Once in a Blue Moon Read Online Free Page B

at
her.
    Jessica stood for a
moment, staring. “Did you know you have grass in your hair?” She
turned and headed up the stairs.
    Melissa put a hand to
her hair and brushed at it. Grass fell onto the floor. She watched
as Jessica ran up the stairs. What had happened to the sweet girl
who used to race to hug her when she got home from work? How could
she parent a child who pushed her away? She might not spend a lot
of time with her daughter; with Melissa’s schedule, that was
impossible. But she did try to spend quality time. Like with the
self-defense classes. But if Jessica wouldn’t go, what was she
supposed to do?
    Still feeling weak,
Melissa leaned against the wall and pushed away feelings she didn’t
want, or have time, to examine. At twelve, Jessica was just at that
age and hormones were probably messing with her mind.
    Perhaps Melissa would
make her another new outfit; some jeans with buckles and studs and
a Victorian blouse; maybe that would make Jessica feel better.
    Melissa turned toward
the den. Right now, with life so hectic, that was about all Melissa
could be expected to do while she waited for Jessica to grow out of
the phase.
    Melissa pushed herself
away from the wall and stumbled slightly. She sighed. She didn’t
have time to feel shaky. She needed to find Richard and talk to
him. He’d been angry on the phone, and if she were honest, she’d
admit it bothered her. Richard never got angry and so she was,
well, not nervous exactly, but concerned. Obviously she’d failed to
make him understand the impossible time crunch she was under at
work; how stressed out she was.
    Melissa walked into the
den and saw Jeremy’s light brown hair peeking over the top of the
sofa as he lounged back, watching the news, which struck her as
strange. He never watched the news; at least not that she was aware
of. Richard was nowhere in sight.
    She turned to leave,
but thought better of it. She ought to parent a bit first. With a
sigh, she walked forward, slightly wary about her reception.
“Hi.”
    Jeremy glanced up. “Hi,
Mom.” His voice seemed normal and Melissa was relieved. If he’d
been upset with her earlier, it didn’t show now. At least one of
her kids wasn’t holding a grudge against her.
    His gaze returned to
the television and she looked to see what fascinated him. The news.
Boring stuff for a kid: financial reports, Dow Jones, etc.
Information he’d never shown an interest in before.
    “What are you
watching?”
    “Shh.” Without looking
at her he lifted a hand into the air to silence her. “Here it
comes.”
    Melissa glanced back at
the TV. A weatherman came on and as his cheesy grin lit up the
screen, her eyes narrowed. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was the same
man she’d seen earlier in the day.
    “Okay, folks, here’s
the interview you’ve been waiting for. We’ll go to Barbara Smithy,
live, out in a field on Old Post Road where she has Abe Collins
with her, and the blue moon shining down on them. Abe has an
interesting story to tell. It seems during the last blue moon, Abe
traveled through time. But he’s back with us now and ready to tell
his story. Barbara?”
    A pretty blonde, early
thirties or so, white teeth flashing, appeared onscreen. But it was
the man beside her that demanded attention. Wild-eyed and of
indeterminate age, he sported a long gray beard, and what looked
like a toga and an Indian Chief headpiece, complete with
multicolored feathers.
    Melissa snorted before
she could stop herself and Jeremy laughed up at her, brown eyes
sparkling as he shared the joke.
    The reporter’s smile
never wavered. “Thank you, Jay. I’m here with Abe Collins, on the
very spot from which he claims he traveled back through time. What
do you think, Abe? Any time portals about to open for us here
tonight? Tell us your story.” She placed the microphone in front of
his face.
    Abe puffed out his
chest importantly. “I was here on this very spot three years ago
during the last blue moon. I got