Marigold by Heather Manheim (best books for 8th graders .TXT) 📕

Revelations

Davis decided the best way to sort out what was happening and what her next steps should be was to try and get back on a more regular schedule. She forced herself to get up at seven the following day, and after a quick rinse off in the bathroom, she went into the kitchen to help Quinn and Ana with the breakfast.

At the table that morning, everybody ate silently, in contrast to the lively conversation they had enjoyed the night before. Davis wondered if this would be the way things worked from now on. They would just go day by day, trying to be polite to each other, having a chit-chat now and then, but not really living any kind of life. While she did not have any close family or friends, she missed her acquaintances. Davis felt like she had more purpose outside; she might not always have the most exciting life, but it felt meaningful, at least. And in a short period, she had learned that all that meaning was most likely pointless. Davis let out a heavy sigh.

“What’s up, Davis-girl?” Brookshire made Davis smile with his sweet comment.

“These vicissitudes of fortune, I feel I can’t escape them, yet I can’t adapt to them either. I’ve never really had to accept any kind of changes in my life, so these circumstances have made my life exceedingly difficult.” Davis tiredly sighed again and looked down at her plate, where her fork was pushing roasted potatoes around.

“Wow! Ve-Sids-Te-Todos? What does that even mean?” Olivia was laughing a little bit as she asked.

“Ah, little one, try, Vuh-si-suh-tood,” Davis answered very slowly, enunciating each syllable. “I don’t know why I used that word. I’ve always just liked the way it sounds, I guess. But it just means a change of circumstances, one that typically is unwelcome. So, I was just saying, ‘These changes of fortune,’ I suppose.” And yet another loud and heavy sigh.

“Oh!!” giggled Olivia. “That’s a funny word. Mom! I can’t deal with the”—here Olivia paused and said very slowly—“Vuh-Stis-Eh-Tudes of my chores, so I better not do them anymore.” Olivia had said “vicissitudes” at such a slow and careful pace that she almost hit the nail on the proverbial head with the pronunciation. She also almost fell off the bench when she got into a giggling fit over her newfound favorite word.

Audrey squeezed her daughter’s hand lightly and told her to settle down and finish her breakfast before school got underway.

Brookshire leaned into Davis’s ear, getting very close, so close she could feel his warm breath playing on her skin and giving her goosebumps despite the warmth. Namaguchi caught Davis’s eyes, flickering with joy. He nodded and asked, “All good?”

“Yes, Brookshire just let me know he has a copy of the book The Great Gatsby in his room. Reminded me it was my favorite and offered to let me borrow it,” giggled Davis nervously, even though there was no reason to laugh. “So, yes, Brookshire, I’ll borrow that book from you if I can.”

Davis then asked the table collectively if they needed any help cleaning up after breakfast before she left. They all said “no,” but Davis picked up hers and Brookshire’s plates and took them to the kitchen anyhow. Namaguchi followed her in. He asked Brookshire to give him a minute and suggested that perhaps Brookshire could get the book while he quickly spoke to Davis alone. Brookshire obliged, and Namaguchi started, “Davis, I know things have been complicated for you. And we complicated them more. I want to make sure you understand whether you help us or not; I’m sorry for that. Even if you don’t help us, Everett will propose to marry you. It’s inevitable. It’s too good of a story for him to resist. But the other thing you need to know is one of his many, many wives is your mom, Ruby.”

Davis’s mouth fell open with yet another shocking blow. “What, are you kidding me? I just can’t believe one more insane thing!”

“No, I wish I was, but I’m not. It was always Everett’s plan to marry you; that’s why you’ve had no Inquiries of Interest. Everett considered you to be off-limits, always have been. Not to be indelicate, but he was going to marry you after Ruby died. He couldn’t risk you running into her at the Palace, especially since you guys look so much alike.”

Davis took a deep breath and stopped talking for a full minute as she mulled the new information over in her mind. “You know, Namaguchi, thank you for telling me. I appreciate it. But I just can’t take one more thing. And I’m sorry, I need to go home. I can’t help you guys, I’m sorry, but I’ve made up my mind. Can you let Brookshire know when he comes back with the book that I’ve gone back to my room, and I want to be alone?”

Namaguchi nodded; he had a small, downturned smile of sadness. “I understand.”

“Well, I won’t be completely alone,” Davis said as she scooped up Buster, who had just walked in and was urgently rubbing her legs as if asking for petting. “He’s the only one I can trust. I’m going to take him to my room so I can talk to someone who isn’t absolutely crazy!” And with that, Davis stormed off, but before she exited the door, she turned back, stomped her foot, and said, “Another bonus for Buster? He’s not asking me to commit murder!” Namaguchi saw salty tears budding in the corners of her eyes and starting to make their way down her cheeks. He felt terrible but didn’t take offense. He knew Davis only said those things because of the stress and took Buster as she just needed to cuddle something warm, cozy, soft, and be with something that wasn’t asking anything of her.

~

Davis spent the rest of the afternoon petting Buster in her room and letting him know what a beautiful, good cat he was.