Page 27 of Mountain Grump
Not even if I was being chased by Bigfoot.
I narrow my eyes at the darker spots in the forest.
Bigfoot isn’t real… Right?
The song in my shorts changes to something slower, more mysterious, and a shiver skitters down my arms.
Nope. Not thinking about Bigfoot.
I grab the wire where it’s not barbed, next to where it’s attached to the post, and give it a shake.
The big staple-looking thing holding the wire in place isn’t loose, but it also doesn’t feel strong enough to hold my weight.
Not that I’d be able to climb over the fence with any sort of agility.
I’m going to have to duck between the middle and top strands of barbed wire.
But they aren’t that far apart. And I’m not a wisp of a girl. I’m substantial.
And I don’t feel like getting tetanus today.
Pursing my lips, I look along the fence line.
Two posts down, the center strand of barbed wire sags a little more than the others.
Stopping before the sad-looking section of fence, I wonder again if this is worth it.
It’s just a few more flowers.
And I’ll probably tear my skirt.
But… the petals are a deep shade of purple.
And there are so many of them.
And they’ll make my new house that much cheerier.
Determined, I put the scissors between my teeth and bite down, like they’re a rose and I’m doing the tango.
With my right hand, I find a spot between barbs and try to push the top strand up, creating as much room as possible. With my left hand, I bunch up my skirt, holding it so the material is tight around my upper thighs, then I duck through the fence.
My hair catches on the top wire.
My skirt catches on a barb below me.
I lose my balance and have to slam my foot down on a patch of slippery moss.
I let out a shriek as my foot slides forward six inches.
The scissors drop from my mouth onto the ground.
And when I let go of my skirt while trying to catch myself, my dress catches on the barbed wire. Again.
All to the soundtrack ofMoulin Rouge!
Chapter 14
Ethan
