The Stepsister Read Free

tough,” Jessie said, still unable to look at Emily.
    â€œI’ll try my best to—” Emily started. But she was interrupted by the familiar tiny thunder of dog paws. Tiger burst into the room, leapt up onto the bed, and tried to lick Jessie’s face.
    â€œUgh! Get away!” Jessie screamed, shoving Tiger away. “Get off me!” She shoved him hard. The confused terrier let out a confused yelp as he hit the floor. “That awful dog will get hair all over my new sweater!” Jessie wailed. “Get him out of here!”
    â€œTiger—out,” Emily said firmly.
    The dog didn’t have to be told twice. His stub of a tail straight up in the air, he turned and trotted out.
    â€œHe’s really very sweet,” Emily said, annoyed at Jessie’s violent reaction to Tiger.
    â€œHe’s disgusting,” Jessie said, searching her sweater for dog hairs.
    â€œHe doesn’t shed much at all,” Emily told her.
    â€œHe could’ve torn it,” Jessie whined. “Do you know what this sweater cost?”
    â€œIt’s very pretty,” Emily said, a little embarrassed. To change the subject she asked, “Are you starving now? You want to go back downstairs?”
    â€œYeah. I guess.” Jessie moved Emily’s old teddy bear from hand to hand.
    â€œI was given that bear on my first birthday,” Emily told her. “It was always my favorite.”
    â€œReally?” Jessie pinched the bear’s nose. “It’s pretty tacky now, isn’t it?” She laughed, a whispery, high-pitched laugh.
    â€œIt means a lot to me,” Emily replied.
    â€œGuess I’ll take this bed, Emily. I can’t stand sleeping by a window.”
    â€œBut that’s always been my bed,” Emily protested. “We bought that new bed by the window for you.”
    â€œWell . . . then I think we have a problem.”
    Jessie glared unhappily at Emily. Then she looked down and tore the head off the teddy bear.

Chapter

2
    The Last Camp-out
    J essie laughed a startled, high-pitched laugh.
    Emily was still too shocked to say a word. Was this really happening?
    Jessie quickly choked off her laughter. “I’m so sorry,” she said, looking down at the teddy bear head in her left hand and the body in her right hand, gray stuffing falling through the open neck. “It was an accident. Really.” She looked up at Emily, as if to see if Emily believed her.
    Emily didn’t believe her. “You pulled Max’s head off,” she said. For some reason it came out more like a question than an accusation.
    â€œNo. It just came off in my hands,” Jessie insisted. “Really. I barely touched it. You do believe me, don’t you?” Her large blue eyes burned into Emily’s, as if challenging Emily to agree it was an accident.
    Emily didn’t reply.
    A shadow fell across the room. It was caused by clouds covering the sun outside the bedroom window. The room darkened so suddenly it gave Emily an eerie feeling. She had this strange sensation that Jessie had brought on the darkness. Emily shivered, suddenly chilled.
    It was a silly thought, of course. But the picture of Jessie in the darkened room sitting on Emily’s bed with Max torn in half on her lap would stay with Emily for a long, long time.
    The shadow lifted.
    â€œHey, guys.” Nancy walked into the room. She was carrying a handful of cassettes. “How’s it going? Do you want these back, Em? I borrowed them last week and—”
    She stopped in midsentence. “Hey—what happened to Max?”
    â€œIt was an accident. Really!” Jessie cried, sounding very defensive. She stood up quickly and walked over to Nancy, holding up the two teddy bear parts. “It just came off in my hands.” Jessie’s voice trembled.
    Nancy put the cassettes down on the desk and took the teddy bear from Jessie. “Maybe it can be