks won’t set her back at all.”
    â€œI guess…” Her mother’s voice trailed off.
    Reesie settled back onto her sheets. Uncle Pete was her father’s brother. He was also her parraine —her godfather. He was really cool and really laid-back. So was his wife, Tee Charmaine. Staying with them would make it feel like her birthday lasted extra long.
    â€œI’m just not convinced it’s gonna be that kind of dangerous, Jeannie. But I promise I’ll call Pete … and next week we’ll seriously talk retirement.” The front door clicked open. “Everything will be all right.”
    â€œIf you say so, Superman. Be safe out there,” Mama said.
    â€œYeah, I will. See ya, baby.” Daddy left.
    Reesie pulled the covers up around her neck. “No more drama! No more drama!” she whispered to her pillow. Soon she was snoring.
    When she woke up again, she blinked at the green numbers on her alarm clock. It was noon already, and she had a one-o’clock appointment at Bernice’s Beauty Nest and Nail Salon! There was no time to eat. No time for TV. She jumped out of bed and tossed on a white T and denim shorts.
    A trip to Bernice’s could mean a couple of hours under the hair dryer, so she grabbed the backpack with her sketch pad and pencils in it and hurried out.
    On the way, she thought about calling to tell Ayanna about her parents’ fight. Ayanna would say that parents never agreed on anything—relax. And it would take Ayanna an hour to say all that. Instead Reesie texted, HAIR@1. TALK L8R.
    The street was calm and quiet, and the air was already muggy and uncomfortable. She walked faster, looking up. The sun was out, no clouds in sight. No sign of any storm of doom. It seemed like a perfectly normal summer day. But then she remembered the crazy dream she’d had— that scene had started out perfectly normal too.
    â€œDon’t try and kick up on my birthday, Katrina!” she shouted out loud to the sky, not noticing until too late that Miss M, the same Miss Martine who was baking her birthday cake, was half hidden between the leaves of her giant tomato plants three houses away. She was frowning.
    â€œChild, you better watch what you say!” Miss Martine bellowed, raising her bushy white eyebrows over her gold cat-eye glasses. She was wearing pink