Moon White: Color Me Enchanted with Bonus Content Read Online Free PDF

with jealousy when I was your age.”
    I shrug. “Well, what’s the point?”
    “Even so,” says Dad. “You can’t quit. You can’t even assume that the Daniels family will still be here by Christmastime. We’re hoping they’ll be so discouraged when they see our claim that Anthony Daniels will tuck tail and run.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes. Let alone the wetlands laws, he has all sorts of hoops to jump through if he plans to make a resort out of Yaquina Lake.”
    “That’s such a lovely lake,” says Augustine. “I’d hate to see them spoil it.”
    “So would I,” I admit. “Remember when we used to go canoeing on it, Dad?”
    He nods. “Yep. And I can’t bear to think of a schmaltzy golf course going around the west end of it.”
    “That would be a tragedy,” I say. “I mean, that’s where it goes off into the dunes and — ”
    “And golf courses waste so much water,” says Augustine. “From what I’ve heard, this area’s water supply is already hard-pressed.”
    “Well, Mr. Daniels has proposed a saltwater redemption plant to recycle the water for use on the golf course.”
    “Oh.”
    “And he has some big-shot attorney who’s well versed in environmental issues — rather, in how to get around them.”
    “Well, I’m glad you’re there to oppose this Daniels guy,” says Augustine. “And I think Heather better stick with her ballet too.”
    Dad lifts up his wine glass again. “I agree. Here’s to Heather, our favorite Sugar Plum Fairy.”
    “To Heather,” says Augustine, holding up her glass.
    “Do I get some wine for this toast?” I ask Dad as I hold up my glass of green tea.
    He considers this. “Only if you promise not to give up your dancing.”
    I nod. “Okay, it’s a deal.”
    Augustine hops up and gets another wine glass from the hutch behind the table, quickly pours a small amount, and hands it to me. Then we all toast. But I can’t help but make a face after one sip, and then Dad laughs.
    “I guess I should’ve warned you that the blackberry wine wasn’t worth making a deal over,” he says. “But a deal’s a deal. No backing out of ballet, Heather.”
    “That’s right,” says Augustine.
    “I’ll do my best.”
    I offer to help Augustine clean up after dinner, but she informs me that it’s Dad’s turn to do KP and that it won’t be fair if I help him. “We’re still trying to figure out how to balance the household chores,” she says. “Since I cooked dinner, he is supposed to clean up. Without help.”
    “Fine with me,” I say. “I have homework anyway.” Then I ask in what I hope is a nonchalant way if anyone called while I was gone. Okay, I’m wondering if Lucy called and wanted to apologize. But it seems no one called. So I thank Augustine for dinner, excuse myself, and go up to my room. But instead of going straight to homework, like I probably should do, I open the bag of things I bought at The Crystal Dragon. Taking them all out, one by one, I carefully examine them, then put them away. I light the orange candle and turn out the lights. I set the candle on the center of my dresser, where it’s reflected off the mirror. For a moment I just stare at my own reflection in the flickering light. My long straight hair, which is normally the color of bittersweet chocolate, is tinted with mahogany henna. Augustine helped me to do that shortly before school started. And right now it looks redder than usual in the amber candlelight. My face in comparison to my dark hair looks extra pale and my cheekbones, which I get from my mom, seem to stand out more than usual in the shadowy light. I suppose in some ways I do look a little witchy. But not necessarily in a bad way. More like mysterious, mystical, enchanting perhaps.
    I look down at the porcelain fairies that are also on my dresser. They look almost as if they’re posed to begin some kind of ceremonial dance around the candle. I began collecting fairies years ago. My parents would get them for my