Free Girls Don't Fly by Kristen Chandler Page B

‘Why yes, I do. Why do you ask?’
    “The white witch leaned upon her school-issue yardstick and said, ‘The magic jewel that is hidden in the deadly cave of the cormorants, the precious jewel that kills trolls?’
    “‘So you’ve heard of it then,’ said the pirate king.
    “The crowd hushed. This was their chance to be rid of the evil stinking trolls. A magic jewel that could solve all their problems. What could be simpler? Except who could they trust to sail across the treacherous ocean to retrieve it?
    “From the ranks of the miserable town stepped a band of volunteers as motley as the crew on board. Among them were scholars, noblemen, the town prince, a few maids in waiting, and a scullery maid who made a mean spaghetti sauce. But alas the pirate king had room for only two travelers. ‘We must have a contest.’”
    “The prince wins,” says Carson. He moves in closer so he’s nearly on my feet.
    “You think?” I say.
    “Me too,” says Danny, crushing closer too. “The prince should win.”
    Even my brothers know I don’t stand a chance. “Well, what if the prince is under a spell? Like a stupidity spell,” I say.
    “From the witch?” says Andrew.
    “From the king and queen, who want to keep him safe from all scullery maids.”
    “You said it was going to be about pirates,” says Brett, pinching Carson to get him out of the way.
    “Stop it!” yells Carson. “I’m listening.”
    Mel shows up at the edge of the room. Zeke’s silhouette is gone. She’s crying. “Could you all just shut up? Especially you, Carson. Just shut up.”
    Carson’s face collapses, and he runs out of the room.
    “Nice, Mel,” I say.
    “You shut up too, Myra.” She doesn’t even look at me as she says this.
    Mom walks in, takes one look at Mel’s tears, and crosses the room to her. “Did you and Zeke fight again?”
    “He’s such a thoughtless jerk.”
    Meanwhile Carson is running down the hallway banging on things as he goes, thanks to Mel’s cheer and kindness.
    Mom puts her arm around Melyssa and walks her into the bedroom. The other boys and I lie quietly on the floor until they’re gone.
    “Melyssa’s mean,” says Danny.
    “I can’t stand her,” says Andrew. “I can’t wait till she moves.”
    I whisper, “Hey, you don’t mean it.”
    Brett looks off into space.
    I say, “Let’s get some sleep.”
    “It’s not even nine o’clock,” says Andrew.
    “You could go watch TV with Dad in the kitchen.”
    “Sweet,” says Andrew, and bolts for the next room.
    I hear the little TV in the next room. Whatever they are watching involves a lot of noisy gunfire. Danny crawls onto my lap. I say, “And you are going to help me cheer up Carson?”
    Brett kicks at the couch. “I wish she’d move too. And I do mean it. I wish she’d take her big fat stomach and big fat mouth and get out of here.”
    I reach my hand out for his arm but he moves farther away.
    “This isn’t like one of your stupid stories,” he says.
    In the kitchen I hear the sound of explosions.
    I say, “How do you know? You haven’t heard the end of my story.”

15
     
    Buffeting:
     
    When the weather knocks birds senseless.
     
     
    Ms. Miller offers to lend a movie on the Galápagos Islands to anyone who is interested. After class Erik sprints up to her desk. I’m still stiff from being a Chicken Sandwich, so I’m a little slower to suck up.
    “I’d like to watch it too,” I say, pointing to the DVD.
    “Are you applying?” says Ms. Miller. She doesn’t even try to hide how surprised she is.
    I say, “Yes, I am.”
    “How nice,” she says. We both look down.
    “Anyone can apply, right?”
    “Well, sure,” she says.
    That’s the thing about doormats: sometimes they can slip right out from underneath you.
    Erik says, “She can have it first.” He smiles at Ms. Miller, like he’s some sort of Boy Scout. Which of course, he is.
    Ms. Miller says, “How nice of you, Erik! Don’t you need to get a start on