Read Online Dinosaur Boy Saves Mars by Cory Putman Oakes - Free Book Online Page A

Martian woman with hair that was curly and poufy like Sylvie’s, but extremely blond, stuck her pinkish hand out for me to shake.
    â€œPleasure to meet you, Sawyer,” she said. “I’m Claire Fontana, temporary Chancellor in Charge of Martian-Human Affairs.”
    â€œTemporary?” I asked, wondering why the title sounded so familiar.
    When I remembered, I swallowed hastily. That was Sylvie’s dad’s job. This woman must be filling in for him.
    â€œOh,” I said, looking down at the floor.
    The other Martians were all chancellors in charge of this or that. They all introduced themselves except for one particularly short and bald Martian who hung back. He waited until everyone else was done talking, then stepped forward and smiled at Sylvie.
    â€œCoach Kepler,” Sylvie said, not smiling in return.
    â€œHello, Sylvia,” the coach said, and only then did I realize that his bright-red jacket had Razers written down both sleeves. “I’m here to formally offer you a place on the Red Razers.”
    He reached into one of the pockets in his jacket and pulled out a red piece of cloth. With a showy flourish, he shook it out so that we could see that it was a red soccer jersey.
    It had Juarez and 22 written on it in glittery, silver letters.
    The Martians standing around us, including Chancellor Fontana, all burst into applause.
    â€œThank you,” Sylvie said tonelessly over the din. “But I decline.”
    â€œWhat?” Elliot exclaimed.
    â€œWhat?” the coach exclaimed, sounding more angry than shocked.
    â€œI’m retired,” Sylvie explained.
    â€œI told you,” Ms. Helen mumbled, a ghost of a smile on her lips.
    â€œMs. Juarez…” the coach began, and the hand holding the red jersey dropped to his side like a flag at half-mast. “Sylvia. This is a key moment for the Razers. A seminal moment in the history of intergalactic sports! Your planet needs you. I beg you to reconsider.”
    â€œSorry,” Sylvie said. Her face was carefully expressionless, but I could see her fingers angrily twisting the sleeves of her oversized sweatshirt. “I’m not here to play. I’m here to visit my father. Have you seen him?”
    The coach took a step back and exchanged a look with the Martian standing nearest to him. Suddenly, nobody in the room seemed able to look Sylvie in the eye.
    â€œUh, no, as a matter of fact I haven’t seen him. Not recently,” the coach said finally, addressing the lamp several feet to Sylvie’s left.
    â€œWell then, I suggest you come back when you have,” Sylvie said. “You want me to play? Then find my father. Until you do that, I have nothing further to say to you. Understand?”
    â€¢ • •
    The Martians and Ms. Helen retreated to one corner of the living room to talk among themselves. My grandfather pulled Sylvie and me out of earshot.
    â€œSylvie,” he said sternly, “I realize that Venetio blew the initial plan by telling everyone you had returned to Mars. But we still intended to stay under the radar and search for your father quietly. What you’ve just done—”
    â€œWhat I’ve just done,” Sylvie retorted, “is get an entire planet looking for my father. If they want me to play, they’ll find him. Now, if anybody needs me, I’ll be in my room.”
    She turned on her heel to stomp away, but my grandfather caught her arm before she could take a step.
    â€œOh, no you don’t. Chancellor Fontana and Ms. Helen have set up a tour for you guys, and you’re all going.”
    â€œA tour?” I asked, ears perking. “Of Mars?”
    â€œNot all of Mars, just the downtown area around the apartment. But it’ll be a perfect opportunity for you to take the short-range scanner out of the apartment and see if Sylvie’s dad is nearby.”
    As he spoke, he slapped the scanner onto my wrist like a watch and