The Photographer Read Online Free PDF

feel a funny itching around her wrists. She rubbed them and the itch turned to pain. She shook both hands to get rid of the sensation.
    â€œI’m glad I’m not an only child,” Robert said, distracting Megan.
    â€œYou’ve forgotten that I am. But my parents don’t treat me like that, thank goodness. Maybe that’s why Derrick is so quiet. There’s no one at home that he wants to talk to.”
    â€œWhere’s his father?”
    â€œI don’t think anyone knows. I can see why he left his wife though,” Megan whispered, stifling a giggle.
    â€œNaughty, naughty.” Robert fingered a wroughtiron sculpture that moved slowly when touched. It balanced on a piece of marble and stainless steel.
    Mrs. Ames cleared her throat as if to say Robert shouldn’t touch things. “Derrick is busy. He handed me this packet through the door.”
    Robert took the manila envelope and shuffled through the pictures. “Thanks, Mrs. Ames. This is what I need.”
    Megan led the way out of the house, with its cloying atmosphere. There was a look in Mrs. Ames’s eyes that Megan didn’t like. She couldn’t put a label on it, but she made some connection to her wrists itching again. The sensation stopped the minute she got back in Robert’s car.
    â€œDid you get a creepy feeling, being in there?” Megan asked Robert.
    â€œJust that I wouldn’t want to live there. Seemed like an unpopular museum. I don’t blame Derrick for hiding out in his darkroom.”
    â€œThis may sound crazy, but I got the idea that Mrs. Ames was afraid of something, maybe even Derrick.”
    â€œYes, that’s crazy, Megan. She was probably just a little tipsy.” Robert laughed.
    Megan shrugged off the idea and shuffled through the pictures as Robert headed for school. Cynthia, Bunny, Roxie MacNeil, Marva James, Candy Gilford, and Lora Santana. Pasteboard smiles on pasteboard girls. Except for Cynthia, none of the beauties had much going for her except looks. Was it true that when you were physically beautiful, you didn’t have to work so hard to cultivate talent or inner beauty? Or was that a cliché? Five of these six girls just happened to be among those who didn’t bother to cultivate anything else.
    Actually, Lora Santana loved horses and was a good rider. She’d been Stock Show Queen last year. Roxie and Bunny worked on the paper, but they confined their news to lightweight subject matter. Roxie was good at layout and collecting ads. Merchants dazzled by her looks probably bought ads to see her smile.
    Megan scolded herself. She was being catty, and maybe even a bit jealous of such an array of glamour. Derrick had done his job well. They all looked relaxed, beautiful, and were caught in a good light, one that flattered their features. If Derrick ever wanted to do fashion photography, he’d be successful.
    â€œThanks, Megan. For some reason I didn’t want to go out there alone. I hope you won’t get any flak for being late to your history class.” Robert parked his car in the school lot and they scrambled out.
    It was worth it, Megan thought. She was excited about the weekend now. She was really looking forward to Homecoming.

Chapter 6
    An incredible amount of exhilaration filled Megan as she dressed for the Homecoming Dance. This was silly, she thought. She was only going out with Robert, her good friend. They’d spend most of the evening taking photos.
    â€œI’m so glad you decided to go, Megan,” her mother said. “I’ve had my eye on this dress for weeks. I saw it first in a show at May D & F. And I guess I’d better confess.” Megan’s mom giggled, actually giggled. Megan looked at her with surprise. “I put it on layaway.”
    â€œMom, you didn’t.” Megan laughed and looked at herself in the full-length mirror in her mother’s room. “What if I wasn’t invited to any dances