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1-55068-968-1 Click here for reading level. This book is part of the Deer Lake series. To read the first chapter of Distant Cousin, click here. Enjoy! Read an interview with the author, or visit her myspace page. Other Tea Leaf Press books by H.J. Lewis: Summer of Change Who is Mel Randall, Anyway? The Accidental Camper Hawk Medicine Hidden Talent Distant Cousin"I have a what?" Mel Randall asked."From where?" asked Mel's sister Sara. "How come we never knew?" Mel's older sister, Lindsay, had her hands on her hips. Mr. Randall was sitting in the kitchen. His laptop computer sat on the table in front of him. He looked up at his three daughters. "Yeah, Dad. How come you never told us?" Mel asked. Mr. Randall looked back at the e-mail on his computer screen. "To tell you the truth, girls, I didn't know." "You didn't know we had a cousin?" Lindsay asked. "A cousin from England," Sara added. "Well, she's not really your cousin," Mr. Randall said. "She's my cousin's daughter. That makes her your...um...second cousin." "Second cousin?" asked Sara. She wrinkled her nose. "Who's the first one?" Lindsay tugged on Sara's blond braid. "No, silly. We only get first cousins if Aunt Clare and Uncle Raymond have kids." Sara stuck her tongue out at Lindsay. "If we don't have first cousins, how can we have second cousins?" "It is a bit confusing," said Mr. Randall. "Yeah," said Mel. "Can we just call her our cousin?" "That would be easier," Mr. Randall agreed. "It's close enough." "So, how come we didn't know?" Lindsay asked again. Mr. Randall scratched his head. "Hm. Well, I've told you about when I was a kid, right? And I told you about my cousin Steve. Do you remember?" "He's the one you didn't like," said Mel. "He's the one who threw your bike in the river," said Lindsay. "He did it on purpose." "And he told your aunt that you did it!" added Sara. "He was a big mean jerk." "That's him," said Mr. Randall. "We didn't get along very well when we were kids. But then Steve's family moved to England. I never saw him again. I haven't heard from him in thirty years." He looked at his computer again. "Not until he sent me this e-mail." Sara hopped up and down on one foot. "Read it to us again, Dad." Mr. Randall nodded. "Dear Jim," he read out loud, "Guess who? It's your long-lost cousin, Steve. I'm still living in England these days. I'm flying to your part of the world next week. I thought I'd come for a visit. Aunt May told me all about your cottage in Deer Lake. Sounds like a nice place. I'm bringing my daughter, Kasha. She's fifteen. Kasha will have fun meeting your three girls, and she needs a break. Her mother and I are getting a divorce. E-mail me the directions to your place. I'll see you on Monday. Thanks, pal. Steve." "The nerve of some people!" Lindsay said. "He hasn't talked to you in thirty years! Then he just invites himself here. Who does he think he is?" "I guess he's still a jerk," said Mel. Mr. Randall frowned. "Steve is grown up now. I'm sure he's not a jerk anymore." "You don't know that for sure, Dad," Lindsay said. She pulled her long, blond hair into a ponytail. "I think you should e-mail him back and tell him not to come." "But what about Kasha?" Mel asked. "Yeah, what about our new cousin?" Sara asked. "I want to meet her. We've never had a cousin before." Lindsay shrugged her shoulders. "She could be a total jerk, just like her dad. But whatever." She looked at her watch. "You guys decide what to do. I'm working this afternoon, so I have to get going. Oh, and I'm hanging out with Ian after work." "All right. Have a good day," Mr. Randall said. "We'll see you tonight." "Bye, Linz!" Sara yelled as her sister ran out the door. "See you, Sarabean. Bye, Melon!" Lindsay called. The door banged shut behind her. Mel turned to her dad. "I think we should let them come. It's only for a day. How bad could it be?" |
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