Chapter Sixteen
Ben let me use his computer, and I translated the message for Inna at the Babel Fish site. Ben’s mom made us a breakfast of sausages, eggs, hashbrowns and toast. She made us a great lunch too.
I could get used to this!
At school, I searched for Inna as soon as we arrived. She was waiting outside the front door.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” I started.
She put her fingers to her mouth to indicate I should be quiet. Then she kissed me on the cheek. I hadn’t even given her the note yet.
Did this mean I was forgiven?
“My mom, she…tv…saw you…” She seemed to be searching for the words.
“Watched tv?” I asked.
“Yah. She washed the tv. You…on tv…important. Say good things.” Inna smiled.
I guess her mom and dad knew some English. I handed Inna the note anyway and watched her face as she scanned the page. A couple of times she wrinkled her nose, so I must have messed up the words. But she seemed to get the general idea, because she kissed me on the cheek again.
There was no way I was moving to Langley now!
Ben, Inna and I hung out until the bell for first class. Even though I was glad the truth was finally out, I was nervous about seeing my classmates. How would they react? I thought of skipping class and hanging in the library. But there were still four months left of school, so that would be a lot of hiding. I decided to face them.
Strangely, no one said anything in the first blocks. They still looked at me the same way they did before I was interviewed. Social studies was after lunch. I figured that class would probably be another story.
At lunch, I was on my way to see Inna when Mr. Johnson approached me.
“Mr. Reed. Could you step into my office, please?”
I had been so focused on what the kids at school would think that I hadn’t considered the adult reactions to my situation. My shoulders slumped as I followed Mr. Johnson.
My dad, Mrs. Bailey, Mr. Brock and some lady I didn’t recognize were all in the room waiting. The elephant from last night tightened its trunk around my waist as I sat down in the empty seat.
“Mr. Reed,” began Mr. Johnson. My dad and I said yes at the same time. Mr. Brock smiled, and I relaxed a little.
My principal continued, “I understand you and your father have fallen on rather tough times recently. Mr. Brock says you are a fine student. With all that has happened to you, it is surprising that you’ve maintained good grades.”
Mr. Brock interrupted, “I hope you don’t mind me sitting in, Edgar. After I heard the news, well, I wanted to do whatever I could to help out.”
I nodded. My dad smiled in Mr. Brock’s direction.
Mr. Johnson continued, “Mrs. Munro is with the Ministry of Social Services. She would like to say a few words.”
My dad took a deep breath. This lady could hand down a sentence that neither of us wanted.
“In light of the fact that you will be sixteen in three months,” she said to me, “and as a family has come forward to sponsor you, I can’t see any reason to change your status.”
“Who came forward?” My dad and I asked at the same time.
“It seems you have two options. A family named Oleksienko offered to have you stay with them. They suggested you could help their daughter learn to speak English. Also, the Corbin family would be willing to take you in. Apparently they have a son you know. Ben?”
Wow. Two options. They both would be great. Especially after breakfast this morning. I realized now how hungry I’ve been for the last six months. I looked at my dad. He nodded his head.
“Son, I think this can work. Mrs. Munro has suggested some programs to help me find work. I can stay at the Salvation Army shelter until I get on my feet again. Then you and I can find a low-cost place to stay. Heck, there are some nice campgrounds on Eighth Avenue. Mrs. Munro was telling me the bus goes there every morning to pick up students for school. Your school! I qualify for financial assistance. That will help us get organized sooner.”
“I have an old tent trailer,” added Mr. Brock. “You are more than welcome to borrow it.”
Dry clothes. No more musty smell. Food in my belly. A real bed to sleep on.
Well, at least for a while. Then my dad and I could work our way back. It wouldn’t be like it was when my mom was alive, but we would be a family.
The two of us.
And I secretly hoped Inna would take a loooong time to learn English.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to my mom, who instilled in me a love of reading, and to my dad, who encouraged me to dream I could be a writer; both of you helped this story along its journey. Thanks, Lise, for being my sis, and Sean, for continuing to be an inspiration. Thanks also to my editor, Melanie.
Cristy Watson is a teacher who loves reading and writing poetry and YA novels. Living Rough is her second entry in the Orca Currents series. Cristy lives in White Rock, British Columbia.
orca currents
The following is an excerpt from another exciting Orca Currents novel, Benched by Cristy Watson.
9781554694082 $9.95 pb
When Cody and his friends accept a challenge from a local gang to steal a park bench, their main concern is keeping themselves on the gang’s good side. Cody learns that the stolen bench had been dedicated to the father of the English teacher who sponsors the school newspaper—the paper that Cody has just started writing for—and he’s worried about the consequences. As the gang applies pressure for more from Cody and his friends, he realizes they’ve crossed a line, and now he has to figure out how to make it right.
Chapter One
“About time, Cody.” Taz had the volume cranked on his iPod. I could hear Snow Patrol screaming out their latest tune. “Where were you?”
“You’re not going to believe who I was just talking to,” I said as I struggled to catch my breath.
Bowman scanned the parking lot outside our high school. “Cathy? That grade eleven you’re into?”
“You mean Cassie?” I asked. I don’t know why Bowman had trouble with her name. “I can handle Cassie. This was… well, strange.”
By then Taz was already halfway to the park, our shortcut home. He was almost six feet tall and all legs. Bowman and I had to jog to keep up with him.
“I’m listening,” Bowman said.
I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one was following us, and then I lowered my voice. “So I’m leaving the school, and there’s this dude leaning against the bike rack, waiting for me. He looked familiar, like maybe he used to hang with Dylan.”
A lump the size of a grapefruit formed in my throat.
Taz interrupted, “You mean someone from Beaker’s gang?”
“Yeah, but I don’t know his name,” I said.
“What did he want?” asked Bowman. His voice sounded tight.
I hesitated before answering. Should I tell them?
Maybe I could ignore the whole thing, like it didn’t happen. But knowing Taz, he wouldn’t let this go. Not until he had all the details.
As we neared the west pond, I saw two guys walking our way. I couldn’t tell if they were from Beaker’s gang. If they were, I wasn’t ready to deal with them. Not yet. Not until we decided what to do.
“So, what’s up with the dude?” Bowman asked as he bent down to tie his shoelace.
The two guys were coming straight for us. Now that they were closer, I recognized the ballcap one of them was wearing. They were definitely from Beaker’s gang.
“I think…what if…,” I stammered, “we get an ice cream?” I felt dumb as soon as I said it. “I’ll even pay.” I hoped Taz and Bowman couldn’t tell my nerves were heating up.
“Did someone say Blizzard?” asked Taz. “I’m in!”
Great. That would be the end of my cash, and I’d be broke for the weekend. Again. But it would mean we’d be heading away from Beaker’s brutes.
“Like you ever turn down
free food,” said Bowman, yanking out Taz’s earbuds. Taz gave him a look, but Bowman just laughed.
The Dairy Queen was only a block from our school. As we turned around, I glanced over my shoulder. I could still see the two guys. They weren’t as tall as Taz, but they were chunky like Bowman. They were way bigger than me. When they saw we’d changed our route, they did the same.
In minutes we were at the restaurant. I was about to tell Taz and Bowman that Beaker’s boys were behind us, but the two guys stayed on the sidewalk instead of following us inside. The one with the blue Mohawk leaned against the window and watched us through the glass.
A cold draft rippled down my neck.
We had barely sat down when Bowman started in on me. “Are you gonna finish telling us what that guy wanted?”
“Okay.” I leaned in. “So, this dude asks me if I’m Dylan Manning’s brother. When I say yeah, he tells me that Beaker wants to see us—the three of us. Like he knows we hang out.”
“What do you mean, he wants to see us?” Taz sat up and scanned the restaurant.
“I don’t know exactly.” I poked at my sundae with my spoon, but I didn’t take a bite. “He asked if we want to earn some quick cash.”
“Go on,” said Taz. He looked more interested than worried.
“I think he has some kind of job for us,” I said.
“So, what are we waiting for? Let’s go find him,” said Taz, already out of his seat.
Bowman grabbed his arm. “Hang on. We gotta figure this out. You don’t mess around with these guys.”
“You’ve got a point,” I said. “So how about we just…skip it?”
The gang had been cool with my brother. That didn’t mean they’d be cool with us. They didn’t make a habit of hanging out with grade nines. Dylan had never wanted me around, so what did Beaker and his gang want with us?
“Yeah,” said Bowman. “But we can’t blow them off. They’ll think we’re dissing them. Besides, I am into earning some cash. Maybe we should check out what they want before we decide. Aren’t you always saying you’re broke?”
I nodded.
“Then what are we waiting for?” asked Taz.
My gut said this was a bad idea. So I don’t know why I said, “The dude wants to meet at nine tonight in the park.”
“Then let’s make sure we’re not late,” said Bowman.
By the time we were ready to head home, the gang guys were gone. But I had this rumble in the pit of my stomach, and I kept looking over my shoulder as we walked through the park. A sharp bite of wind followed us.
I just wanted the meeting to be over.
orca currents
For more information on all the books in the Orca Currents series, please visit www.orcabook.com
Living Rough Page 5
