Rumors Read Online Free Page A

you’re from Tennessee. Where are you really from?” another girl asked. Shelby was standing beside her. She looked like she felt sorry for me, but she didn’t say anything. I couldn’t really blame her.
    â€œBaltimore. In Maryland. But we’re moving this week,” I said finally. I didn’t dare say we were moving to Tennessee. One lie would just lead to another.
    At that moment the counselors announced the next game. “Okay, now we want to know what your sign is! Find your zodiac sign and get with your group!”
    I heard someone behind me whisper, “She doesn’t know where she lives. You think she knows when her birthday is?”
    And then laughter.
    My whole face was burning with embarrassment.
    Up until now, the most embarrassing moment of my life was the time I tied my shoelaces together during story time in first grade, and then I couldn’t get themuntied. When it was time to go to lunch, I couldn’t even walk. I had cried, and everyone had laughed, and my teacher, Mrs. Schubert, couldn’t get them unknotted, so she had to cut them with her scissors.
    That was horrible.
    But this was worse.
    We kept playing these games for the rest of the evening. We had to get in groups by birth order—oldest, youngest, middle, or only child—and by hair color. Every time I was in a group with one of the Tennessee girls, I gave that open window another consideration.
    Finally the games were over. We all had to get into a big circle and sing “Taps,” and then they gave us graham crackers and milk. After that, we were supposed to go to our cabins and get ready for bed.
    I was one of the first out the door. I dashed to the cabin and flipped on the light switch to get my toothpaste and toothbrush. But by the time I got to the bathrooms, it was already getting crowded in there.
    When I got back to the cabin, just about everyone was changing into pajamas. As soon as Boo saw me, she said, “Oh, hi, Kayla! Where’d you say you were from again?” She said it in a really friendly voice, but there was something about her tone that made me nervous.
    Had Shelby told them? She wasn’t even in hereat the moment. I passed her going to the bathrooms when I was coming back. But Boo must have heard somehow.
    I wished there was a way you could not answer a question without being rude. “I’ve lived in a few different states,” I said finally.
    â€œReally? Like where?” Boo asked. She was sitting on her cot with her legs crossed. Without her glasses on, her eyes didn’t look so big, but they still had a way of staring right through you.
    â€œWell, I was born in Illinois,” I said. That seemed like a safe answer. Why would anyone say they were from one state when they weren’t? Should I even try to explain it?
    â€œIllinois? That’s not what I heard!” And then Boo started laughing. I could feel myself blushing all over again. Even though I’d just come from the bathrooms, I grabbed a washcloth and a bar of soap and scooted out of the cabin as fast as I could.
    My face felt so hot, I figured I’d better wash it before it caught on fire. What would people think if I walked around with this washcloth draped over my face for the next four weeks?
    After I’d washed my face, I hid in one of the stalls. Eventually I heard a counselor outside yell, “Lightsout!” So I came out of the bathroom and got back to the cabin as fast as I could.
    There was a good thing and a bad thing about going back to the cabin in the dark. The good thing was nobody could see me. The bad thing was I couldn’t see a foot in front of me. I stumbled against something that felt like a stack of bricks, and I had to bite my lip to keep from yelling.
    â€œKayla, is that you?” I heard Gloria’s voice through the darkness. “Need me to turn on the light?”
    â€œNo! That’s okay! I can see just fine,” I told