Chapter 1
"A car thief, a know-it-all, a hooker, a spoiled rich boy, and an ex gang banger." Olive Boothe rubbed the back of her neck as she read the work list for the day. "Geez, are kids getting worse or am I getting old?" She left her office and stepped out the door.
The Olive Branch Garden Center did double duty outside White Bass Lake, Wisconsin. Ollie Boothe did a brisk business selling plants and offering many garden services. The Olive Branch was also a home for kids at risk. Teens sentenced by the courts lived there. They worked off time ordered by a judge at the garden center, in town, and around the county.
Ollie looked over the bored looking kids in her yard and smiled. "How is everyone this morning?"
Three of the boys ignored her. The girl turned her back on everyone. The kid on the end who called himself Pone looked up and down the line. He crossed his arms and scowled. "Any time spent in meatspace with two llamas, a hoe daddy, and a garden ho ain't cool in my book. All this nature is givin' me hives. Find me an outlet, and log me on."
Short and lean, with tattoos up and down both arms, and a bad attitude, Shroom faced him. His ice blue eyes contrasted with his light brown skin and black hair. "You disrespectin' us is not going to make the time go faster, Pone. Speak English and leave that gaming crap in the hood, Bro ."
The kid in the middle laughed. "Now that was funny! The gamer and the banger, hah!"
The girl turned and shoved him forward. "Bean, you think dog poo is funny. Shut up or go lay down by your dish."
Bean smiled. "Woof."
Ollie slapped her hand against the clipboard. "Knock it off, all of you. Come over here and pick up your work slips for today."
The teens wandered over. Ollie handed a slip to the gamer. "Pone, you, Shroom, and Bean weed and mulch the flower beds at the fire house. And Spaz?" the girl jerked her head toward Ollie, but did not speak. "You will replant the window boxes at the library that Bean messed up on Monday."
Bean looked at his feet, and Spaz almost smiled. She shoved him again. "You are an epic loser, Beaner."
Bean pushed his bangs out of his eyes. He took her work chit from Ollie and waved it in the air. "That is just part of my charm." He batted his eyes at the girl. "You know you like me."
Spaz snatched the paper out of his hand. "In your dreams, moron." She walked away.
"Enough," Ollie said. "Cash, you take care of the park entrance today. The bricks will be waiting when you get there. Throw out the bad ones and replace them with the new bricks.
Cash gave her a wide grin. He ran a hand over his perfect hair. His bleached white teeth flashed in the morning sun. He took his chit from Ollie. "Sure." Cash picked up his sunglasses and slowly slid them on his nose. He climbed into his sleek, black truck and gunned the motor.
Bean poked Shroom. "Holy cow, are those shades Oakley Trons?"
Shroom sighed. "Yeah, he can't stand to just be rich. He has to wear $800.00 sunglasses too. Come on, Bean, let's get out of here. The air is turning bad around here."
They headed for the tool shed and Pone trailed behind.
On the soft breeze they heard Ollie's, "Group at four, don't be late!"
Chapter 2
The afternoon sun was hot, but the weeding was finished at the firehouse. The flowerbeds had fresh straw around each plant. Weed and mulch. The more mulch around the plant, the fewer weeds to pull later. They didn't have to water the plants as often, either. Good reason to do it right the first time.
Pone, Shroom, and Bean cleaned their tools and put them in the caddy. They headed back toward the garden center. Spaz met them in front of Sal's Diner. She didn't say a word, but fell into step behind the others.
Bean slowed down so he could walk beside Spaz. She sighed and ignored him. Bean reached for her tool caddy and said, "Let me take that for you."
He touched the handle and Spaz snatched her hand away. "Don't touch me!"
She pushed
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