Orca Book Publishers
"No, Layne," Mom said in a tight voice. Her eyes met mine again. "Not the bull riding. You know how I feel about that."
I knew all right. We'd been through this scene so many times it was like living in an instant replay. But this time I fought back. "Yeah, and you know how I feel about it too."
"I don't care how you feel," Mom shot back. "All I know is that I watched a bull kill my husband and there's no way I'll risk watching one kill my son."
"I told you. I don't need anyone..."
"Everyone needs someone. Parents, for instance; everyone needs parents."
"I've got no parents."
"Everyone's got parents." She thought for a second. "Unless you're an orphan."
"I've got work to do. So get lost."
"You're not very nice."
He scowled. "Just because I'm in a wheelchair doesn't mean I've got to be nice."
"Come on Sausage!"Kaylee whistled, and patted her leg again. "Come ON Sausage!" she cried. "We've got to go NOW!"
Sausage took one step forward, then backed up, whining.
Kaylee heard a reverberating CRACK, and turned, startled. A tall, blazing tree splintered across the lane. Before Kaylee could react, the flames roared across Jack’s property, licking up and over the frame of his house.
Kittens have tiny claws, but they're really, really sharp. Seymour was making YEOWCH faces even though he was trying not to flail around and hurt either of them. I lifted Alaska from his back and set her on the floor. T-Rex came over to check out what was happening. That's when they noticed the spare room.
It was weird how it happened. They just turned around and kind of froze in one spot. They sat down. They stared into the spare room.
"Hey," said Seymour. "Neat!"
"Neat what?" I asked.
"They're watching the ghost."
This birthday was getting a little bit better. Brady took a big breath. If he tiptoed, he could sneak outside without anyone noticing. He turned to leave the room. A low growl sent prickles up his spine. In the shadowy hallway, a pair of white fangs gleamed. Grit was blocking the doorway.
She opened it and sprinkled something onto a hand mirror. A pure white powder. She divided it in half, stuck a short straw up one nostril and snorted the powder.
"Cocaine?" I asked.
"Yeah," she said, "it's way better than beer. Try some." She pushed it towards me. "Go on, it won't hurt you."
I should have said no. But I just stared at that innocent-looking white powder and said nothing.
