McKettricks of Texas: Garrett Read Online Free PDF Page B

ready to stage within a month. We’d be lucky to get the musical going by Christmas.”
    Bob Riza, who coached football, basketball and baseball in their respective seasons, in addition to teaching math, flung a sympathetic glance in Julie’s direction and finally spoke up. “Maybe the foundation would be willing to cut us a check for the full amount,” he said. “Forget the matching requirement, just this once.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s fair,” Julie said.
    Arthur folded his arms, still watching her. “I agree,” he said. “The McKettricks have been more than generous. Three years ago, you’ll all remember, when the creeks overflowed and we had all that flood damage and our insurance only covered the basics, the foundation under-wrote a new floor for the gymnasium, in full, and replaced the hundreds of books ruined here and in the public library.”
    Julie nodded. “Here’s the thing, Arthur,” she said. “The showcase won’t bring in a lot of money, that’s true. But it’s important—the kids involved are trying to get into very good colleges, and there’s a lot of competition. Having their plays produced will make them stand out a little.”
    Arthur nodded, listening sympathetically, but Julie knew he’d already made up his mind.
    â€œI’m afraid the showcase will have to be moved to spring,” he said. “The sooner the musical is under way, the better.”
    Julie knew she’d lost. So why did she keep fighting?“Spring will be too late for these kids,” she said, straightening her spine, hiking up her chin. “The application deadlines are—”
    Arthur shook his head, cutting her off. “I’m sorry, Julie,” he said.
    Julie swallowed. Lowered her eyes.
    It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate Arthur’s position. She knew how important those new computers were—while most of the students had ready access to the Internet at home, a significant number of kids depended on the computers at the public library and here at the high school. Technology was changing the world at an almost frightening pace, and Blue River High had to keep up.
    Still, she was already spending more time at school than was probably good for Calvin. Launching this project would mean her little boy practically lived with Libby and Paige, and while Calvin adored his aunts, she was his mother. Her son’s happiness and well-being were her responsibility; she couldn’t and wouldn’t foist him off and farm him out any more than she was doing now.
    The first period bell shrilled then, earsplittingly loud, it seemed to Julie. She was due in her tenth-grade English class.
    Riza and the others rose from their chairs, clearly anxious to head for their own classrooms.
    Julie remained where she was, facing Arthur Dulles. She felt a little like an animal caught in the headlight beams of an oncoming truck, unable to move in any direction.
    He smiled. Arthur was not unkind, merely beleaguered. He served as principal of the town’s elementary and middle schools as well as Blue River High, and his wife, Dot, was just finishing up a round of chemotherapy.
    â€œIt would be a shame if we had to turn down the fundingfor all that state-of-the-art equipment,” Arthur said forth-rightly, standing directly in front of Julie now, “wouldn’t it?”
    Julie suppressed a deep sigh. Her sister was engaged to Tate McKettrick; in his view, that meant Julie was practically a McKettrick herself. Maybe Arthur expected her to hit up the town’s most important family for an even fatter check.
    â€œCouldn’t we try some other kind of fundraiser?” she asked. “Get the parents to help out, maybe put on some bake sales and a few car washes?”
    â€œYou know,” Arthur said quietly, walking her to the door, pulling it open so she could precede him into the hallway,