Both girls
returned home. They had gone to Teresa’s house but no one was there. The stress
was evident on Jordan’s face as she wondered if Teresa had followed through
with her end of the deal.
They returned home and collapsed in the
kitchen while Jordan prepared some bagels, anything to keep her busy! Neither
girl spoke as they numbly nibbled on their breakfast, both startled when
Stacey’s cell phone rang.
Stacey’s face grew beet red as she listened
to the other end of the line. Jordan gripped the table in anticipation.
“OK, mom, I’m sorry. I’ll be right home,”
Stacey mumbled, meeting Jordan’s gaze across the table. With a shaky sigh of
exasperation, Jordan nodded her head in understanding.
“I’m sorry, Jordan. I was supposed to be
home by 10 to go with my parents to visit my grandma. I totally forgot…” her
voice trailed off as she was obviously torn between family obligation and the
needs of her friend.
“Look, I can-“
“It’s OK, Stace, you go on. There’s nothing
more you can do anyway,” Jordan said, sitting up straight and putting on a
brave front for her friend. And it was the truth, what more could either of
them do at this point? Besides, Jordan knew what she had to do and she planned
to do it alone.
The two friends hugged fiercely and Stacey
left, while Jordan aimlessly straightened up the kitchen. She knew what she had
to do, but it was like a force was weighting her down. Nevertheless, she
gathered her courage and entered the garage. Her father’s tools were locked in
a big metal cabinet, Jordan knew that much from earlier, but she began to
search for something she could use to destroy the mirror.
She knew her mother would be returning soon
and it had to be done before she got back. She searched the tool bench, nothing
but a screwdriver and some duct tape. She scanned the floor, the shelves- so
much junk! How could anyone find anything in here! She was just about to give
up when she remembered their little storage shed out back.
She couldn’t believe her luck when she
realized her father had left the shed unlocked. She pulled the door open wide
to let in more light and began her search. Within minutes she found what might
work, a short handled hatchet. She closed up the shed and made her way back
across the yard, passing the large metal barrel that her father used to burn
brush and scrap; it would come in handy when it came time to burn the mirror-
every last piece.
She walked inside, the smooth wooden handle
of the hatchet clutched in her hand, and she made her way upstairs. Her bedroom
door stood ajar and her lights were on. No big surprise since both she and
Stacey had been preoccupied earlier today. What was a surprise was who was
waiting for her on the other side.
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