Throw Away Teen by Shannon Kennedy

remember ever being so comfortable with anyone or feeling as if I was wanted, much less accepted. I knew Gabe would chew my ears and tell me to think first if I planned to survive. But for a moment, I just wanted to pretend this was real and not a big joke where I would be the punch line come Monday.
    After the meal we left the café together and walked Evelyn to her pickup truck. Strands of hay stuck out of the tailgate and were embedded in the mud caked into the wheel wells. The truck was so filthy you almost couldn’t read the sign on the driver’s door that said Horse Heaven .
    Ted eyed the Chevy S10 then looked at Warren. “It’d embarrass me to see my grandma drive around in a rig that looked like that.”
    “ He called and explained that he had a big college paper due this week.” Evelyn unlocked the driver’s door. “I should have had one of the ranch-hands wash it, but a load of hay came in.”
    Ted just looked at Warren and didn’t say anything else.
    “ I know. I know,” Warren said. “A guy’s got to step up. I’ll take care of it this afternoon when I drop Sarah at the barn to muck stalls.”
    Ted nodded. “Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.”
    Liz sighed and shook her head. “It’s got to be a guy thing.”
    Evelyn nodded agreement. Before she got in the pickup, she looked at me again. “I meant it when I invited you to visit, B.J. I’ll warn you ahead of time, though. I intend to learn your full name and call you that.”
    I shrugged. “Call me what you want. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
    Liz frowned. “Don’t be rude, B.J.”
    “ What? She started it.”
    Before Liz could retort, Evelyn said, “Yes, I did.” She winked at her sister. “And if for some strange reason this doesn’t work out, bring her to me. I can always use another smart-mouthed kid around the farm and I like this one.”
    I still hadn’t recovered from the shock when Evelyn reached over and brushed the hair out of my eyes. “How could you like me?” I demanded. “I’ve been a bitch to you since we met.”
    “ You have courage,” Evelyn said. “It goes a long way with me. I’ve always admired strong women, even young ones.”
    I felt like my jaw had dropped onto the sidewalk, but she was in her truck and gone before I could get my mouth working again. “Wow! That was unexpected.”
    “ My baby sister always does the unexpected.” Liz put her arm around my shoulders. “She doesn’t bluff or con people. She means everything she says. And if she hadn’t liked you, she’d have been up-front about it.”
    “ Big time,” Sarah told me. “It causes anxiety at the stable because she always refers the students she can’t stand to other barns. Like she says, Horse Heaven is her place so she can do what she wants. She’s one of the best riding instructors in the state, but she isn’t a pushover. Do you want to come see the farm this afternoon?”
    “ Not today,” Ted answered for me. “B.J. has an appointment.”
    “ Okay. Later then. Next week, maybe.” Sarah and Warren headed for his car before I could remind them that I might not be around next week.
    As we started down the block, I asked, “What appointment? Carol isn’t coming until tomorrow morning.”
    “ You and Father John came up with this, so tell B.J.,” Liz said.
    “ I called Sensei Nichols and he’s going to give you a karate lesson this afternoon.” Ted held open the car door for Liz. “We need to hurry so we’ll be able to go home and feed and walk the puppy before we head to the dojo.”
    “ Karate?” I climbed into the back seat. “Are you serious? Why, karate?”
    Liz heaved a huge sigh. “You see, B.J., Ted has this problem. Sarah would call it baggage. Ted thinks all men are...”
    “ Bullies and perverts?” I asked helpfully.
    “ No, of course not,” Liz said.
    “ Yes.” Ted got in behind the wheel, but didn’t start the engine. He shifted so he could look back at me. “I arranged for Jessie and Jocelyn