Free August (The Year of The Change Book 2) by Kathryn Gilmore Page B

just glad they hadn’t noticed me.
    I pushed past and closed the door. If I didn’t hide, with my luck, Zach would come around the side yard and bust a gut trying to get away from me. I would keep my promise to Dad and do my best not to torture him.
    Today, Emma planned another outing for us. There were a number of shut-ins she visited on a regular basis and we were going with her on her usual stops. This activity was perfect for me because shut-ins meant no young guys to contend with.
    Destiny didn’t seem to mind going, probably because she liked doing things with her grandmother, but her usual excitement level was almost non-existent. I doubted old people were her idea of a good time. Young guys to contend with were more her style. On my mental list of things to do next year, Destiny and I would contend with as many boys as she wanted, although Richard might blow a gasket.
    We helped Emma load boxes and baskets with food and things for the people we would visit. My grandparents always took me when they went on such outings. As a little kid I enjoyed the attention I received, although I became bored quickly. Now that I was older, I was pretty sure I could sit still longer.
    Emma pushed the garage door remote and I ducked down in the back seat of their Suburban so I wouldn’t frighten Zach if he came around to the front. From the floorboard, I imagined poor Zach if he saw me. The image in my mind made me cringe. Emma looked over the seat and chuckled as she backed the car out.
    Destiny kept watch until we were far enough down the street. "The coast is clear, Sylv. He'd need binoculars to see you now."
    "Thanks, Dest." I sat up, but glanced back just in case. Paranoid was becoming my normal state of mind these days.
    At the first house, a pair of glasses squinted up at us through a slit, allowed by the chain on the door, as Emma yelled her greeting.
    "Hello, Clara!"
    When the woman realized, or remembered, she knew Emma, she slammed the door and the chain rattled. The door opened and to my surprise, there stood a gray haired gnome. I’d scoffed many times, as a child, when I’d been told they were real, but here one was, all four-foot-nothing of her. All I could do was gawk at the woman.
    Beckoning for us to follow, she lead the way to the small, musty living room that had no less than a dozen lit lamps. Her round body shook as she laughed at the calico kitten curled up on her knitting.
    Picking up the kitty, she yelled in a heavy German accent, "I'll be right back!" Her head, covered with a bright yellow bandana, bob away, down a short hall, as her long, thick braid swayed back and forth.
    When she was out of the room, Emma chuckled as she placed the basket of goodies by her feet and lowered to the love seat. "Clara is hard of hearing and forgets to wear her hearing aids."
    Emma motioned to the other love seat and we sat. The kitten bounded in and leapt into my lap. Stretching, it nuzzled my face before climbing on my shoulder where it lay and closed its eyes. The purr that soon emanated from the small animal filled the room. Not knowing what to say, I studied the bright space instead of meeting Destiny's curious stare. The room was stuffed with photos of other gnomes, all smiling. The huge array of knick-knacks needed dusting after being thinned out.
    Clara returned with a thick layer of red lipstick glaring in contrast to her pale, papery skin. She smiled, showing off half as many teeth as there should have been.
    "Poindexter sure likes you!" She patted the kitten as she passed.
    "Most animals do." I nuzzled his fur.
    She leaned forward. "What?"
    "MOST ANIMALS DO!" Poindexter jerked, but didn’t jump down.
    She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "Emma, I'm so sorry, I forgot you were coming!"
    Emma took a deep breath and shouted. "Clara, where are your hearing aids?"
    Clara scrunched up her nose as Emma pointed to her ears.
    “Grandmother goes through this every time she visits." Destiny sighed through