Chapter 3
"Sara is that you?" Mrs. Sidle called at the sound of the bells jingling on the door. The seaside bed and breakfast had many visitors during this time of year. Everyone wanted to be near the coast in the summer. The sunsets were spectacular and so was the food. Sara's father was a great cook and people knew that the Sidles had the best place for miles this close to shore.
"Yes mom, it's me and Rainey!" She yelled back to her mother. She walked around the corner to the front desk to where here mother stood. "We wanted to grab a bite to eat."
"Larraine is it all right with your parents to eat here?"
Rainey shrugged. "Yes ma'am."
Sara snickered at the change in demeanor. Rainey never acted so polite to anyone. She just ignored her and smiled brightly to Mrs. Sidle.
"Well fine. Go grab something from the kitchen. You two missed lunch so it's in the fridge." The girls started for the kitchen. "And Sara?"
"Yeah?" Sara turned to face her mother.
"What's that?" She pointed to the bag under her arm.
"Oh just another book. I used my money from Grandma so..."
She shook a finger at Sara. "You read too much. Give it here."
"Mom..." She whined as she handed her mother the book.
"No Sara. Go play, have fun. Don't read your life away. You should get out more. See more people."
Her parents were always telling Sara to lighten up. They thought if she was this high-strung as a child, the adult Sara Sidle would be much worse. Sara was getting tired of the sermon. She thought her parents were too lax towards life. Often times she felt as if she was the grown up and her parents needed taken care of. That attitude got her into trouble on most occasions.
"I see people everyday and I am not pleased with the results. Besides I am with Rainey all the time. She is a person." Sara countered.
"Sara Sidle don't back-talk me. You understand?"
She straightened her shoulders. "I wasn't back-talking, I was explaining."
Mrs. Sidle shook her head. Sara was stubborn and enough of a child to handle on a good day let alone on a bad day. Mrs. Sidle didn't know what kind of day her daughter was having, but wasn't going to risk it. "Go eat."
"Can I have my book back please?" Sara begged.
"Fine, but I hope you learn something from that book the councilor gave you."
Sara glanced back to Rainey who was smiling ear to ear. "Oh I am sure I can learn a lot from that book mom." Sara replied walking over to Rainey.
"Yeah like how to swim." Rainey whispered in her ear as they walked to the kitchen.
After the girls ate some amazing sandwiches, courtesy of Mr. Sidle, they went to the porch to sit with Mr. Dorsuzie. He was an older man of about sixty-five and a regular guest this time of year. He was always very friendly to the both of them. Sara often preferred to sit with him than read a book.
"How are you doing Miss Sara?" He said into his hat that fell across his face keeping the light out of his eyes. He often sat here to get away from his bitter old wife, who had something bad to say about everything. In fact she probably is the one that kicked him out to the porch in the first place.
Sara looked at Rainey. "We thought you were asleep."
He raised his hat. "Well I'll be. Miss Rainey, how are you? Is my Sara keeping you out of trouble?"
Rainey made a side glance to Sara. "No."
"Hey!" Sara exclaimed. "Don't listen to her Mr. Dorsuzie, she is the older one but rarely shows it. I think she gets in more trouble than I can keep up with."
The old man smiled a toothy grin. "Ah teenagers are. You'll soon be getting there too Sara."
"Doesn't matter I am still more grown up than her." She snickered. Rainey hit her in the shoulder.
"Watch it Sare. Wait until you get a crush or start to listen to music rather than read."
Mr. Dorsuzie laughed a deep throat laugh. "Sara is too smart for that."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Sara began to water the plants and flowers on the porch.
"Well, I better get back inside girls. My wife probably misses me." He teased.
"See you later Mr. Dorsuzie." Sara and Rainey called after him. Rainey took his spot on the rocking chair while Sara fiddled with the flower pots.
"Sare come on let's go." Rainey whined breaking the silence. "I can't stand to waste a day reading and learning. That's what school is for. School has been out for over a month Sare. Let's do something fun."
Sara finished watering the flowers on the porch. "Like what?"
"We can go swimming."
Sara frowned. "The current is too strong. The news said a storm is headed this way."
Rainey didn't let Sara's words affect her upbeat mood, which happened a lot. "We can swim at the pool."
"Too busy with five year olds."
Rainey nodded her head. It was true. During the summer only the small kids went to the pool. "Sara," she looked out at the street. "Run away with me then."
Sara laughed. "What? You're kidding right?"
Rainey turned to face her. "No. I want to run away and I want you to come with me."
Sara folded her arms across her chest. "We ran away before, and were back before dark because we didn't want to get in trouble."
"I am serious. No coming back. I hate it here."
"I know, so do I." Sara said sadly. It was strange but both girls wanted desperately to get out of California. They had different reasons but the ambition to go to new places thrived in them both.
Rainey mimicked Sara's action by folding her arms across her chest. "Come on Sara, where is your sense of adventure?"
"I have adventure. I was the one that ran away and I took you with me remember."
"It was the best four hours of my life." The girl smiled. "Let's go. Just go. No planning, just the wind to carry us. You wouldn't let me down, would you Sare?"
Sara thought about it and released a heavy sigh. "Let's go. You know I would never let you down Larraine Davis. If you want to run away then I want to be there every step of the way."
Rainey grabbed Sara's wrist and pulled her down the steps. "Let's go kiddo."
tbc...