A Cry of Angels Read Online Free Page A
time."
"What'd Jayell want her to stay down here for? I'd think somebody like that would be a lot happier in an apartment uptown."
"Well, of course she would! I'd be a lot happier uptown! Anybody would but Jayell. He said he knew she wouldn't, so he's looking for a lot over in Marble Park, but since he's goin' to keep his shop down here and keep on buildin' houses for these blacks and country folks, he says it won't hurt her to get to know the kind of people he's goin' to be dealin' with. And too, I think he's testing her a little."
"Testing her?"
"Rubbing her nose in the kind of life she's going to have if she marries him. Jayell comes from a mighty poor family, and it's poor people he's wantin' to help. She might have just a little too much gloss to suit him."
" Hnh ! I'd say he's goin' to have a time rubbing any of it off."
Miss Esther smiled. "Could be you're right, Mr. Whitaker. Could be you're right."
"It's sure hard to figure, a girl like that falling for Jayell Crooms."
"Well, I hear he caused quite a stir up at that college, had 'em all flocking around him. The head of the school made a big to-do over the building he drew up for him, had other architects over to look at it, trumped him up for some kind of genius, had him speak to the art classes, that kind of thing. And you know Jayell, the way he talks, the way he looks, I expect he was quite a change from all those professors with the button-down collars, especially at a girls' college where there ain't a whole lot of competition. It ain't too hard to figure them little small-town gals goin' crazy over him. At that age they'll fall in love with anything strange."
"I wonder what it's like, being in love."
"I wouldn't know. All I ever had was Wylie, and that was more like owning a dog. Who sugared this coffee?"
"I did . . . one spoonful . . ."
"Well, get Farette to show you the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon." She shivered and set the cup on the bedside table. She looked up sharply. "The others haven't met her yet, have they?"
"Not this morning. Didn't they see her when she got in last night?"
"It was past their bedtime. Besides, it's more proper they meet at breakfast"âshe threw her feet over the side of the bed and felt for her scuffsâ"which, by the way, we don't want to miss."
"Miss Esther, you think it was a good idea letting her come here? I don't know how the boarders are going to take her."
Her eyes narrowed mischievously. "Like a dose of medicine, is my guess. From what Jayell told me about her, and what I saw last night, I'd say she's just what this crowd needs right now. Wake 'em up a little, get their minds off themselves. There's been entirely too much achin' and complainin' around here lately. And havin' a teacher around awhile might do you some good too, from what I saw of your grades last year. Let's get to breakfast."
"AhâI'm not too hungry this morning. I think I'll run out to the Fundeburk place and let Jayell know she's here."
"He knows. He'll come when he's ready."
"He might have forgotâyou know how he is when he's workin' . . ."
"There's a place waiting at table, mister!"
"Yes, ma'am."
I stopped at the door. "Oh, I got Em Jojohn home all right. He's sleeping it off now."
Miss Esther shook her head. "Just try and keep him away from the house a few days. That girl's got enough to get used to."
"Yes, ma'am."
2
I took a deep breath and headed for the dining room.
Places at the table were claimed by the boarders on arrival at Miss Esther's, and held for life. With the exception, of course, of the transient Mrs. Porter. No place suited her, and no sooner was she seated than she was prevailing on someone to swap. The sun was in her eyes. Her chair had a bit of a "rick." Or, couldn't she sit near the hall, as she was expecting a telephone call.
My place, when I was forced to take it, was between Mrs. Bell and Mr. Rampey. Mr. Rampey was a good soul, but a spot finder. On his plate, his glass,
"What'd Jayell want her to stay down here for? I'd think somebody like that would be a lot happier in an apartment uptown."
"Well, of course she would! I'd be a lot happier uptown! Anybody would but Jayell. He said he knew she wouldn't, so he's looking for a lot over in Marble Park, but since he's goin' to keep his shop down here and keep on buildin' houses for these blacks and country folks, he says it won't hurt her to get to know the kind of people he's goin' to be dealin' with. And too, I think he's testing her a little."
"Testing her?"
"Rubbing her nose in the kind of life she's going to have if she marries him. Jayell comes from a mighty poor family, and it's poor people he's wantin' to help. She might have just a little too much gloss to suit him."
" Hnh ! I'd say he's goin' to have a time rubbing any of it off."
Miss Esther smiled. "Could be you're right, Mr. Whitaker. Could be you're right."
"It's sure hard to figure, a girl like that falling for Jayell Crooms."
"Well, I hear he caused quite a stir up at that college, had 'em all flocking around him. The head of the school made a big to-do over the building he drew up for him, had other architects over to look at it, trumped him up for some kind of genius, had him speak to the art classes, that kind of thing. And you know Jayell, the way he talks, the way he looks, I expect he was quite a change from all those professors with the button-down collars, especially at a girls' college where there ain't a whole lot of competition. It ain't too hard to figure them little small-town gals goin' crazy over him. At that age they'll fall in love with anything strange."
"I wonder what it's like, being in love."
"I wouldn't know. All I ever had was Wylie, and that was more like owning a dog. Who sugared this coffee?"
"I did . . . one spoonful . . ."
"Well, get Farette to show you the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon." She shivered and set the cup on the bedside table. She looked up sharply. "The others haven't met her yet, have they?"
"Not this morning. Didn't they see her when she got in last night?"
"It was past their bedtime. Besides, it's more proper they meet at breakfast"âshe threw her feet over the side of the bed and felt for her scuffsâ"which, by the way, we don't want to miss."
"Miss Esther, you think it was a good idea letting her come here? I don't know how the boarders are going to take her."
Her eyes narrowed mischievously. "Like a dose of medicine, is my guess. From what Jayell told me about her, and what I saw last night, I'd say she's just what this crowd needs right now. Wake 'em up a little, get their minds off themselves. There's been entirely too much achin' and complainin' around here lately. And havin' a teacher around awhile might do you some good too, from what I saw of your grades last year. Let's get to breakfast."
"AhâI'm not too hungry this morning. I think I'll run out to the Fundeburk place and let Jayell know she's here."
"He knows. He'll come when he's ready."
"He might have forgotâyou know how he is when he's workin' . . ."
"There's a place waiting at table, mister!"
"Yes, ma'am."
I stopped at the door. "Oh, I got Em Jojohn home all right. He's sleeping it off now."
Miss Esther shook her head. "Just try and keep him away from the house a few days. That girl's got enough to get used to."
"Yes, ma'am."
2
I took a deep breath and headed for the dining room.
Places at the table were claimed by the boarders on arrival at Miss Esther's, and held for life. With the exception, of course, of the transient Mrs. Porter. No place suited her, and no sooner was she seated than she was prevailing on someone to swap. The sun was in her eyes. Her chair had a bit of a "rick." Or, couldn't she sit near the hall, as she was expecting a telephone call.
My place, when I was forced to take it, was between Mrs. Bell and Mr. Rampey. Mr. Rampey was a good soul, but a spot finder. On his plate, his glass,
Readers choose
Kasey Michaels
Trevor Yorke
Elizabeth Elgin
Patience Bloom
Sarah Waters
Suzi Davis
Rodney C. Johnson
Tiffany Reisz
Richard Poche