کتاب 05-03

3

Harper got it again—and she got it worse—the next evening, at first meal.

There was already a line, wrapped halfway around the inside of the cafeteria, when she came in out of the dark, snow melting in her hair. She had half run from the infirmary, with a shrieking wind at her back the whole way. She couldn’t feel her ears and was desperately hungry from the first whiff of maple syrup and oats.

Half the camp was already seated, and the room was loud with conversation and spoons scraping in bowls. It was so loud Harper didn’t hear Gail Neighbors at first, didn’t know someone was talking to her until Gillian Neighbors poked her in the ribs to get her attention.

The Neighbors twins were right behind her, side by side. They wore matching red turtlenecks, an unfortunate wardrobe choice that suggested a resemblance to Thing One and Thing Two from the Dr. Seuss book.

“Allie didn’t eat all day yesterday,” Gail said. Harper was pretty sure it was Gail doing the talking—she was the one with the pointy chin.

Harper turned her back on them. “If she doesn’t want to eat, that’s up to her. No one is making her starve.”

One of the sisters yanked on her sleeve and Harper had to glance back.

Gillian looked a lot less friendly than Gail. Her lips were a thin white line. She hadn’t shaved her head recently and her scalp was blue with five o’clock shadow.

“Is it true it would only cost you half an hour with the stone to make amends?” Gillian asked.

“That and my dignity.”

The two sisters did not reply. Harper turned her back on them once more. The line edged slowly forward.

“You’re a real stuck-up bitch,” one of them said softly.

This time, Harper did not glance back.

“You know, some people think—” said the other, and was shushed by the first.

Harper did not care what some people thought and did not dignify this comment with a response.

She didn’t know Allie was on mess duty, dishing out scoops of oatmeal, until she reached the counter. Allie still had the rock in her mouth, Harper could tell by the way she pursed her lips.

Allie lifted her gaze and stared at Harper with watery, loathing eyes. Then she reached under the counter, found a smooth, egg-shaped lump of granite, put it in a bowl, and held it out to her.

Harper set down her tray and walked away, the Neighbors sisters shrieking with laughter.