Page 11 (2/2)

My pulse begins to quicken I stand up "Is there anything to drink here?" I ask, spinning around in a circle "I’m thirsty" I spot the soda machine, but I don’t have any money on me Just then, my father shoves his hand into his pocket and pulls out a handful of quarters He slides them across the table

"They let you havee and walk over to the soda lance back at hi down at his hands folded together across the table

I wait for my drink to plummet to the bottom, and even then, I stall another minute while I open it and take a sip This man makes me nervous and I don’t knohy I don’t kno Charlie looked up to hiuess if I had memories of him as my father, maybe I would feel differently about hi, and right now I see a criminal A beady-eyed, pale excuse for a man

I almost drop my soda Every muscle in my body weakens with the realization I think back to a description either me or Silas wrote in our notes A physical description of The Shrimp Of Cora

"They call her The Shrimp because she has beady eyes and skin that turns ten shades of pink when she talks"

Shit Shit, Shit, Shit

Brett is Cora’s father?

He’s staring atfor me to make my way back to him I head in his direction When I reach the table, I eye hile bit of h ame," I tell him

He raises an amused brow "Okay"

"Let’s pretend I’ve lost ether I may not have seen otherwise, in …?"

"Not really," he says He looks sour I wonder if he gets like this when people don’t fall all over themselves to please hihter? I don’t know, ainst my will?"