Family Scandal Read Online Free PDF Page A

was not happy with what I saw. My best friend looked a mess. Her hair was all over her head, and her face was puffy and red. She had on a long sleeved shirt with baggy jogging pants, which would have been ok if it wasn't summer time. She looked weak, like she hadn't slept in days. I didn't know what to say to her, so I did the best next thing. I reached for her and hugged her tight and felt her breakdown in my arms.
    “She's gone!” she cried
    “Who?” I asked as I wiped her face with my sleeve.
    “My mama!”
    “What do you mean gone? Where she go?”
    “She left that night, and I haven't seen or talked her since then.”
    “Well did you call her phone?”
    “Yea, it’s here! She left everything here!”
    “Wait it’s been how long since she been gone? Where yo dad at? Ya"ll need to call the police and file a missing persons report!” I exclaimed.
    “I told him that but he said because of the situation, they gone probably say she just took some time to clear her head.” Melanie answered.
    “No, no that’s not right! Even if they do say that, they still have to file a report!” I said. “Okay so what else is it that you’re not telling me?”
          She knew that I knew there was something else. She leaned over and whispered something in my ear and tears began to fall from my eyes. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I looked at Melanie, who had stood up and began to pace back and forth in tears.
    “Is this for real?” I asked her completely stunned.
    “No, I refuse to believe it is.” She answered. “Mel we got to tell them”
    “No, no... They are going to find her and bring her home to me. She wouldn't just leave like that”
    “I know Mel, but we need to tell them so they can bring her back home”
    “NO! I said no...She’s coming back. I know she is. Don't you say one word of this to nobody, you promise me. Not even to Jeremiah!”
    “Okay, okay! I promise.”
          Just then, my parents and Jeremiah came running inside. I could see the heartbreak on my mom's face, as she reached for Melanie.
    “The police are on the way” my dad said as he came and stood by me.
          It took everything in me to not tell them what Melanie had told me. I was so confused and didn't know what to do or who to talk to. I made a promise to my friend and I couldn't break it but this time I felt I should.
    “Where's Deondre?” My dad asked.
    “I don’t know, I guess he is at work. We haven’t really talked.” Melanie replied
    “Where's Brad?” My mom asked looking around.
    “With him.”
          It hurt me to see my best friend in so much pain. There was nothing that I could do or say to make her feel better. I felt so helpless. She was here in this house by herself. Everyone had left her. Auntie Lynn disappeared. But the way I felt, was nothing compared to what Melanie felt. The doorbell interrupted my thoughts. My dad let the police in and led them to the dining room table. Him and my mom sat down and told them everything that had happened. My eyes went from them to Melanie and back to them. I saw her about to breakdown soon. She looked like she was ready to explode. As the police took down all of the information, they left, but not before informing us that they would begin a search and file the missing person's report. One of the detectives that showed up a few minutes after the police did said that he would be interviewing Deondre and asking him why he wasn't the one to call the police. He also asked for Kita's information, which no one had. So I thought.
    “She's staying at the Holiday Inn on Sheridan” Mama told the detective.
          Of course Daddy didn't know anything about that. He stared at mama with an angry stare.
    “Don't question me; don't say a thing to me!” Mama said to Daddy “She is still my child, and I won't have her out on the street”
          Daddy was so mad he got up and went home. The detective left with all of the information he had