The Sea Taketh (Alex Singer) Read Online Free PDF Page B

pancakes are waiting for me when I return to the kitchen.
                  “He’s smitten with you,” Gramps holds up the dry, shriveled flowers from Jackson I had thrown out. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
                  “Because he’s delusional,” I say. “We haven’t ever had a real conversation, and he thinks that he somehow owns me.”
                  “I knew this was coming. I just hoped it wouldn’t be this soon. I know it seems like it’s happened over night, but it happened the same way for your mother and grandmother. Alex, you’re much too pretty for your own good. Stay away from Jackson.”
                  “Three months ago I was just a plain Jane and now it seems every boy’s gone crazy! I’m trying to stay away from all of them!”
                  “You were always a lovely child. The difference is now you’re a woman.” He pats my hand. “When I get the chance, I’m going to talk to Peggy about some robes for you to wear over your pajamas and swim suit between races. I don’t want you to feel like you’re hiding, but hopefully out of sight, out of mind.”
    *     *     *
    Next morning, I nervously look in the mirror. Wearing a Gramps approved outfit, I pull my hair into a ponytail and put on my glasses to hide my green eyes.
    Hypothesis #1 has been upgraded to Theory #2 - Puberty is unfair.
    Observations – My breasts are always growing. I’m receiving attention from the wrong places. I have to wear ugly clothes to school to reduce unwanted attention from meddling boys.
    A horn honks outside the house.
                  “Jen’s here!” Gramps calls.
                  I go to the living room. He hands me my backpack. “I’ll see you after school,” he says.
                  We hug goodbye, and I jump into the passenger seat of Jen’s family’s old van, Merlin the Magical. They call it that because it has been magically running for years. It’s so old all that’s holding it together are rust and dirt.
                  After dropping off a couple of Jen’s younger brothers at the middle school, we pull into the high school’s parking lot. I sigh when I see Jackson’s car. I had hoped that the last twenty-four hours had gifted him with mono.
                  “Daddy must have bought Vanessa a new toy,” Jen whistles as she parks next to a light green, antique sports car with some foreign name.
                  “Let’s not talk about them, I’d prefer to have a non-Powers day,” I say.
                  “Good luck on that one.” Jen points to Jackson crossing the parking lot.
                  “Alex, can I carry your backpack for you?” he asks. I shield my body with it, remembering that he saw me in my nightgown.
                  “I’m fine. I’ve got to go find my locker,” I grab Jen’s arm and we disappear into the school.
                  Nothing ever seems to change in Seaside. We’ve gone to school with the same group of kids since we were potty-training, the teachers taught our parents, and we know the name of every person in the school, including the names of the incoming freshmen. Most people would find this monotony tedious, but I take comfort in the known. Jen and I greet everyone we pass.
                  “I wish we had more classes together.” Jen looks over her schedule. “I should have studied more last year.”
                  “Yes, you should have,” I agree. Jen would rather play a game of soccer than do homework. I unlock my locker and put my extra notebooks in it. The smell of dirty gym shoes wafts from Justin Fisher’s locker next door. “I have Calculus. What do you have first period?”
                  “Algebra, and then English,” she answers. “We won’t meet up until third period for