The Secret of Zormna Clendar by Julie Steimle (great reads .TXT) 📖

which had not happened for three years now, they held it in the gym. Luckily, like the last three years, this year it was bright and sunny.

The entire McLenna family sat together in the stands. Zormna perched on the far end next to Jennifer, watching the ceremony intently. They stared out into the school football field as the sun set over the suburb. The view made Jennifer pause.

She looked at Zormna, who appeared like she—herself—was the sun, or had come from it. Zormna still looked like a goddess. That much had not changed in three months. Only this time Jennifer could see Zormna envied the mere mortals. Ok, maybe she never even thought of the people around her like that, though Jennifer had always imagined she had. But now Jennifer could see Zormna wished her life were as simple and worry free as hers and Todd’s.

The high school graduates marched individually across the lawn to receive their diplomas as their names were called. Zormna watched with a smile on her lips when the name Todd McLenna echoed over the field, and Jennifer’s brother stood up.

Todd, looking admittedly more mature, grinned excitedly as he shook the hand of a member of the school board. When he tromped off the stand, he raised his hands in the air and let out a whoop.

His friends cheered back from the bleachers, their voices echoing over the football field as the crowd obligingly chuckled.

And Zormna smiled.

Jennifer’s parents murmured with pleasure. Her mother whispered to her father, “And he has already been accepted into the State University. Why not let him start spring term like he wants?”

“Doesn’t he want a summer?” their father murmured back.

“He wants a head start,” their mother said, but she shot Zormna a sharp look as if it were her fault their son was leaving home early.

And maybe it was. Zormna had taught Todd a thing or two about Calculus, and had gotten him excited about engineering. Fact was, Todd’s test scores were the highest they ever had been because of Zormna. And for that matter, so were Jennifer’s. The girl was inspiring—and she really knew how to study.

But currently, Zormna watched Todd with envy. Maybe it was because in a few short months he would be a legal adult—something Zormna missed.

Todd waved up to the stands as he walked back to his seat.

They all waved back, but he did not stop waving until Zormna waved. And she was smiling.

Their mother hissed to their father, “Do you know what he wants for a graduation present?”

Their father shot Zormna a dirty look. “Yes. For us to be nicer to that…girl.”

Nodding, their mother said, “I suppose we have been a little harsh. She did help him get a scholarship.”

“As long as she behaves herself, I have no problem with it,” he said.

Jennifer only hoped her father was telling the truth.

The ceremony dragged after that. The wood bleachers were hard to sit on as they still had a lot of people to get through, and there would be speeches. Jennifer was glad when they got to the S’s and called up Alexander Streigle.

The laidback, sandy-haired blonde marched up and accepted his diploma, grinning from ear to ear. His ‘brother’ Jeff let out a whoop. And his friends cheered. Jennifer noticed that the two college men were not at the ceremony. But then again, why would they? Their alibi was college boarders, and not family friends.

They got through the S’s. Then through the T’s, V’s and on to the W’s and Y’s.

Then, came the speech from some balding guy on school board. Thankfully, he kept it short.

Then the turning of the tassels.

And then, Jennifer held her breath, feeling happy anticipation for Todd as the graduating class was presented to the audience.

Caps flew up into the air.

The audience rose to their feet. In the spirit of the moment, they descended like a wave off the stadium steps, flooding over the field to join the sea of black and red caps and gowns to hug their graduates.

It was over.

Jennifer went down with the crowd, as did Zormna. Though the blonde hung back a little, peeking over to where Jennifer spotted a man with an earpiece, the girl eventually jogged down into the throng, leaving Jennifer behind with the family.

Zormna skipped over to Brian, Jonathan, and Mark as they went to congratulate Todd and Alex together. They embraced her with open, eager arms.

Todd saw her and called out. “Zormna! C’mere!”

“Oh!” Brian laughed out loud. “He calls for Zormna! What about us?”

“We’re not as hot,” Mark said.

Alex joined them, laughing. “No. Not at all.”

They hugged, and slapped him on the back anyway.

“Hey! Congratulations!”

Zormna patted Alex on the shoulder then walked over to Todd, wading through the sea of black gowns and discarded caps. People were already searching for their own—or at least one to take home.

“I want to take a picture with you,” Todd said.

Zormna blushed, ducking her head with uncharacteristic humility. She trotted up to the tall redhead, letting him wrap his arm about her shoulders. And she smiled, practically glowing.

 One flash, blinded, both grinned and continued to grin when they joined others for yet more pictures which would end up on Facebook and Twitter soon enough.

And others in the crowd asked to take pictures with her. Jennifer almost went down to interfere, but Brian and the gang jumped in every single one.

Jennifer laughed, watching it all as the rest of her family went down to hug and take pictures with Todd.

“So, how’s our Irish girl doing?”

Jennifer jumped, clutching her chest. Jeff Streigle was standing right next to her, hands in pockets. Then she looked to see if the FBI were watching.

“It’s ok. Their eyes are on her,” he said.

Looking up at the dark haired boy, taking in the scar across his face and the break in his nose, Jennifer exhaled, not sure if she should speak. He still gave off a dangerous vibe.

“Do you think she has integrated in to American society yet?”

“Integrate?” Jennifer felt exasperated by the question.

“Yeah…” He chuckled, shaking his head and looking to the ground. He had an amazing smile. Jennifer had never noticed it before. “What was I thinking? She’ll never blend in. But I think she’ll do just fine anyway. She’s a built survivor.”

“You think?” Jennifer replied, surprised by the compliment toward Zormna.

Jeff laughed, noticing her surprise. “I know her better than anyone, remember. That whole week in Ireland.” He grinned with another chuckle. Then he said, with a look to her parents. “Don’t worry about us messing your life up. But it would be a good idea if you did encourage your parents to grant Zormna emancipation. Just not right away. I’ll deal with the FBI.”

Jennifer stared more, though. “How did you lead them away from you?”

Blinking, Jeff considered the question as if it were obvious. “I have a mother and father in Chicago. I also have a police record and a social worker watching Al’s and my case.”

“But you said your father was—”

“Yeah,” Jeff cut her off in case someone was listening. “Not the point.”

Blinking, Jennifer began to realize Jeff’s organization might be a lot bigger than she had previously understood.

“I need you to do something else for me,” he said.

Uncomfortable, wondering what it was, Jennifer waited.

“Help her…” He shook his head. “Help her. Though she is an adult where she comes from, she needs you to help her be a kid. You already started to, and it’s great. But, uh, she needs more of it.”

Jennifer stared.

His fathomless eyes met hers, so serious and deep she felt like she could be swallowed up in them.

“Because free moments like this,” he gestured to the activity in the stadium, “will never come again. Especially not for her.”

He then moved to go down.

“Is there a prophecy about her?” Jennifer asked just above a whisper.

Jeff stiffened, then looked up to her. He nodded. “But not an apocalypse.”

Jennifer set a hand to her forehead, instantly relieved.

“She’s precious, Jennifer,” Jeff said.

Eyes widening, Jennifer stared.

“And not in the way you think.”

“But I thought you hated her,” Jennifer said. “You know, for breaking your nose.”

Jeff chuckled, shaking his head. “She irritates the crap out of me, and she is a pain in the butt. But Zormna Clendar is also the best chance my people have got.”

And he walked down the steps to join his friends.

They greeted him with open arms.

Jennifer watched, shaking her head. But then she noticed the curious looks from the man with the ear piece. Jogging down the steps to join her family and brother, Jennifer hurried to get out of their sights. She merged into the crowd. She joined their laughter, and she joined the celebration. 

*

That evening after graduation, Jennifer sat up late with Zormna in the attic room, planning out their summer. They whispered while snacking on things snitched from the kitchen cupboards, drawing in a wire notebook a color-coded schedule, as Jennifer did not want to leave Zormna on her own, but she desperately wanted to spend more time with Kevin. However, the conversation had turned to things of a more alien nature.

Jennifer made a face. “…But, all they found were rocks. Lots of rocks and…you know, an atmosphere that no human and breathe.”

Zormna nodded. “That’s right.”

“We’ve sent probes there, and all the probes ever send back are pictures of rocks and red sand.” Jennifer huffed. “They say there is no possibility of life there. These days they’re looking for signs of microbes—not human-like civilization.”

Zormna nodded. “Exactly.”

“So how can you be from there?”

Shrugging slyly, Zormna said, “It is a secret that we can keep from even your top scientists.”

Jennifer’s jaw dropped. That would be impossible. “So how do your people kept our space probes from spotting activity at, you know, your home?”

Zormna chuckled, examining a ruffled potato chip before biting it. She shook her head. “The ego of scientists… They always think they are on top of things in every era, simply because of a university degree….”

“You’re not answering my question,” Jennifer retorted.

“You don’t need the answer,” Zormna said, smirking. She grabbed another chip.

Jennifer groaned. It was yet another secret to be held by Zormna Clendar.

 

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Publication Date: 04-01-2017

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