The Stars Blue Yonder Read Online Free Page A

fungus.
    Osherman was still sitting in the living room. Jodenny knew better than to try and avoid him, so she took the seat opposite. The table between them was one they’d had in their own house, once. It was recycled metal from the ship, scratched and worn over the decades but covered with a tablecloth Jodenny had received as a wedding gift.
    â€œYou want something to drink, Mom?” Lisa asked. Behind her, thin raindrops started to splatter down on the window. “Or you, Sam?”
    â€œNo,” Jodenny said.
    Osherman didn’t answer. He was staring at Myell and Lisa, who bent close to her father to show him where to recycle the corn husks. His intense concentration was not uncommon these days. He could stare all day at a tree, or a rock, or any old building. Jodenny didn’t know what he saw when he looked so long at one thing. He couldn’t or wouldn’t explain it, not to her, not in these last years of their lives.
    â€œMom!” A flurry of feet and elbows marked Twig’s full-throttle arrival through the kitchen door and up against the counter. She had dust on her face and her long hair was loose from its ponytail. She stared at Myell. “Is this him? You’re my grandfather?”
    Thirteen-year-old Kyle, who was Teresa’s oldest son, came in close on his cousin’s heels. Like his grandpa Osherman, he had sandy-colored hair, a long nose, and a narrow face. He said, “Don’t be stupid, Twig. You already have a grandfather.”
    Twig said, “But he was my first one. Right, Mom?”
    Lisa put a wet cloth to Twig’s dirty face. “You’re supposed to be fishing. Where’s the catch?”
    â€œWe caught a bunch,” Kyle said. “Steven’s got ’em.”
    Twig’s brothers Steven and David soon arrived, bearing a string of river trout. Alton trudged in after them, his feet filthy up to his knees.After Lisa made the introductions, Alton said, rather proudly, “I’m the one who found you! In the stream.”
    â€œWhere’d you come from, anyway?” Kyle asked.
    Twig poked his arm. “From the grave, doofus.”
    Myell paused from shucking corn. “Do I look like a zombie?”
    â€œYou’re supposed to be old.” Kyle gave Myell a thorough, scrutinizing look. “As old as Nana.”
    Lisa corralled the kids and pointed them toward the bathroom. “Go wash up, all of you, and then keep yourself busy until I call for supper. And if you’ve got homework, you better go do it now. I’ll be checking later.”
    Twig broke free of the gang to duck into the living room. “Hi, Nana,” she said, throwing her arms around Jodenny’s neck and giving her a quick, sweaty squeeze. “Are you happy your first husband’s back?”
    â€œNews travels fast around here,” Jodenny replied. “How many of those fish are yours?”
    â€œJust one.” Twig circled around the table and hugged Osherman. “Hi, Grandpa. It’s okay if I have two grandfathers?”
    â€œWe’ll talk about that later,” he said.
    Twig dashed off, never content to walk when she could run. Osherman’s gaze turned Jodenny’s way for the first time since she’d sat down, and he said, “You fainted.”
    â€œHours ago.”
    â€œYou were that surprised to see him?”
    â€œYou’re not?”
    His nose wrinkled up. “Nothing about him surprises me. Not anymore.”
    Teresa and Brian showed up a few minutes later bearing fresh biscuits. They would have used the last of their good flour for those, but Jodenny didn’t chide them for being so generous. Teresa gratefully sank into the nearest chair and Brian took the fish outside to fry. More visitors arrived, including Captain Balandra on her cane, and her son Malachy, who’d brought his own kids and grandkids, most of them bearing what little food they could spare. Most everyone was in