Heaven Sent Read Free Page A

Crete? Where?” Era hollered, panting as she walked back from chasing critters. She had all sorts of twigs and leaves stuck in her long, blond curls.
    “I don’t know,” I said. And I was good at geography.
    “It says here it’s in the United States. There’s a map. Let me read on: ‘There has been another slight mishap. Zeus has propelled you, quite accidentally, into the future. Look around: This, dear girls, is Athens, Georgia, 2002.’”
    Polly’s face went white.
    “Whoa,” was all I could say. Daddy’s powers were definitely shot. Spent. Done.
    “How could he, where could he, why, how?” mumbled Era. “Huh?”
    Polly sat down on the stairs that led up to the door, dropping the scroll into her lap. “Okay,” she said. “That is perfectly fine. We can handle this. So it’s not quite the earth we know. So we’re in the future and there’s no way to tell what kind of monsters there arehere, or how things work, or whether people are cannibals now. That’s okay. It can’t…be…all that…” Then my sister started to sob. “Oh, Father. As if this wasn’t bad enough already!”
    “Now, maybe this isn’t so bad,” I wondered aloud, sitting down next to Polly and rubbing her back. “I mean, we don’t know what the future is like. Maybe it’s all leprechauns and roses. Maybe it’s an adventure every day. Maybe it’s space age.” Space age has been one of my favorite phrases ever since I heard it from a soothsayer on Olympus.
    “Your inconceivable enthusiasm is starting to really wear me down, Thalia,” Polly spat out, wiping at her eyes with the hem of her nightie. “Can you put a lid on the Aurora * act? This is treacherous, abominable, and all your fault.”
    “Excuse me,” I said, pulling my hand away from her. “Let’s not get in the blame game, okay? I do recall your being present before, during, and after the, um, disaster. I do remember your suggesting the spell in the first place; I seem to recall—”
    “Please, stop! My head hurts,” Era cut in, her voice trembling. “Please stop being mean to each other. Polly, why don’t you just keep reading Hermes’s letter, please ?” Era looked at Polly and me with big, sweet, doleful eyes.
    Even though she’s just a little younger than me and only a year younger than Polly, it’s hard to keepfrom treating Era like the baby of the family. For some reason, it’s just impossible to see her unhappy. It’s just that, I dunno, she’s so innocent and sweet and loving, and she has the ability to make me feel guilty like no one else.
    “Yes, okay, all right,” Polly said, clearing her throat. “‘This structure of reasonable size and fashion is to be your home while you reside in Athens.’”
    “Georgia!” I called out, but no one thought it all that funny. Polly read on.
    “‘Inside you will find comfortable bedrooms, styled to the modern tastes of the time. There is a kitchen. In case you girls do not know what that is, I shall tell you. It is where you will cook things.’”
    “Cook things? Cook things! I will not cook a thing. That is not the concern of a goddess,” stated Era. Polly ignored her and read on.
    “‘Hera has disallowed you any ladies-in-waiting and servants. I’m afraid to tell you that you will have to provide food for yourselves. As well as do the washing, cleaning, shopping, and dressing.’” Era’s face scrunched up in disbelief. “‘But don’t fear. Many of these tasks have been simplified since ancient times. There is something called electricity that will enable you to wash dishes and clothes using a machine and create bright light and warmth without using a fire. You’ll find switches and knobs all over the house that will let you control these various devices.’”
    “Hey, why don’t we go inside?” I suggested eagerly. “We can finish reading the letter in there.” I nodded toward the door. I knew I should be concentrating on Hermes’s words, but I just couldn’t wait to see