Dandelion and the Witch by Olivia Snowe illustrated by Michelle Lamoreaux STONE ARCH BOOKS
1 Jessamine Wood knelt on the cold tile floor of her apartment’s tiny bathroom Her feet stuck out the open doorway into the hall Oh no she said quietly Then she said it louder Her moans of agony and dread echoed off the bathroom walls and floated out to the rest of the apartment Her husband Bodhi called from the kitchen I can take the night off They’ll never miss me Jessamine tried to reply but she felt too sick She heard his footsteps approaching on the creaky wood floor Don’t come in here she said Please Also you can’t stay home today We can’t afford for you to miss work Bodhi sighed but he didn’t argue
Jessamine hadn’t been able to work in weeks Without Bodhi’s two jobs they’d be out in the street Thinking about money made her sick again She felt her husband’s hand on her back and after wiping her mouth with the back of her hand snarled at him I said don’t come in here Sorry Bodhi said He held down a glass of cold water I wanted to say good night I’d better get going if I’m going Jessamine took the glass with a quiet thank-you and sipped slowly What time will you be home tonight she said As the cold water rushed through her empty system she felt a series of tiny kicks in her belly I’m on till three Bodhi said Franklin can’t take his shift His grandmother is dying Again Jessamine said She put down the glass and put out her hands so her husband could help her to her feet Her head swam a bit as she stood It always did For the sixth time this year Bodhi said
