Wiped Out Read Online Free PDF

Mimi won. More than likely, she’d forged a ballot to take the place of the one she’d destroyed. Charlotte shook her head in disgust. Too bad the woman who had protested had been such a coward and hadn’t stuck to her guns when she’d challenged June about counting the ballots.
    Charlotte turned to stare at the dining room doorway. There was no good reason to return to the dining room since everything was ready and waiting for the ladies to take their refreshment break. “Nope,” Charlotte muttered, “no reason at all.” But then she didn’t really need a reason, did she? Still, she hesitated.
    Mind your own business.
    Ignoring the voice of reason in her head, she grabbed a feather duster from her supply carrier and marched into the dining room. The moment she entered the room, she heard June’s announcement of the voting results.
    â€œThe winner and new president of HHS is Mimi Adams.”
    â€œWho didn’t know that?” Charlotte grumbled to herself in the dining room.
    With June’s announcement, a murmur of disbelief broke out in the parlor, then, above the chatter, a louder voice. “Ah, excuse me please. Excuse me.” The noise died down. “I don’t mean to sound like sour grapes,” the woman said, “but I would like to know what the ballot count was.”
    Had to be the other candidate, Charlotte figured, as she brushed the feather duster along the edges of the buffet. Rita something or other was her name if she remembered right.
    â€œOf course, Rita,” June answered. “The vote was eight for you and nine for Mimi.”
    Charlotte winced. Even to her ears, June’s tone dripped with condescension.
    â€œIt was a close vote,” June continued. “But we all know that ‘close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.’”
    â€œOr when there’s cheating going on,” Rita shot back. “May I please see the ballots.”
    Rita’s own condescending tone more than matched June’s, and Charlotte could just imagine the hateful looks bouncing back and forth between the two women.
    â€œGladly,” June retorted. “Here, count ’em yourself.”
    Several moments passed, and the parlor was so quiet that Charlotte fancied she could hear the rustling of the ballots being counted by Rita. For all the good it would do her, Charlotte thought. The fix was in. June had made sure of it.
    â€œWell?” June demanded. “Are you satisfied now?”
    â€œNot by a long shot,” Rita snapped back. “Winning by only one vote is just a bit obvious, don’t you think, especially when you went slinking off to the kitchen to count the votes all by yourself. Without any witnesses, I might add.”
    â€œNow you just hold on there,” Mimi cried. “June would never—”
    Rita interrupted with a shout. “No, Mimi, you hold on! Secret ballots are one thing, but this is carrying things too far. And anyone with any scruples at all would offer to let everyone vote again and count the votes in the presence of everyone—which is what should have been done to begin with.”
    The silence was deafening. Charlotte held her breath, waiting to see if Mimi would give in to Rita’s demands. But Mimi didn’t say a word, and after a moment it was Rita who finally spoke again. “That’s it! I’m out of here. I don’t like cheaters. Never have. And you know exactly what you can do with your election and your precious HHS,” she added.
    â€œHey, Rita, wait for me,” a voice called out. “I’m going with you.”
    â€œMe too,” another voice chimed in.
    â€œMe three,” yet another voice spoke up.
    Mere seconds later, the front door slammed so hard that the sound echoed throughout the house. There was a brief moment of dead silence, and then the room burst into an uproar.
    Buzzing bees, thought Charlotte. Angry buzzing bees.