Free Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi Page B

her.
    â€œNow I will dig a very deep hole and live in it.”
    Oliver laughed and it lit up his face. Softened the hardness in his eyes. “You will do no such thing.”
    â€œWhat do you care? I can live in a hole if I please.”
    â€œAlice, I don’t care what the Elders say. I know what you can do. Just because you chose the wrong talent to surrender—”
    â€œI did not choose the wrong talent!”
    â€œCertainly you did,” he said, one eyebrow raised. “I can’t even comprehend it. I thought for sure you would’ve—”
    â€œYou hush your mouth, Oliver Newbanks!”
    â€œWhat? Why?”
    â€œThat is not a talent,” Alice said firmly.
    â€œ
Not a talent!
” Oliver balked. “Do you know what I would give to be able to do what you do?”
    â€œEveryone is born with color,” Alice said carefully. “Mine is simply contained on the inside. That is not talent, it is biology.”
    â€œThat is a biology the rest of us don’t have,” Oliver pointed out.
    â€œI dance,” she said to him. “That is what I do. That is my gift. I feel it, Oliver. I feel it in my heart. It’s what I’m meant to do.”
    â€œI disagree.”
    â€œIt’s not your place to have an opinion.”
    â€œWell, clearly your opinion did not work in your favor—”
    She kicked him in the shin.
    â€œGood grief, Alice!” Oliver yelped, grabbing at his leg. “What is the matter with you? I’m only trying to help.”
    Alice bit her lip and looked away. “I
am
sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t mean to be cruel. It’s just that my heart is so thoroughly broken I fear I am beyond repair.”
    Oliver seemed slightly mollified. He sighed. “You don’t have to be so dramatic,” he said. “Besides, if you’re looking for adventure, my offer still stands. I still need your help.”
    â€œI don’t want to help you.”
    â€œWhy?” he said, exasperated. “Why on earth not? Would it really be so terrible?”
    â€œProbably, yes.”
    â€œBut for your father?” he said desperately. “Would it be so terrible to also find your father?”
    â€œI still don’t understand why you won’t just bring him home,” Alice said, fists clenching. “If you know where he is—”
    Oliver let out a frustrated cry and threw his hands up. “You don’t understand!” he said. “It’s not that simple—I can’t just bring him back, not without you!”
    â€œAnd why not?” she demanded. “Maybe if you first broughthim back I would actually want to help you! Did you never think of that? That maybe kindness would work better than cruelty? Did you ever consider that maybe—”
    â€œAlice, please!”
    Oliver grabbed her arms and set her with a look so strong she couldn’t remember enough words to speak.
    â€œAlice,” he said again. “Bringing your father home
is
my task.”

Alice’s body was goose bumps from hair to heel. A shiver climbed into her clothes and warmed itself against her skin. Her heart was racing and her hands were clenching and she closed her eyes and drew in the deepest breath.
    Oh my very dear
, she thought.
    She knew Oliver Newbanks was telling the truth.
    She made a sound just then, a sound that might’ve been a word but was mostly just a sound, and backed away from Oliver, teetering sideways and frontways until she spun and fell in her skirts, a heap of color swallowing her whole.
    Finally, Alice looked up.
    Oliver had his arms crossed against his chest, his eyebrows drawn tight and low. His eyes were focused on a piece of bark peeling off a nearby tree.
    â€œOliver,” said Alice.
    â€œWhat?” said he, still glaring at the tree.
    â€œAre you angry?” she asked.
    â€œYes, quite.” He crossed his arms more tightly.
    â€œDon’t