Almost Crimson Read Online Free Page A

all serious words, but she knew her mother wouldn’t hear any of them. She had to remember.
    Ms. Boylin came outside and walked to Cece on the bench. When she spoke, Cece was taken in by the warmth of her hazel eyes. Her lashes were long and her lips glistened pink. She had a tiny mole on her left temple, which CeCe hadn’t noticed before. She wondered if all the extra nice grown-ups had moles.
    â€œIt was very nice to meet you, Crimson,” she said. “I’m going to see you again in a week to make sure you’re all ready for school, and then I’m going to see you again the week after that to tell you all about your class. We’ll even make sure you have a new dress. How do you like that?”
    CeCe beamed her approval.
    â€œWill Mama get a new dress, too?” she asked after a moment.
    â€œNo, Crimson,” Ms. Boylin said. “Only big kids like you can go to kindergarten. Grown-ups like me and your mama aren’t allowed anymore.”
    CeCe’s face began to cloud with a realization.
    â€œShe’s gonna be all by herself?” CeCe asked. “The Sad doesn’t let her remember stuff so good.”
    â€œYour mama’s sad a lot, isn’t she, Crimson?”
    CeCe’s braids rocked forward and back slowly.
    â€œDoes that make you scared?”
    Side to side with the braids. Boylin grinned a little.
    â€œYou’re a brave girl, Crimson. I tell you what, though, things are going to get better around here for you and your mother, OK? We’re going to get you into school with other bright children, and we’re also going to get someone to help your mother get rid of her sadness. How does that sound?”
    CeCe felt a slow smile stretch between her ears.
    â€œLike Christmas,” she said.

FIVE
    SQUISH
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    DORIS STOOD OUT LIKE A neon light amid the crowd of travelers jockeying for curb space. She was easy to spot, with her inflated ash-streaked hair, Christmas-red lips, and a face-eating brooch that Doris had pinned high on her shoulder instead of her lapel. She had always reveled in becoming a caricature of herself.
    They embraced, young woman and old, before CeCe lowered Doris’ overnight bag into the trunk.
    â€œThat’s all?” CeCe said, standing by Doris’ passenger door.
    â€œI only needed my thong and a toothbrush,” Doris said.
    â€œNo,” CeCe laughed. “No. I do not approve.”
    â€œStop being a hater,” Doris said.
    They cruised along the expressway, chatting about Doris’ twins, now married, and CeCe’s mother, now compelled by crafts projects at the independent living center. Dr. Harper told CeCe her mother responded well to the mixed company of the center, not just depressives. CeCe was about to ask for any updates on mall gossip when Doris interrupted.
    â€œGet off on Parker,” she said.
    â€œWhat? No dim sum from the Emperor’s Throne?” CeCe said.
    Doris smiled. “Maybe tomorrow.”
    Doris’ turn-by-turn directions carried them beyond the shopping center to a residential neighborhood of bungalows. CeCe parked in front of a gray house with lavender trim.
    â€œCute house,” CeCe said. “You used to live out here, right?”
    â€œYep, right here,” Doris said, looking past CeCe at the house.
    CeCe parked on the curb and followed Doris up the walkway of flat granite circles. A black sedan was parked in the driveway and Doris stooped to brazenly peer inside. They continued past the empty car and reached the porch. CeCe was surprised when Doris pushed open the front door without even ringing the bell first.
    CeCe hadn’t expected to find the house empty. She knew Doris had always hated the idea of renting this little house to strangers, and remembered listening to her friend complain about the “trolls and cavemen” she’d been interviewing as tenants. She had asked CeCe to move in, but CeCe couldn’t afford the