Carbs & Cadavers (25 page)

“I guess I was jumping the gun by trying to get in those jeans,” Lucy said after they had all calmed down.

“Dieting
is
supposed to be a process,” Gillian added, pulling at an orange curl. “Plus, now you can go shopping for new jeans
when
the time is right.”

Lindy picked up a cold pizza crust. “I’m
really
glad we had tonight off. There were so many times when I wondered if it was worth it, going on this diet. I know I met all of you, but it’s been really hard.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment as they reflected on the ups and downs of the last few weeks.

“Look at my father’s painting.” James stood and walked over to where Lindy had propped Jackson’s painting up on the window seat in the kitchen. The four friends gathered around the painting and glanced at James expectantly. “Your eye automatically goes to the male cardinal. His bright red feathers just call for your attention. But if you wait a bit, and you give yourself time, you really start to see the female cardinal, too. She may not be as colorful, but she is just as wonderful, maybe even more interesting due to her ability to blend in with her surroundings.”

“So we’re kind of like her.” Bennett gestured at the group. “You don’t see us at first, but when you really do, we’re kind of interesting.”

“And kind of beautiful.” Gillian stared at the brown bird.

Lucy leaned toward the painting and pointed. “It looks like she’s about to land on that branch.”

James took her hand and gently lowered it away from the glossy surface. “No, Lucy,” he said softly. “She’s not landing.” He gazed at his friends, spending a few seconds to look each one of them in the eye in order to communicate how valuable they were to him. “She’s like us in another way, too. Like this amazing little bird, we are all just taking flight.”

About the Author

J. B. Stanley has a BA in English from Franklin & Marshall College, an MA in English Literature from West Chester University, and an MLIS from North Carolina Central University. She taught sixth grade language arts in Cary, North Carolina, for the majority of her eight-year teaching career. Raised an antique-lover by her grandparents and parents, Stanley also worked part-time in an auction gallery. An eBay junkie and food-lover, Stanley now lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, two young children, and three cats. Visit her website at www.jbstanley.com.