Olive
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015
Olive rolled over on the couch and opened her eyes. She smelled coffee. And pancakes. Her dad never made breakfast. The only one who did was…Mama!
Olive leapt off the couch and ran to the kitchen.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Riley said, smiling at her.
Olive blinked at her aunt, who stood in front of the stove, flipping pancakes on Mama’s big cast-iron griddle. She had on Mama’s pink apron.
“I thought we could have a nice breakfast, then I could give you a ride to school.”
“Where’s Dad?”
“He had to go into work early. They’re starting a big repaving job.”
Olive helped herself to coffee.
“Your dad said you had a rough night,” Riley said.
Olive shrugged. “A couple bad dreams, that’s all. Did Dad call you? Is that why you’re here? ’Cause I’m fine, really.”
“He’s worried about you, Ollie.”
“I just had a nightmare—it’s fine. Everyone has nightmares sometimes, don’t they?”
“What about?”
Olive looked down into her milky coffee. “I don’t remember.”
Riley put pancakes on a plate and set them on the table. Olive sat down and reached for the maple syrup. She wasn’t really hungry, but she dove in with a smile. “These are delicious!” she said.
Riley sat in the chair across from her. She watched her carefully, frowning. “The truth is, I’m concerned about you, too.” A lump formed in Olive’s throat, making it hard to swallow.
“But everything’s good,” Olive said, between bites of pancake. “I mean, it’s just the very beginning of the school year, but things are going okay. I actually like my classes so far.”
“Your friend Mike came to see me,” Riley said.
“What?” Olive set her fork down, her hands clenched into fists. How could he? She would kill him for this.
“Now hang on,” Riley said. “Don’t get all mad at him. He did the right thing. He’s worried about you, Olive.”
“Mike’s always worried about something. He exaggerates and panics and gets all freaked out at the slightest little thing!” Olive said.
“He told me you found your mother’s necklace in the bog over the summer.”
Shit! Shit, shit, shit. Should have known that chickenshit traitor would tell.
She hesitated, wondering what the chances were of Riley believing her if she lied.
“Is that true, Olive?”
“Yeah, I found it in the bog. That silver necklace she was wearing all the time before she left.”
Riley nodded. “I know the one you mean.”
“Mama called it herI see allnecklace.”
