Kin Read Online Free Page B

sink. Annie was behind her at the table, struggling to do her homework and hating every minute of it.
    â€œAnnie, have you noticed Lila losing weight?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI think she’s looking a little peaked.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œLike maybe she’s not feeling well.”
    â€œShe’s good.”
    Mom put down the peeler and sat across from Annie. “I noticed some of my baking disappearing and I thought it was David but when I asked him, he didn’t know what I was talking about.”
    Annie didn’t want to be a tattletale, but the worry on her mother’s face alarmed her.
    â€œSometimes Lila and I take a few cookies.”
    â€œAre you sure it’s not just Lila?”
    Annie nodded, but she could tell her mother didn’t believe her.
    â€œI think Lila’s hungry.” Mom chewed on her thumbnail, deep in thought. “I have a secret mission for you. Do you think you can handle it?”
    When Annie asked Lila if she could come over to her house for supper, Lila looked unsure and said she’d have to ask Mrs. Butts. Annie had only ever been in Mrs. Butts’s porch. She never invited children in like some of the other women on the street.
    The two of them walked into Bertha’s kitchen. Annie looked around, stunned. There was a mess everywhere, on the counters and the floor and the table. Even the cupboard doors were open, revealing chaos inside. Annie’s stomach felt funny.
    â€œWhere is she?” Annie whispered.
    â€œShe’ll be in the parlour on the couch,” Lila said.
    The girls crept down the hallway. There were books and newspapers in piles everywhere. Annie thought she was in a dream and her mouth went dry. When they entered the parlour she grabbed Lila’s hand. “Is she dead?”
    Mrs. Butts was sprawled on the sofa, with her mouth open and spittle running down the side of her mouth.
    â€œNo. She likes to sleep.”
    Lila approached her guardian. “Mrs. Butts? Mrs. Butts? Can Annie stay for supper?” When she didn’t respond, Lila reached out and touched her on the shoulder.
    Mrs. Butts woke with a start and struggled to sit up. “Who’s there? What time is it?”
    â€œIt’s me. Can Annie stay for supper?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBut…”
    â€œI said no…oh, Annie, you’re here.” She gave a nervous laugh and tried to straighten herself up, while reaching for the nearly empty glass on the side table. “I didn’t see you. Well, I suppose it’s all right if Annie stays. You’re over at their house all the time.” Mrs. Butts drained the glass. “Play upstairs until supper is ready.”
    Annie was more than glad to escape that room. She followed Lila upstairs.
    â€œThere are three bedrooms up here, but I’m only allowed in my room.”
    They crept down the hall. One of the bedroom doors was open, and when Annie glanced inside, she saw Mr. Butts fast asleep across the bed with his work clothes on.
    This was all wrong. Annie shivered and kept close to Lila. They reached her room and Lila closed the door behind them. The bedroom was gloomy and not very nice. There were no toys and her bed had a grey wool blanket on it. There was a bureau and a chair, but the rest of the space was taken up with boxes and unwanted items that were piled in the back corner. They crawled up on the bed together.
    â€œThis is my room.”
    â€œYou don’t have a lot of things.”
    â€œNo. I had to leave most of it behind.”
    Annie couldn’t imagine leaving any of her possessions behind.
    â€œI do have this.” She moved her pillow aside. There was a small brown bear and a nursery rhyme book. “My mom used to read me this book.” She opened the pages and a photo fell out. Lila passed it to Annie. “That’s my mother and me.”
    Annie looked at the small picture of a pretty young woman holding a