Danette Haworth my little home on the web
Violet Raines
Almost Got Struck by Lightning
CHAPTER ONE
When Eddie B. dared me to walk the net bridge over the Elijah Hatchett River where we'’d seen an alligator and another kid got bit by a coral snake, I wasn'’t scared--—I just didn’t feel like doing it right then. So that's how come I know just what he'’s saying when I see him in church, flapping his elbows like someone in here is chicken. When Momma’'s not looking, I make my evil face at him, but he just laughs and turns the right way in his pew.
I fold the bulletin and fan myself. Lord, it'’s hot in here. The windows are open but all that breezes in are a couple of lovebugs, landing in front of me on a lady'’s hair. I elbow my best friend, Lottie T., and point at the bugs. They crawl around and slip under a web of hair-sprayed strands. I start giggling and Lottie does too. Only we press the giggles down so instead of coming out of our mouths, the giggles shake our shoulders.
Taking a deep breath, I lean forward and then, “AH-CHOO!” The lady’s hair blows over in one piece like a typhoon hit it, and two black specks fly out. Lottie laughs out loud. When the lady turns around, I see she has devil eyebrows, the kind that go up in a point. I smile innocently. “’"'Scuse me, ma’'am."” She nods and turns around. I look at Lottie and laughter
starts bubbling up from somewhere deep until Momma puts her hand on my arm, pulling me back in the seat. I look forward and try to pay attention.
The preacher’'s talking about how too much honey can make you sick, and I know it'’s true because I have put too much honey on my peanut butter sandwich before and I just about puked. But I get that he'’s talking about too much sweetness is sickening. He doesn'’t have to worry about me. I am never too sweet to anybody.
Just then, the church doors swing open and slam against the walls. Everyone turns around. I squint, but all I can make out are two tall people and a girl; the sun blasting in from behind has turned them into figures of darkness.
“Welcome,” the preacher says. He doesn'’t even sound annoyed. He smiles and steps down from the pulpit, standing on level ground with the rest of us.
The tall people step into the light and smile, their eyes darting around the sanctuary. The girl’'s hair is so blond, it'’s almost white.
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