Indian Summer Read Free Page B

cottage.”

Two
    A FTER M ARCIE CATCHES up with Sara, they decide to cool off under the shade of a nearby maple tree. As they are lounging in the grass in the dappled shade, Marcie wonders about Kaitlyn and her family. Kaitlyn is nice enough most of the time, unlike some of the other “popular” girls, but she can be stuck-up, too. Marcie has always wanted to compete in the big race, but for a Laker team and with Kaitlyn Swyndall? Still … to be in the race, it could be worth it. Maybe Kaitlyn is okay when she’s on her own, and Marcie’s parents do know Kaitlyn’s parents from the university where Mr. Swyndall took over as president a little over a year ago. The families don’t socialize much outside of university functions—although that could change now that the Swyndalls have a house on the lake. They bought the old James place on Lake Pappakeechee after Mrs. James passed away. The property includes acres of woods and marsh where all the kids play explorers and capture the flag. The Swyndalls immediately tore down the little bungalow on the property and built a giant—and beautiful—new vacation house. When her family drove byit the last time she was at the lake, Marcie’s Mamaw smiled ruefully and called it a “McMansion.” It does look a little strange and out of place next to the older, smaller cottage on the property next door.
    Her thoughts are interrupted when Annie Crawford plops down on the grass with her and Sara.
    “What’re you doing laying around here?” says Annie. “Eat too much cotton candy?” She laughs a little too loud and smacks Marcie on the leg hard enough that it stings.
    “Annie, that hurt!” says Marcie, “and no, we didn’t eat too much cotton candy. We just ran in the races.”
    “Marcie won first place—again,” says Sara pretending to pout.
    “Well la-dee-da,” says Annie. She grabs Sara’s arm and tries to pull her up. “Come with me to the Moon Walk!” she wheedles.
    Annie’s trouble, thinks Marcie, is that she tries so hard to make friends that she is annoying. Sara and Marcie aren’t really good friends with her, but they might be the only friends Annie has at school, so they try to be nice to her. A shadow falls over them and they look up to see Ashley, Meghan, and Bailey, three of Marcie’s least favorite popular girls, standing in front of them. Ashley, with straight brown hair and wide-set brown eyes, is the ringleader. She says, “Annie, when are you going to get those bracelets you promised us?” She has her hands on her hipsand her eyebrows raised mockingly. The other two girls say “Yeah,” in unison. Marcie thinks they look like clones of each other, or the three mean musketeers.
    “Well, I, uh, don’t have them,” Annie stammers.
    “That’s what I thought,” says Ashley. She looks knowingly at the others. “You never did have them. You’re just a little liar.”
    It’s obvious that Ashley is about to say more, but Sara stands up, glares directly at Ashley and says, “Why don’t you leave her alone, Ashley Barnes. Go and buy your own bracelets.”
    Ashley catches her breath and takes a step back. She isn’t used to being confronted. “Yeah, well, maybe I will, since we’re obviously not getting any from her.” She recovers herself and glances in Marcie’s direction. “Nice necklace,” she says, sarcastically referring to the silvery dolphin necklace encircling her neck. “I saw they were giving those away at the baby games.” Marcie covers the necklace with her hand and opens her mouth to say something in reply, but no sound comes out. At that moment, Kaitlyn approaches the group, saying, “Well, I think it’s a nice necklace. I’ve always liked dolphins.”
    “Huh!” says Ashley. To Meghan and Bailey she says, “Let’s get out of here. This is totally boring.” They turn and saunter off.
    “Just ignore her,” Kaitlyn says to Marcie. “See you at the lake!” and she walks off after the other three