Free Liars and Fools by Robin Stevenson Page B

hand rest on the tiller, closed my eyes and imagined being out at sea, me and my boat alone under a starry sky. I imagined the sound of waves breaking, the feel of the wind on my face, the taste of salt spray on my lips. Trade winds, flying fish, sunsets and dolphins. Just me and my boat, all the way to Hawaii, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand. I had always been so sure I’d do it someday.
    Now I didn’t feel sure of anything.
    â€œI went to the library last night,” Abby told me at lunch the next day. “I got a ton of books for our project.”
    We were sitting on the bleachers by the football field, and the midday sun was warm in that distant sort of way that makes you lift your face toward it and long for summer. “Great. Did you figure out how we can prove Kathy is a fake?”
    â€œWell, we’ll have to be kind of subtle.” She looked at me doubtfully. “Not too obvious.”
    â€œI know what subtle means, thanks.”
    â€œYeah. Um, it’s just that you tend to be pretty direct. I mean, that’s a good thing, Fi. But for this…”
    â€œOkay, okay. I get it.”
    â€œGood. So do you want to get together after school and go over stuff?”
    I nodded. “Sure. But I’m going to Joni’s.” I didn’t think Joni would mind if Abby came with me, but Dad was pretty firm about telling me not to take advantage of Joni’s generosity by inviting friends over there. “Do you think you could come over later? Like for dinner?”
    Abby shrugged. “I’ll ask. Probably. Hey, can I sleep over?”
    â€œYes! Well, I’ll check, but that’d be great.”
    â€œWe could get a lot done. Figure this project out and get a good start on it.”
    Usually the thought of spending a Friday evening on homework would make my heart sink, but not this time. I couldn’t wait to get to work on getting rid of Kathy. She didn’t know it yet, but she was history. “I guess if she was really psychic, she’d know what we were doing,” I said aloud.
    Abby looked puzzled. “Who would? What are you talking about?”
    â€œKathy. If she was psychic, she’d be getting nervous, don’t you think?”
    Abby shrugged. “If she was psychic, she’d have nothing to be nervous about.”
    â€œI guess.” The green paint was peeling on the metal benches of the bleachers, and I picked at it with my fingernail.
    Abby winced. “Stop it. That noise makes my skin crawl.”
    I stopped and folded my hands together. “Anyway, she isn’t psychic. No one is. But she should be nervous. Because we’re going to figure out a way to get rid of her.” I tried to grin.
    â€œFiona…”
    â€œGoodbye, Kathy,” I said. My voice sounded fiercer than I intended it to. I meant it though. I didn’t care how great Dad said she was. I wanted her out of our lives.
    Joni was painting her kitchen, talking on the phone and making cookies, all at the same time. I nibbled at the cookies cooling on the counter and read a magazine. Finally, she put the phone down, winked at me, pulled a tray of cookies out of the oven and stripped off a giant cooking apron decorated with Christmas elves and splattered with yellow paint.
    â€œMultitasking prevents Alzheimer’s,” she told me. “Or so I hope. You look like you had a better day today.”
    â€œI did.” I opened my mouth to tell her about the plans Abby and I were making, but quickly closed it again. I was pretty sure Joni wouldn’t approve. liars and fools Besides, we hadn’t figured out how we were going to do it yet.
    The phone rang.
    Joni picked it up. “Hello…uh-huh…uh-huh… okay, I’ll tell her…okay, we’ll see you soon.”
    She hung up and turned to me. “Your dad. He says he’ll be here in a few minutes to pick you up on his way home.”
    â€œHe’s early,” I protested.