Read Online Better Than Weird by Anna Kerz - Free Book Online Page A

“Better get moving.”
    â€œI…,” Aaron started. The teacher walked away.
    Aaron blinked. There were more footsteps, then silence. It wasn’t until his glassed cleared and his eyes adjusted to the light that he realized he was alone. Relieved, he climbed the stairs, but when he reached the upper hallway, he saw Tufan waiting beside the open door. “Today’s the day,” he said as Aaron approached.
    â€œToday? What day is it?” Aaron asked.
    â€œThe day you die.”
    â€œI didn’t…I didn’t touch your snowball.”
    â€œBut you messed up my jacket when you jumped into your stupid puddle, and I got in trouble. It’s gonna cost you. You’re gonna pay.” Then he walked through the door and pulled it shut, leaving Aaron on the wrong side.
    Around noon the snow stopped, but the sky didn’t clear. In fact, new clouds moved in. They looked ominously dark, and even before the lunch break was over, it started snowing again. This time, flurries of snow, whipped by winds, were sent eddying in all directions.
    At dismissal time, Mr. Ulanni came on the pa to tell everyone to go straight home. Aaron, who was hurrying to put on his hat and coat, noticed Tufan, dressed and ready to go, leaning against the wall as if he was waiting for someone.
    Me , Aaron thought. He’s waiting for me. Today’s the day.
    He wanted to run. If he was a squirrel, he could run and jump right over Tufan. He’d get away. Maybe he’d even turn on Tufan. Chase him away. He glanced up. Tufan was still leaning against the wall. Waiting. Aaron felt sick.
    When he saw Jeremy hoist his backpack to his shoulder, he hurried to his side. Tufan wouldn’t do anything if Jeremy was there. When Jeremy walked down the hall, Aaron followed. Together they clattered down the stairs. At the bottom, Aaron glanced back. The staircase was empty. Safe, he thought. I won’t die today. Not today. But when they stepped out, Jeremy saw Karima near the schoolyard gate. “I gotta go,” he said. “See you.” And before Aaron could say anything, Jeremy took off, running.
    Aaron looked back a second time. He was still alone.
    The walk home wasn’t easy. At times the wind blew into Aaron’s face. He felt it cutting, biting, slicing at his skin. Then it shifted, and he felt himself pushed from behind. That made his heart clench. Was it…? No. Still safe. Still safe.
    The snow that had built up on the sidewalk during the day was deep enough to reach the top of his boots. Walking was hard. He tried big-stepping over the drifts, lifting his feet high and stomping them down. He wished for wings. If I had wings, I could fly over everything , he thought. In spite of the wind and the snow, he climbed a snowbank, lifted his arms and jumped, but the flying part didn’t happen. He fell and landed in a heap. It made him laugh. The laughter ended when he thought he heard a voice call his name.
    â€œAaaaaroooon.” It was a low sound. Lower than the wind. He wasn’t sure. Did he hear it?
    He turned and looked around; the sidewalk was empty.
    Then he heard it again. “Aaaaaroooon.”
    Aaron began to run.
    Running was hard, but he kept going until his chest ached and a scratchy CHROO-CHROO-CHROO sound came from his lungs. Like a train, he thought. The image of an old-fashioned train with a cowcatcher at the front filled his head as his feet plowed through the drifts. The CHROO-CHROO-CHROO sounds grew louder. When he couldn’t go any farther, he stopped, put his hands on his thighs and leaned forward, gasping. He peered under his arm to see who was behind him. Nobody. There was nobody there. He sighed with relief, then straightened and looked around.
    That’s when he saw it. A shadow behind a car parked on the other side of the street. It disappeared, only to reappear through the window of the car ahead. The sight of it made him whimper, the sound catching in