Through the Mirror and Into Snow Read Online Free Page A

She sat down in front of a tarp that was draped over what looked like a piece of plywood. Facing them, she tilted her head again with a ‘now what?’ expression.
    The girls shifted their lights to the tarp, then down toward the bottom of it where it pooled in a pile on the floor. They both let out a small shriek and covered their mouths in surprise.
    “Eww,” Samantha whispered. “No wonder your mom was so freaked out. It is ugly! Gross!”
    I’d call that a foul. Everyone is beautiful in their own way there, missy. Calling someone ‘ugly’ is right up there with calling your friend ‘stinky.’ That’s never right, even if he is a skunk.
    “Shh. You’ll scare it and it will rush at us, Sam.”
    They stood for a minute looking at the long, fat, bald tail.
    “Do you think it’s sleeping?”
    “I don’t know, but I’m sure it thinks we can’t see it.”
    Otter had lost interest in the game and sniffed her way back out the door.
    Valerie frowned. “See? She doesn’t care what it is ’cause it’s not running away. She just likes to chase things.” They watched her walk out then shifted their gaze back to the tarp. “It’s gone!” Valerie cried.
    Samantha walked over to it slowly. “I’m sure it’s hiding underneath the board. There’s no way it got out.”
    Valerie’s voice was a little louder than before. “Careful, Samantha! It could still jump out at you!”
    “I’ll be careful but I didn’t sneak out to just stand here and stare at its butt!”
    Sam was hesitant to lift away the tarp, not knowing which way the possum could be facing. With great precaution, she pulled the top of the board away from the wall and adjusted her stance so she could run away fast if needed. After shining the flashlight to the ground she screamed.
    “What the heck? Where did it go?” She let the board fall back against the wall. “How did it go anywhere? We were right there the whole time! Darn it! If we weren’t watching Otter we would have seen it!”
    “There must be a hole in the wall somewhere.” Valerie walked up and down the back wall looking for a crack big enough for the possum to escape through.
    They spent five more minutes searching every inch of the tack room before deciding to call it quits for the night. They took their time making their way back to the house, kicking pebbles and wondering how they could have missed the possum’s escape. I’m sorry, but I can’t help giggling. They completely missed it. Nincompoops!
    They realized Otter wasn’t with them but when they reached the house, she was sitting at the door waiting to be let in. Again being careful to keep the noise to a minimum, they let in themselves and Otter. By the time they crawled into bed, it was well on the way to midnight. They closed their eyes and fell asleep almost before their heads hit the pillows, both sad at the non-eventful endeavor.

Chapter 5
    V AL’S M OM L ET T HE G IRLS S LEEP L ATE the next morning. She figured they stayed up late talking, as usual, so it was in her best interest to try to keep quiet rather than wake them and deal with tired, grouchy girls. When she went to let the dogs out, she realized it was raining hard. Of course Otter was the only taker for a quick dash outside. Dottie looked up with that ‘you’ve gotta be crazy, lady’ look on her face. “You want me to go out in that?” She wasn’t forced to go and within a second, Otter came rushing back in shaking the rain off her coat to share with everyone who didn’t go outside with her.
    Rain I don’t mind. Wet dog shake with eau d’ wet dog smell is much worse. I’m actually enjoying the weather this morning. My impatiens plants were getting a little impatient for a good watering. I crack myself up. I’ve been dying to use that line.
    “Well, we certainly aren’t going to take the four-wheelers down to the river today in this mess,” she said to the dogs. “The girls will have to amuse themselves in the house today. I can hear