Whisper Gatherers Read Online Free PDF Page A

voluminous skirt that spread around her legs like a thick, pink fog. She turned to me with a smug mush and said in a sweetly voice, “I’ve got so many Probably’s to choose from that I swear I’ll have to ask the sheriff to intervene to select the best one for me. I don’t know how I’ll be able to fend them off and settle down with just one spousemate. I do look forward to becoming a ma and all that.”
    “Good for you if that’s all you want from this brief lifespan.”
    “Oh Adara, you have turned quite green. Maybe Hrypa can don a blindfold to become your one and only suitor.”
    Hrypa pointed at my ever-diminishing form and shouted, “I’d sooner join with a stuffed piggywig thanks.”
    “You’d get more comfort from said extinct being. There’s more yielding to be had in a dead-skin than Adara.”
    They nearly soiled their undergarments so hard did the limp pair guffaw at my expense. I let them giggle on until they ran out of breath, then said under mine, “You are named right and proper Drysi, for you are indeed a thorny piece of Wolfy puke. As for you, you blabbermouthed excuse for a male, you can have your dead animal and shove it up your…” my words were drowned out by the boom-booming of the Cityplace band that sat in front of the main stage.
    I got up from my seat, shoved Hrypa out of his and sat where he once did. Thusly rid of being the filling in their mockery sandwich, I ignored whatever it was he shrieked in my ear, and turned my attention to the crowd. Santy Breanna was there with some oldie relatives. Said ancients were trundled out to such gatherings now and then, otherwise they stayed put in the Goldenagehome. I waved to Santy, she waved back.
    The music stopped. Sheriff Fychan and Headteach came onto the gold trimmed podium. They bowed and the sheriff, clutching a load of scroll thingy’s, stood to one side to let the Headteach do his speechifying. As soon as he opened his gob, my brain went into class mode and switched off. I dare say he gave a goodly talk, but I was lost in thoughts unrelated. All I picked up were a few phrases about the quality and passion of the students, lies, all lies. Then he began to call us up. Nad.
    One by one the grinning juves walked onto the stage, shook his hand, grabbed the paper tube from the sheriff, then walked back down the few steps to their original places. I waited for my turn, wondering what tag he would use to summon me. “A. Baird.”
    Ouch and then some. I shot out of my seat and legged it up the stairs in no more than two jumps. I grabbed Headteach’s hand and gave it a vigorous shake. Sheriff Fychan plonked a rolled up piece of paper in my mitt. I quickly left, but not back to my allotted seat. I’d spied Santy and my other oldie relative sitting to the side of the musicians. Quick as a sneeze, I made my way to them, unravelling the scroll as I went. It was blank. What the huff was that all about?
    I nodded to my greatgranma. “Adala, don’t you look as cute as a kittle with a ribbon on?”
    “It’s Adara, Greatgrangran,” I said in a whisper, bending low so only she could hear.
    “That’s what I said.”
    “No, you said…” Santy poked me in the ribs and I stood. She squinted and pouted like a girlybub. I smiled at my grey haired greatgranma. In a louder voice, said, “How are you?” Blunder of the highest order. Santy rolled her eyes and I clenched my teeth.
    “Oh, I’m the same. Nothing ever changes. Nothing happens. Everyday is the same. I get up, I eat, I watch a few vids, then play some game I don’t know how to play, then I eat again and sleep. It’s a boring life. But that’s to be expected. I’ve served my purpose. Now I’ll just have to wait for the last great moment, and fumble off this mortal soil.”
    “Coil.”
    “What?”
    Another poke by Santy. “Nowt.”
    Grangran made her mouth even thinner than it was. “Have you made a joining yet?”
    “No Greatgrangran.”
    “Adela, you’ve got to get going