Free The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove by Marta Acosta

“But the rules of science
    apply when we die. When our bodies decompose, it doesn’t matter if we were
    rich, poor, smart, stupid… None of that matters, because our chemical
    -55- The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove – Marta Acosta
    components are equal even though life is not.”
    “I don’t know when I’ve had a more cheerful dinner companion,” Jack said.
    I shrugged and said, “You asked.”
    We ate silently for a few minutes before he said, “Tell me about yourself.”
    “I came from a group home and now I’m here.”
    “Thanks for the fascinating details,” he said. “Why were you in a foster
    home?”
    I wasn’t going to reveal anything he didn’t already know. “Didn’t your
    mother tell you?”
    “The only thing she told us was that you’re here on scholarship.”
    “My mother died when I was seven, and I got dumped into the system.”
    “What about your father?”
    “He bailed before I was born.” I shifted my leg and it momentarily brushed
    against Jack’s under the table. I felt a jolt from the contact, and I quickly tucked
    my legs under my chair.
    “So your dad’s not going to come and get you anytime soon?”
    I shook my head. “As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t exist.”
    “You’re all alone then,” Jack said.
    It was exactly what his mother had said, what everyone said. “You
    probably don’t realize it, living in a place like this, but lots of kids don’t live with
    their birth parents. Lots of families are broken up.”
    “I know that, Jane,” he said in such a sorrowful way that I got the strangest
    feeling that he actually did understand. “Do you like living by yourself here?”
    “Do you always ask so many questions?”
    “No, because most people are happy to talk about themselves. I have to pry
    stuff out of you.”
    “Why do you care?”
    He grinned. “Now who’s asking the questions? I’m curious.”
    I sighed. “I love having my own space, but it’s so different. I’m used to
    more noise, city noise, cars and people. And at night, when the wind blows, the
    trees make sounds. I’ll become habituated to it.”
    -56- The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove – Marta Acosta
    “ Habituated? Really?” A smile played on his lips. “Well, look who’s
    been studying for the SATs.”
    “If I didn’t study, I wouldn’t be here,” I snapped. “Yes, it feels a little eerie
    sometimes.”
    “There are lots of folktales about birches. Do you know what they say
    about them? They say they lift their roots from the earth and walk at night.”
    I had that unidentifiable sensation again. Then I saw the twinkle in Jack’s
    eyes and got annoyed.
    “Jacob, at my old school, students got shot and stabbed. There were ODs
    and arrests. There were kids who didn’t get to the emergency room in time and
    died. So don’t think you’re going to scare me with your preposterous stories,” I
    said. “Everyone knows trees aren’t animate. They can’t walk or talk or come
    alive at night!”
    The strange sensation came again, the thing I couldn’t remember, and I
    pushed it away.
    “No, I don’t suppose it’s easy to scare you,” Jack said more seriously.
    “There’s something in your eyes, Halfling, like you’ve see things not meant for
    mere mortals.”
    “You’re so full of it, Jack,” I said and he just laughed and grabbed a third
    slice of pizza.
    Although I was already full, I desperately hoped he wasn’t going to throw
    the rest away, because some people are like that, tossing away things that others
    could use. After all, it was his pizza.
    When Jack finished eating, he stood. “Keep the rest. See you around,
    halfling.”
    He let himself out and I heard the crunch of his tires on the leaves outside
    as he rode off.
    I had no idea what to make of him, or why he’d really come by. He must
    be bored.
    After I went to bed, I listened to the sounds outside. I imagined the trees
    pulling away from the earth and wandering in the night, massive, yet graceful