Waiting for Dusk Read Online Free Page A

quiet. “Are you okay, baby? You were having so
much fun, and now it’s like you are back to your brooding self. I’m
ready to hear ‘I’m bored’ come out of your mouth again.”
    “No, just tired. I think I’ll head up to my
room for the rest of the night. Good night.” Katie cleared her
dishes, put them in the dishwasher and headed for the stairs.
    “Good night, Katie. Love you.”
    “Love you, too.”
    When Katie was in the safety of her own room,
she grabbed the book and lay down on her bed. Better put the
television on. It’s a little early to think about sleeping, she thought. But why am I so tired? Maybe it was all that sun
and water. I think I’ll just close my eyes for a minute and then
read another chapter.
     

Chapter Five
     
    Katie woke with a
start. She looked around and saw the pine walls of the
boardinghouse. Her heart skipped a beat. I’m back! Why am I so
happy about that?
    She wanted to see Mrs. Johansson, the girls,
and even Mr. Johansson. Then there was Drew. Would she see him
again? She wouldn’t dare tell anyone what happened outside the
other night. They might not let her see him again.
    Listen to me, Katie thought. I’m
worried about what people will think about me in my dream .
    She thought about the kiss. It was just like
in the fairytales when the heroine waited for the prince to kiss
her, like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. Only she didn’t want the
prince to wake her from her dreams.
    Katie got out of bed. She knew the routine.
She filled her pitcher with water and then visited the outhouse.
She looked around almost hoping to see Drew. All she saw was miles
and miles of blue sky. It seemed to go on forever. It was the most
beautiful shade of blue she ever saw. She was overwhelmed by the
beauty of it.
    A voice broke through the moment. “Any day
now. We’d all like to use the facilities.” Lucinda laughed and
waved at her.
    Katie waved back, then hurried off. When she
returned to her room, her uniform was lying on her bed. Katie
slipped on the black dress, the black stockings and shoes. Finally
the crisp white bib apron was tied on over the dress, and she was
ready. She found a lovely gold-handled brush in her drawer, and
fussed with her hair until she looked presentable. Then Katie
headed to the kitchen for breakfast.
    “Good morning, everyone,” Everyone was
already at the table except her.
    “God Morgon, Katie,” said Mr. Johansson.
Katie frowned.
    “That was good morning in Swedish,” Ruthie
informed her. “Mr. Johansson tries to teach us a few phrases now
and then.”
    “Oh, then god morgon to you, too, Mr.
Johansson.”
    They ate breakfast quickly so they wouldn’t
be late for work. Lucinda told everyone about the pillow fight the
night before and had everyone laughing. Katie could see why Lucinda
was so much fun to be around. She decided to give her another
chance.
    After cleaning up breakfast, the four girls
piled into the car and were ready for another day at work.
    “Thank goodness it’s Friday. Our last day of
work for the week!” Lucinda clapped.
    Katie almost laughed aloud when she heard the
saying ‘thank goodness it’s Friday’. If Lucinda only knew what that
simple phrase would turn into. As the old car rambled down the
road, Katie found it hard to keep her eyes open. She felt like
dozing but sat up straight because she did not want to fall asleep.
She decided to close her eyes and rest until they got there. She
heard the girls laughing and talking the whole way there and then
the car suddenly came to a stop. They must be at the hotel. They
all got out of the car and ran into the back door of the
kitchen.
    Miss Betsy was waiting for them. “Lucinda
dear, you will be working in the dining room all day today. Ruthie,
Anna and Kathryn, come with me.”
    She assigned tasks in the kitchen to each
girl and then went into the dining room to watch over Lucinda.
    Katie had the job of retrieving eggs from the
hen house again. She did much better this