“It wasn’t that scary,” Beanie said.
Mrs. Kantor returned to the living room with knitted blankets.
“These should keep you warm,” she said, handing them to the girls.
Beanie stood up and made a parachute with one of the blankets. It draped over Ariel with ease. Beanie sat down next to Ariel and covered herself with the other blanket.
“Do you girls want more cookies?” Mrs. Kantor asked.
“No. I’m full,” Ariel said.
“Me too,” Beanie said.
Mrs. Kantor returned to the rocking chair. She had a smile that went from ear to ear. “Well then. Let’s begin your training … ”
Chapter 6
Beanie blinked her eyes open and recognized where she was. It wasn’t on Mrs. Kantor’s couch. It was in her cozy bedroom with its soft-blue painted walls, which was decorated with posters of horses and other animals.
Beanie thought about the last thing she remembered. She was at Mrs. Kantor’s house. Mrs. Kantor said that she and Ariel would begin their training.
She looked at her hand and saw the ruby ring she had worn at Mrs. Kantor’s house. It seemed dull under the light. She made a fist with it, trying to activate it, but nothing happened. She waved her arm up and down, aimed it at the wall, the ceiling, but still, it did nothing.
The morning sun seeped in through the blinds. Thin bands of light splashed onto the opposite wall and on her bed. She cradled her doll horse, Nighthawk, in her arm. She had slept with Nighthawk ever since she was five. Her mother told her that she was too old for it (You’re ten, Bean-Bean. You should get rid of it. It’s stinky … ), but Beanie insisted that it kept the bedbugs out. Her mother rolled her eyes at those words.
Beanie glanced at the wall clock. It was 7 a.m.
Did I go home after Mrs. Kantor’s house yesterday? I don’t remember walking home. It must be Saturday then. Yes! No school today!
Beanie climbed out of bed and opened the door. She smelled bacon and eggs all the way from the kitchen. Downstairs, she saw her father and her brother seated at the dining room table.
“Hey, honey!” her father, Mark, said in a cheerful voice. “Come have breakfast with us.”
“Sure, Daddy,” she said.
Beanie sat at the table beside her father. Her mother, Hemlock, strode in from the kitchen, with her floral apron, carrying a frying pan that was steaming with eggs.
“Would you like some eggs, Bean-Bean?” Hemlock asked.
“Yes, Mommy.”
Hemlock whisked the over-easy eggs onto her plate. After that, Hemlock returned to the kitchen.
“How are you feeling?” Mark said.
“Great, Daddy.”
“Where did you get that ring?” he asked.
“Ring?” She glanced at her hand and realized he was talking about the ruby ring.
Beanie remembered her promise to Mrs. Kantor. She wouldn’t tell anyone whom she got it from.
“Oh, Ariel gave it to me.”
“Is it a real ruby?” he asked.
“Um, no. It’s just plastic.” Beanie shrugged as if to downplay it.
“Hmm. Okay. Ready for school?”
“School? I thought it was Saturday?” Beanie said.
“Saturday? It’s Monday. Did you stay up late last night?”
“No. I was … ” She was about to mention what happened at Mrs. Kantor’s house when her mother dashed over to the table.
“Watch out. It’s hot,” Hemlock said.
She set a plate on the table that was steaming with bacon. Using tongs, she grabbed a couple of strips and plopped them on Beanie’s plate. Beanie loved bacon, but she still couldn’t get over the fact that it was Monday and not Saturday.
“Monday?” Beanie repeated. “It’s not Saturday?”
They laughed like it was an inside joke, but it wasn’t.
“Beanie doesn’t want to go to school today,” her brother, Bram, broke in. “She’s being a lazy cat.”
“I’m not being a lazy cat,” Beanie replied.
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Laaaaaaazzzzzy Cat!”
“Bram,” Mark interjected. “Apologize to your sister.”
“No way.”
“Bram,” he said in a firm voice.
“She’s acting like a baby, Dad. Someone in this house needs to tell her to shut up.”
“That’s it, Bram. Take your plate to the sink.”
“What? That’s not fair.”
“I’m not asking again.”
Bram huffed and puffed, then did as he was told. When he returned to the dining room, Mark said, “Now get your bag and go to school.”
“But—”
“I won’t have you being mean to your sister at the table. I’m tired of it. How many times do I have to tell you to stop?”
“She’s a loser, Dad. Everyone at school knows it.”
Mark’s face turned beet red.
“That’s it! Go to school!” Mark cried. “Not another word from you!”
Beanie’s jaw dropped. This was the first time she had seen her father lose his temper with Bram. He normally disciplined Bram by telling him to go to his room, but she had never seen him yell or tell Bram to toss his food in the sink.
Bram grunted as he grabbed his backpack off the floor. He stomped on his way out, slamming the door shut behind him. Kitewell Middle School was just a mile away, and he grabbed his bike and rode it to school.
“Thanks, Daddy,” Beanie said.
“For what?” Mark said, composing himself.
“For telling him to get out. He deserved it.”
Mark smiled and ruffled her dark brown hair. Her head shook like a bobblehead and she chuckled. Her father hadn’t been this good-humored in a while. He was a serious man, teaching AP Literature at Kitewell High School like a college professor. He was even-tempered most of the time and handled things reasonably, but today, she saw a different side of him.
“Are you still hungry, Bean-Bean?” Hemlock called from the kitchen.
“Yes, Mommy. Can I have some fruit?”
“Yes, dear. I have some freshly picked strawberries and blueberries for you.”
Hemlock came over with a fruit bowl and scooped up strawberries and blueberries with a large spoon. She poured them onto Beanie’s plate.
“Yummmmm. Looks good, Mommy.”
“You’re welcome. And I packed your lunchbox too.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Beanie was ecstatic. Her mother had stopped making her lunches when she was eight because Beanie wasn’t eating all of her food. Instead, she only ate sweets.
For the last two years, Beanie had been packing her lunchbox. She often filled it with junk food and snacks, not to mention chocolate milk. When Hemlock found out, she started making sun-butter sandwiches for her, but that didn’t last long. Instead, Beanie ate sugary cookies and cinnamon bread every day at school.
“What else did you pack?” Beanie asked.
“A banana, grapes, a tuna sandwich—”
“With lots of mayonnaise?”
“Of course. And I put yogurt in there too.”
“You’re the best, Mommy.”
Hemlock smiled. “Finish your breakfast, Bean-Bean. You don’t want your food to get cold.”
“It already is,” Beanie said.
Hemlock giggled. “I meant the bacon. Hurry up so that you’re not late to school.”
“Yes, Mommy,” Beanie said.
Hemlock sat at the table and started peeling an orange. After Mark finished his breakfast, he sipped his coffee with a slurp.
He said to Beanie, “Did you finish all of your homework last night?”
“Uh-huh,” she said, munching on a
strip of bacon.
“Because if you didn’t, that’s okay.”
The bacon fell from her mouth. “Really?”
“No one can be perfect.”
Beanie couldn’t believe her ears. She had been a straight-A student and her ego was wrapped up in being the smartest kid in class. She didn’t just do her homework, she read ahead in the curriculum with the library books she checked out. As far as school was concerned, she felt like she needed to be perfect.
“But Daddy, I always do my homework. I get A’s in every subject.”
“Honey,” he said, “I’m just saying it’s okay if you can’t finish it all. I know it can be stressful.”
“But—”
“All your father is saying, Bean-Bean, is that even if you didn’t do your homework, you’d still be a great student.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Beanie blushed.
This is the best day ever! I wish they’d say this to me every day. And maybe I won’t do my homework anymore, and I’d still be the smartest kid in class. Besides, I learn everything during class anyway.
Daddy used to say that if I didn’t do my homework, I wouldn’t get straight A’s. Whenever I asked him to read one of his fancy literature books, he’d say that I couldn’t understand them until I got straight A’s. Well, I did, and it made him proud. And then he read his fancy books to me, which were really boring, but at least he spent time with me. But now he’s saying I don’t have to do homework?
He’s different … really different. But he’s nice, and so is Mommy. This day is awesome!
Chapter 7
The school bus always dropped Beanie and Ariel off at Kitewell Elementary with fifteen minutes to spare. The girls entered the double doors of the school building and then slipped inside the library as per usual.
The library was bustling with kids huddled around tables as they chatted or read books. Beanie grabbed a science book off the shelf while Ariel headed off to class to hastily finish her homework. After Beanie checked out the book, she made her way to Mrs. Somerset’s classroom, which was the second to last door in the hallway. She saw Mrs. Somerset at the doorway talking to a couple of students as she walked to the door.
Bram scuttled up behind Beanie and bumped her shoulder. The expression on his face was harsh, his eyes full of malice. He had on jeans, a red shirt, and slick dark hair. Without Beanie’s parents to protect her, she felt scared and helpless. Bram stood several inches taller than her, and he was much stronger too, being three years older than her. He backed her up against the wall. She felt like she was going to suffocate.
“Think you’re better than me?” Bram said in a derisive tone. “I know you’re game. You’re trying to turn Dad against me, aren’t you?”
She stared at him in fear, her lips trembling.
“Get away from me Bram.”
“Where’s Mom and Dad to save you out now, sis? Think you can run to them forever?”
She shoved him back.
“Oh, that hurt,” he mocked.
He grabbed a handful of her hair and made a fist with it. She pushed him back with both hands and he stumbled backward across the slick floor.
“I hate you, Bram. If you were a bug, I’d crush you with my bare hands.”
She tried to pass him, but he flanked her, blocking her path. She lurched to the other side and he blocked her again.
“Get out of my way, Bram.”
“What are you going to do, tell Dad?”
“I’m warning you, I’ll—”
“Ha.”
He pushed her with both hands and she hit the wall hard and then flopped to the floor. She was shocked. He had never pushed her before. What had gotten into him?
“A big surprise is coming your way,” he said. “A big surprise.”
She struggled to her feet, on the verge of tears. “You better not hurt Nighthawk.”
“Nighthawk,” he hissed, the doll horse of hers not even on his mind when he had made his threat. But now he knew. Now a more sinister idea cropped up in his mind.
“Nighthawk never did anything to you,” she pleaded.
“But you did, sis. You got me in big trouble with Dad, got me kicked out of the house, you obnoxious brat. I had to go to school hungry. Do you know how that feels? Being hungry before school starts? So now I’m going to get even with you, sis. You’re going to regret ever crossing me.”
“Go away!”
“Make me.”
The ruby on her ring glowed bright red. Suddenly, Bram’s shoes steamed with smoke. He looked down and noticed that his shoe was starting to catch on fire.
“Ah!”
He ran out of the building as the kids in the hallway watched him in confusion. Beanie gaped at her ruby ring. The ruby pulsed red, and then it faded to a dull luster. She had no idea why it worked at that instant.
Why won’t it work on command? Does it have a mind of its own?
When Beanie entered the classroom, she bumped into a boy named Sammy. She didn’t apologize. Sammy wanted to complain more out of insult than injury, and so he stormed up to Mrs. Somerset and told her. Mrs. Somerset stopped what she was doing and walked over to Beanie’s desk with Sammy right beside her.
“Why did you push Sammy, Beanie?”
Beanie’s eyes were down. She barely heard Mrs. Somerset say, “Apologize to Sammy,” with her heart beating in her ears.
“Well?” Mrs. Somerset said. “Are you going to say you’re sorry?”
“Sorry,” Beanie muttered without looking up at him.
“I don’t want you to do that again, is that understood?”
“Yes,” Beanie said.
Sammy smiled wryly and left to his desk. Mrs. Somerset resumed writing at the whiteboard as the kids waited for the bell and the announcements.
Beanie folded her arms and put her head down on the desk. Tears streamed silently onto her forearms. Ariel came over after she had quickly finished her homework.
“What’s wrong?” Ariel asked.
Beanie looked up at her, sniffling.
“Bram pushed me.”
“Bram?” Ariel said in shock. “He came here and pushed you?”
“Yes. He’s so mean to me. I wish I could make him stop. I wish I could make him leave me alone.”
“I’m sorry,” Ariel said softly. “Have you noticed there’s something different about this day? People are acting strangely.”
“I’ve noticed that too. Were your parents really nice to you?”
Ariel nodded. “My mom usually tells me to make my bed and hurry up, but instead, she told me to take my time, and that if I wanted to stay in, I could.”
“Really? I thought she’s grumpy in the morning.”
“She usually is. And my dad … well, he said we’re going to have crabs and lobster tonight at Uncle Henry’s house. He knows crabs and lobsters are my favorites, and we only eat them on my birthday. So you see, everything has changed. It’s like everyone is happy. Well, not everyone,” she added, alluding to Bram. “How were your parents this morning?”
“My mom and dad were really nice,” Beanie said. “My mom made us breakfast, which she normally makes on the weekends. And my dad stood up for me when Bram made fun of me.”
“What did he say?”
“He told Bram to toss his breakfast into the sink and leave the house.”
“He did?”
“Yes. And my mom packed lunch for me too. She hasn’t done that in a long time.”
Beanie plopped her polyester lunch bag on her desk. She unzipped it.
“She made me a tuna sandwich,” Beanie said, sorting through the food inside. “Packed a bag of strawberries and blueberries, yogurt … ”
“No cookies or cinnamon bread?” Ariel said.
“Not
this time,” Beanie said with a smile.
The tears had dried up and Beanie wiped whatever was left off of her cheeks. She felt happier after talking with Ariel about this.
“Do you remember being at Mrs. Kantor’s house before this happened?” Ariel asked.
“Yes. I don’t remember what happened after that, though. I think she said some strange words to us … ”
“Like a magic spell?” Ariel said.
“Yes. And now it’s Monday.”
“Right? It should be Saturday. I was supposed to go to Nashville with my parents to see the Grand Ole Opry and see June Starwood play.”
“So did we sleep through the weekend?” Beanie speculated.
“Or maybe Mrs. Kantor cast a spell on us.”
“Or on everyone else.”
Ariel nodded. “She said she was going to train us, right?”
“Yes. But how?”
“Well, maybe this is the training ground.”
“I don’t get it,” Beanie said. “Our parents were nice to us. My mom packed lunch for me.”
“But wasn’t Bram extra mean to you?”
Beanie’s expression turned sour. “He’s never been this mean to me before.”
“Did you stand up for yourself?”
Beanie snickered. “I used my spirit-gem on him—burned his shoes with it.”
Beanie showed Ariel the ruby ring on her third finger.
“Give me a high-five,” Ariel said.
They high fived each other.
“You sure showed him,” Ariel said. “Look. I have my spirit-gem, too.”
From her pocket, Ariel drew out the sapphire pendant. It glistened under the light.
“Why aren’t you wearing it?” Beanie asked.
“Because of our promise to Mrs. Kantor, remember? I don’t want my parents or Mrs. Somerset to know I have it. They might take it from me.”
Beanie nodded. “Yeah. Mrs. Kantor said these were rare. I told my dad you gave me the ring.”
Ariel laughed. “What did he say?”
“Not much. But I can’t seem to use it whenever I want to. It’s like it has a mind of its own.”
“I can’t use mine either,” Ariel said. “Maybe that’s why Mrs. Kantor said she had to test us. Maybe it only works in certain situations.”
Kitewell Page 4
