Unbreakable Read Free Page A

the list."
    Gwen's mouth dropped opened. "But your last name isn't on list. There are lots of Katherines."
    Jacie and Audrey grinned. "A rule is a rule, Gwen," Audrey reminded. "Katy's name is right there."
    Gwen thrust her chin in the air. "Fine. We should take a vote then. And since it's about Katy she can't vote. And since Audrey is her cousin, she can't vote. That leaves me and Jacie and Nina." "I vote that we let Katy in," Jacie said instantly, "and that we make her president."
    Gwen stuck her tongue out at Jacie, but she didn't protest. After all, the vote had been her idea. "I solved the mystery of all of us being Pilgrims, so I vote for myself to be president. And for only people with last names from the list should be in the club. Sorry, Katy." She turned to Nina. "Nina?"
    Nina gulped and ran a hand through her wind-tousled hair, feeling the pressure and sheer importance of the moment. It was truly up to her now. She looked at each girl in turn, unintentionally lingering long enough so that they all began to sweat.
    Jacie gave her the tiniest smile of encouragement and Nina felt her confidence pick up steam. "K-Katy is in. I vote w-with Jacie."
    "Yes!" Katy and Audrey hugged and jumped up and down in each other's embrace, Audrey's mop of curly brown hair flopping up and down as they moved.
    Just then, the bell rang and a horde of 8-year-olds began stampeding for the door.
    "Can I be president after Katy?" Gwen asked loudly, accepting defeat graciously and fighting the urge to step aside and lose her space near the head of the line, despite the risk of being trampled.
    "Sure," the girls said, clustering near the door.
    Nina smiled. She'd never been anywhere near the front of the line before. Her smile grew. Because of her height, she'd never even seen the front of the line. It wasn't that she was short for her age; Nina had gone to only the first few days of first grade before being promoted directly into the second grade.
    Mrs. Applebee opened the door and then, waving the children in, disappeared back into the classroom.
    "So what will we do in this club?" Jacie asked Gwen as they entered the coatroom, not even noticing the familiar scent of dust, must, and sweat. She wasn't sure she wanted to be in a club at all. And no way was she going to sing or be in a talent show. No way.
    Before Gwen could answer, Bucky Lee shouldered his way past Nina, elbowing her hard. "Out of the way, N-N-Nina," he mocked with a cruel laugh. Several of his friends joined in the taunt, all stuttering "N-N-Nina."
    Nina grimaced, feeling a bruise bloom instantly on her ribs. She whirled around with her fists in the air, eyes blazing, but she didn't have to say a word.
    Audrey and Katy, each of whom had three older brothers, descended upon two of the teasing boys with the practiced ease of hyenas on the prowl, pushing them hard against the pegged wall and knocking several pair of old galoshes from the rack above the jackets onto their heads.
    Jacie launched all of her 75 pounds at Bucky Lee, pinning him to the ground and shaking the life out of him by the collar of his shirt before the boy could even blink. He'd recently teased her about her failed world record attempt and this was the last straw. He had this coming.
    Gwen stepped in front of Nina, ready to fend off any further attacks, even though she knew her mother would take a strap to her if she tore her last pair of tights. Her face turned the same shade of red as her flaming hair at the thought of having only panties to wear under her dress, but she stood her ground.
    Jacie and Bucky Lee rolled around on the floor for a moment, but Jacie quickly regained control. "With teeth like that," she bared her front teeth and made a chittering sound like a beaver chewing wood, "how can you tease anyone, Bucky ?" He began to squirm beneath her again, but this time her grip was solid. "Say you're sorry, dog breath," she demanded.
    "Sorry, dog breath," Bucky instantly replied, laughing hysterically