Ripples Read Online Free Page A

fault. Didn’t pull over when he should’ve. Blocking traffic—it’s just not right. Besides, what kind of a trucker can’t keep his rig upright. Sheesh.”
    A car’s honking in my head … wanna tell it to stop.
    I get out of the pickup … try not to make any noise ... see a big black car up ahead … smashed into the trailer. A woman’s holding her forehead. Another bent over, hands covering her face. A man talking to them.
    I walk along the ditch past the black car. Something crunches under my feet. Pieces of glass—dark red, slippery. Try to keep away from crunching glass … stay close to the big bushy trees. Hope no one sees me. Sirens blare. Cover my ears.
    Something wet drips on my head. I stop. Look up. Maybe a bird crapped. Trees are thick with branches, leaves. Reminds me of ripples covering the lake.
    Don’t see any birds, but there’s a pink shoe up in the tree. A kid … one leg swung over a branch … no foot. Watch a drop … red … hurts my eyes … lands near my feet. I yank the candy out of my pocket … tear off its crinkly red wrapper … throw the candy away … hold the wrapper up to my eye … study the kid in the tree. Could be a girl … curly hair … face all bloody—like when Tess guts Bryce’s deer, rabbits, and stuff. My stomach gurgles. Throat tightens. Things start spinning. Say to myself … this isn’t real.
    In front of me a man stops … drops to his knees. I peek around the candy wrapper. He’s puking. Straightens up. Doesn’t see me. He runs uphill, away from the wreck.
    I better keep moving. Tess’ll make trouble if I’m still here when she comes by. She’s a snitch—even makes stuff up. Told me she once had a rich boyfriend … good job. How’d she wind up with a creep like Bryce? It doesn’t matter that she lies … Bryce believes her. He shouldn’t, though.
    Above the wreck … cars headed down the mountain, stopped … more people hanging around. I walk faster. Someone might try talking to me. One of the cars turns around, comes right at me. I jump out of the way. Tumble into the ditch. Land in a heap.
    Roll over … up on the road a shiny red car—stopped. Dark windows. Can’t see inside. Reach in my pocket … candy wrapper is still there.
    The window comes down. I look down. Don’t want them to see me.
    A man inside says, “Jeez, I’m sorry. Are you all right?”
    Maybe if I don’t look at him he’ll stop seeing me. Wanna shrink as small as an ant.
    The car door opens. The man climbs out, stumbles down the ditch. Kneels next to me. “I’m really sorry. Are you hurt?”
    Knee hurts bad … I rub it.
    Man reaches for my knee.
    Hunch up in a ball.
    He backs off … holds his hands up. “Sorry, I won’t hurt you. Sure you’re okay?”
    I start to get up.
    He takes my arm. “Here, let me help you.”
    Jerk away. Leg hurts worse. Stand on it just the same.
    “Honest, I’m just trying to help.” He steps back. “Haven’t I seen you before?”
    Look away.
    “Aren’t you the kid who lives across the lake from me? You like to skip rocks.”
    “No.”
    “Really? I could swear you could be her twin.”
    I shrug.
    “Say, were you in that wreck down there?”
    Shake my head.
    “Where do you live? I should take you home, to your parents.”
    “That’s okay. I can get home myself.”
    Can’t he stop talking?
    “I should get you to your family so they can be sure you’re okay.”
    Knee aches … wants to fold up under me.
    “Please. I won’t bite.”
    Bryce bites.
    “It won’t be any trouble, really. I’ve got the time.”
    People are watching. Somebody might tell on me. Take a step. A sharp pain. Shut my eyes.
    He takes my arm. Steadies me. “Here, let me give you a ride.”
    “No. I’ll be okay. Just have to rest a minute.”
    He nudges me toward his car. “I insist. After all, it’s my fault.”
    No, it’s her fault.
    He opens the car door.
    I’ll never make it to the shack … look downhill to see if Tess is coming. I get in.
    He