Elixir Read Online Free Page B

Elixir
Book: Elixir Read Online Free
Author: Eric Walters
Pages:
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I asked my mother.
    â€œFirst things first. Tell me how to spell believe .” My mother stopped mopping the floor and looked at me. All through her cleaning she’d been quizzing me on my spelling words. She’d memorized the whole list so she knew the words by heart.
    â€œBelieve,” I said slowly, taking my time, thinking through the word. “B … e … l … e … No it’s not e. There’s another letter first … i … e … v … e … believe.”
    â€œExcellent. I’m very impressed with your progress today.”
    I felt myself blush.
    â€œI think you deserve a break. It’s almost two o’clock. Would you like to go up and see Dr. Banting and have tea?”
    â€œWill you come too?” I asked.
    â€œI’m afraid I haven’t made the same progress you’ve made. I still have the whole main floor to do, and if I want to be finished in time for us to be home for supper, I’ll have to keep working.”
    â€œBut you’ve been working hard all morning. You deserve to take a break,” I argued.
    â€œWork before rest.”
    â€œThen I should keep working too.”
    â€œYou’ve done your work memorizing your spelling list. This is my work. Go, have tea and a biscuit. You can come back after and help if you like.”
    â€œI don’t know.…”
    â€œThere’s nothing to know. The sooner you leave the sooner you’ll be back. Get on with you.”
    I hesitated.
    â€œNow, before I decide you should be the one scrubbing the washroom floors.”
    I didn’t need that threat a second time. “I’ll be back soon.”
    I dashed over to the stairwell. We were on the second floor. My mother always started with the third floor, the top floor, hoping to get it done before the day reached its greatest heat. She was now almost finished the second floor. By the time I returned she’d be working on the main level.
    As I climbed the stairwell I could hear the dogs barking. I opened the door and felt a surge of heat. Itwas amazing how much hotter it was just one floor up. And just as powerful as the heat was the smell. I knew my mother had just cleaned the floor, but it still smelled bad. The stench came from behind the same door as the barking, a room at the end of the hall. I held my breath as I passed by. I turned the corner and the next door along was open. Standing at the threshold, I peeked in. Dr. Banting sat on a stool, wearing a dingy beige lab coat, the arms cut off, working on some papers strewn on the desk in front of him. He was so intently focused on his work that he didn’t even see me. Maybe I would just leave and not disturb him.
    â€œCan I help you?”
    I looked over. A man was looking at me. He was younger than Dr. Banting, with light-coloured hair and a pleasant expression on his face. He looked like a nice and gentle man, and he had a wonderful smile.
    â€œAh, good to see you, Miss Williams,” Dr. Banting said as he stood up to greet me. “Have you come to join us for tea?”
    â€œIf I may,” I said.
    â€œI was just about to put the kettle on,” the other man said.
    â€œThis is my research partner.” Dr. Banting gestured to the man. “Ruth Williams, I’d like you to meet Charles Best.”
    â€œPleased to meet you, Dr. Best,” I said and curtsied.
    â€œActually it’s Mr. Best. I’m not a doctor, I’m just a research assistant.”
    â€œA research partner, ” Dr. Banting insisted.
    â€œI’m a graduate student who’s been assigned to help Dr. Banting with his research project.” He did look a lot younger than Dr. Banting. Younger and more gentle looking. Not that Dr. Banting wasn’t friendly, but there was something about him that I knew meant business— he was probably the sort of person you didn’t want to get mad at you.
    â€œYou’re being too modest, Charles. The
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