Radium Halos Read Online Free PDF Page B

voice.
“Nothing happened in the mine. We just got stuck in that stupid
room.” I didn’t want to be here another minute. The ambulances’
flashing red lights bounced off the front of the mine. The entrance
looked like a face laughing at us with horrible beady red eyes. I
shuddered and mumbled, “So…tired…Just gonna lie down…in the car.” I
walked to his Beamer, grabbing a blanket and bottle of water from
the back of the ambulance as I passed. I crawled into the back seat
and took a swig from the bottle. The refreshing liquid never tasted
so delicious. My body collapsed across the seats, my arms pulling
the blanket over my head. Everything sounded so loud outside.
    I woke groggy
sometime later. It took me a moment to remember what happened. Uugh! What a lousy night. The cut-off of the engine told me
we were in Dad’s driveway. He cleared his throat and I heard him
move to reach over to the passenger seat, probably grabbing his
bag. When he opened the door, the irritating beeping sounded to
remind him to take the keys from the ignition.
    Reaching for
the handle, I pulled myself up and crept outside. The cool air made
me shiver. I hugged myself and groggily made my way to Dad’s front
door. A figure stood silhouetted in the light on the porch. I
groaned, wishing I had the ability to disappear, or better yet,
some supernatural power to make my mom disappear.
    Mom began
shouting at Dad, oblivious to the late hour. “You bastard! Why
didn’t you call me sooner?” She stamped her foot. “She could’ve
been seriously hurt.”
    Dad said
nothing. He put his arm around my shoulders and helped me inside
the house, and whispered to me, “She’s just worried about you.”
Once we were through the front door, he turned back to corral my
unbelievably loud mother. She wouldn’t shut up.
    “She could’ve
drowned, or been hit by lightening or --”
    “Bev,” Dad
said, using his doctor-talking-to-the-patient voice, “why not come
inside and I’ll make you a cup of coffee. You must be cold from
waiting.” Good ol’ Dad, making her think it was in her best
interest to come in.
    They came
inside, Dad holding the door for my stomping mother. She paused in
front of me and began touching and patting me everywhere.
    “Are you hurt?”
Pat, pat, pat.
    “No, Mom. Stop.
Nothing’s broken. Dad’s already checked me out. I’m fine.”
    “We should take
you to the hospital. Who knows what rodents are living in that
mine.”
    I stepped out
of her reach. “I’m alright.” I glanced at Dad for help.
    He smiled and
shrugged, as if saying “what can you do?” He squeezed my shoulder.
“Let’s talk over a cup of coffee, Bev.”
    Mom glared at
him. “You’re right we’re going to talk.” She stormed into the
kitchen.
    Dad gave me a
sympathetic smile. “I’ll calm her down. Why don’t you go on and
clean up.” He pulled at a strand of my hair, dried dirt feel to the
floor.
    That’s why I
loved him. He got me without having to explain things sometimes.
“Thanks. I’m gonna jump in the shower. I stink.”
    “--and I think
there’s more mud on you than most pigs.” He hugged me tight,
pulling away when my mother called out she couldn’t work the coffee
machine. I smiled. Dad had one of those automatic coffee makers. It
made lattes, hot chocolates, the works. Actually, a drink sounded
really good.
    He must have
seen my face. “I’ll make something hot and soothing for you to
drink, and put it in your room.” He kissed my forehead. “Good
night, sweetie. I’ll see you in morning.” He headed down the hall
to the kitchen.
    I shook my head
when Mom started in on Dad. She always did that. Whenever she
couldn’t handle a situation, she blamed it on him. She didn’t mean
to but it was her way of dealing with crap. Plus tonight she talked
so bloomin’ loud, it grated on my ears. She just didn’t know how to
handle intense situations. If she’d just leaned on Dad instead
of blaming him, maybe… I forced the