Walk Through Thorns

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I didn't tell Avery about the thing at the door when I met her after school.

The clouds were misting rain. For once, my heavy coat blended into the crowd.

Avery ran over using her backpack for cover. "Can this wait for a sunny day?"

"Not a chance," I said, "The longer we wait the more time these people have to cover up after themselves."

Avery rolled her eyes at me, but in the end climbed on. We rode with her standing on the steps on my back wheel and holding onto me for balance. By the time we crossed town, our hair was soaked and clinging to our heads.

The water soaked in as we followed the side road up to Greta's family farm. We were shivering as we passed fields of yellow flowers.

I asked, "Are these all Greta's?"

Avery said, "Her family harvests those for canola oil. They've lived here forever."

There were three houses on the laneway leading into the farm property. The reporters were gone, but their presence lingered in crumpled coffee cups discarded in the ditch.

Avery leaned forward and said, "How about I hang back while you go to the door? You don't want her family to associate you with me."

"Why don't they like you?" I asked.

Avery sighed. "They're super traditional. My hair is green, and I don't believe in god. It's water and oil, man."

As I carried the box of cookies to the door, Avery hung back with my bike looking miserable in the rain. The long bristle of remaining hair in the middle of her head was clinging to the side of her face. She had the same expression Yog did the one time we had to wash him.

Greta's mom answered the door. She wore a full sleeved black dress, and her eyes were puffy. She put on a smile for me anyway. "You must be Greta's new friend."

All of a sudden I realized I was supposed to say something. She stared while I stood like a deer in headlights. When I finally urged my mouth to speak, I fumbled the words. "I heard about what happened, so I baked. For you. Your family. Um."

"That's so thoughtful. Is Avery with you? You should both come in." She waved for Avery to come. Avery looked to me in horror, but I motioned for her to come too. Greta's family seemed perfectly welcoming so far.

I whispered to Avery, "I thought her family didn't like you?"

She said, "This is all a trap. They'll save our souls if you're not careful."

Greta's mom handed us both towels to dry off our hair. Other family members were moving about on their own business, but everyone smiled and waved. Every time I blinked, another brother or sister materialized to introduce themselves. There must have been a dozen siblings. Eventually, Greta crept down the stairs and looked at us in obvious confusion.

Her mother said, "Come down Greta, your friends baked for us."

Greta gave us a small wave on the way down, but didn't say anything. Her normal confidence seemed to have evaporated in the presence of her family. Then again, both Avery and I were acting shy as sheep too. Meeting strangers was never my forte.

Thinking fast, I said, "We brought Greta homework from school too. Can we help her catch up?"

Greta's room was so clean, I wasn't entirely convinced anyone actually lived in it. Where was all the stuff? Nothing was left out, not even on top of the bedside table.