Everybody's Daughter Read Online Free Page A

me.”
    “Then why did you tell me?”
    “Probably because I hoped that someday my older sister would be a friend.”
    “Ouch.”
    “Now you know how I feel when you’re around.”
    “Then why did you ask me to come in for a drink? Why do you still talk to me if I’m such a pain?”
    He opened a drawer in the side table, dusted off an old Bible and waved it at her. “Because I remember a time when we were partners in crime.”
    Nauseous from drinking too much wine, eating Cheerios, and the hot dogs, he retreated to the bathroom, still clutching the Bible. He splashed cold water on his face, sat at the edge of the tub, smoothed the cover and closed his eyes.
    He replayed a memory when he and Connie were kids and with vivid recollection remembered one time when they had each other’s back.
    The memory was so vibrant, he could still hear his father’s deep voice, booming, “Connie. Michael. Get down here now!”
    Connie ran from her room to the hallway, almost colliding with Michael. “We’re in trouble,” she whispered.
    He shrugged. She ran down the stairs.
    “Hi, Daddy. I’m here,” she said, standing at attention.
    Michael took his time entering the room. He stood close to his sister and cowered.
    Their father reached up and tugged Michael hard on his arm, his face only a few inches away. Jim’s eyes were bloodshot and his short sideburns were streaked with gray. The air around him was heavy with the smell of whiskey.
    “What was the gospel about today?” Jim demanded.
    Michael glanced at Connie.
    Her expression mirrored his feelings.
    Fear.
    His father tightened his grip.
    “Ouch.” Michael rubbed the sore spot and Jim squeezed harder.
    “Go to the basement,” Jim yelled. “And don’t come back up until you can tell me what you learned in church today.”
    Jim let go of Michael’s arm and he followed his sister down the basement stairs, upset that he’d have to miss the football game on TV.
    They headed toward the back room behind the boiler. “What do we do now?” he asked.
    Connie fell to her knees, her short black hair bouncing as she peered into the crawl space behind the boiler. “No problem.”
    “What are you doing?”
    “Hold on, give me a sec.”
    She reached in with her hand. “Got it.” She pulled out a small, dusty, pocket handbook.
    “What else you got in there?” he asked.
    “Nothing.”
    He shrugged. “Whatever.”
    Connie hopped up, wiping the dirt from the cover. She flipped through several pages. “Here, look. What’s today’s date again? Yeah, this is it.” Her cheeks were flushed with excitement.
    Michael read the page and understood. “Nice.”
    For the next few minutes, they sat and read the gospel from that Sunday together.
    Michael looked at his sister, surprised they’d been communicating without tearing each other apart.
    “Are you ready to go upstairs?” she asked, after quizzing him a few times.
    He nodded with enthusiasm. “I know it now. It’s about Thomas doubting Jesus was alive and he wanted to touch his wounds. It’s gross but I guess that’s what Dad wants, right?”
    “Yeah, right.” She dropped her hands down so he could slap a low five. He walloped her hand hard. “Hey, that hurt,” she yelled.
    Loud, heavy footsteps crossed the floor above their heads. “What’s going on down there?” Jim called down.
    “Nothing,” Connie said. “We’re ready to talk to you.”
    “Then get up here.”
    They ran up the steps, eager to share their newfound information. Standing before their father, they lifted their heads high with pride as Connie started the story and Michael finished it. They both stood in front of their father, grinning.
    Jim stopped rocking back and forth in the recliner, and strained to see, like he did when he was suspicious. “Next week I’ll ask you again,” he said. “And you better know it the first time. No more trips to the basement.” He picked up his paper off the floor and held it front of his face.
    “Can