Deprivation House Read Online Free PDF Page B

fifty thousand when we’re competing for a million,” Olivia said. There were nods of agreement all around the table.
    â€œWe’ll see how you feel once you’re a little more uncomfortable,” Veronica said. “Living without luxuries could be very difficult for some of you.” Her eyes drifted to Ripley.
    Ripley’s lips tightened, but only for a second.
    â€œBy the way, this is the last meal that will be prepared and served for you,” Veronica added. “You’ll have to do your own cooking and cleaning. Unless you want to starve or live in filth.”
    â€œHow do you decide who gets booted?” Mikey asked.
    â€œExcellent question,” Veronica answered. “Each week, a panel of three judges and I will review the tapes from the house cameras. I will give the reports of what I have seen. Then we will decide who has handled their deprivation the worst. That person will then be told, ‘You have been deprived of the chance to win one million dollars.’”
    â€œGreat line,” Kit said. “As long as I don’t have to hear it said to me.”
    Veronica finished her juice. She hadn’t taken any food. “Your time is your own until three. Then I expect you to meet me in the great room upstairs”—she smiled wide—“in your bathing suits.”
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    â€œWhy bathing suits?” Wilson asked when we were all gathered in the massive living room—more like a loft—that afternoon. “The pool’s been drained.”
    â€œGotta win,” Bobby T was muttering to himself as he paced back and forth behind one of several couches. “No Internet, no blog, no blog, no option renewal. Gotta win.”
    â€œMaybe they just want to give our audience something pretty to look at,” Kit answered, posing for the closest camera.
    Mary, the home-schooled girl, didn’t seem to want to be looked at by anybody. She had on a one-piece bathing suit, the kind with a flouncy skirt. And she had a big towel wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
    â€œGuys, be extra careful. Males account for nearly eighty percent of drowning deaths,” Rosemary informed us.
    Whatever it was we were going to do, I wished we would just go ahead and do it. I hated waiting around. I checked the clock. It was 3:10. Veronica was late.
    Joe didn’t seem to mind. He and Brynn were hanging out again. She was laughing at something he’d said. Which doesn’t necessarily say much for her sense of humor.
    â€œHello, everyone.” Veronica walked into the room, high heels click-clacking on the polished wooden floor. She’d added a tiny apron to her suit and had on a pair of rubber gloves. “How many of you have to do the dishes at home?”
    About half the hands went up—including Joe’s and mine.
    â€œWell, today everyone’s going to get a chance. Without the luxury of fancy dishwashers. And whoever gets the most dishes sparkling clean in fifteen minutes wins today’s contest,” Veronica announced.
    That was it? Washing dishes?
    â€œThere’s got to be a catch,” Joe said. “Nothing’s ever that basic on a reality show.”
    â€œFollow me, and I’ll show you your work space,” Veronica said in reply.
    I managed to snag Joe as we all trooped downstairs. “Did you notice that finally there’s a girl who recognizes the hotter, more happenin’ Hardy when she sees him?” he asked, after he’d made sure no one could overhear us. “I don’t care what they deprive us of, as long as I can keep Brynn.”
    â€œCan you focus?” I asked. “Our mission here isn’t for you to get a girlfriend.”
    Joe grinned. “No, that’s Wilson’s mission for himself. He figured if he was actually living in ahouse with girls all day, every day, he’d have to find looove . And I saw that Olivia girl whispering