Read Online Down With the Shine by Kate Karyus Quinn - Free Book Online

allergies acting up, but I watched for them all the same. As a result I don’t trust most things that come out of Uncle Jet’s mouth. Right now, though, he’s as still as a statue.
    A hand slips into mine and holds tight. It is amazing how much comfort can be gained from such a simple touch. That is until I look to my left and realize it’s Smith.
    “Oh, wow, that feels so good,” he says.
    I don’t like it. I don’t like any of this, especially the idea that Smith is only holding my hand because of some wish.
    “Let go,” I demand, jerking my hand away. Smith doesn’t come loose.
    “I can’t.”
    I pull away with my whole body. Smith’s hand doesn’t get any tighter, but it doesn’t relax either. “LET GO!” I screech in a high-pitched voice that immediately sends my uncles into action. They each reach in and begin to pull back Smith’s fingers. One. Two. Three. Four. I finally escape while Smith whimpers like a kicked puppy and sinks to the floor.
    Quickly, I stuff my hands into my pockets. Not so that Smith won’t take them, but more so that I won’t be tempted to give them back.
    “What wish did you grant that boy?” Uncle Jet demands.
    “A curse,” Smith spits out, still curled at our feet.
    “Same difference,” my uncles respond as one. They turn to me, waiting.
    “He wanted to hold my hand till the end of time,” I lie. I’m not sure why, but I don’t want the uncs to know Smith’s wish. To know how much he hates me. That he wanted to see me suffer.
    Smith is a jerk, but not an idiot. He’s seen the size of my uncles and probably overheard how they dealt with W2. He shoots a questioning glance my way, but doesn’t open his mouth to set the record straight.
    Meanwhile, the uncs groan and roll their eyes like a bunch of eight-year-olds worried about catching cooties.
    Deciding to change the topic, and get some more answers, I step in front of Smith so that all attention is back on me. “If this is real, then show me what you three wished for yourselves.”
    “Maybe we never did,” Uncle Jet says.
    “Nah,” Uncle Dune says. “We did. Almost soon as we got our powers. Couldn’t resist. I got super ears, super eyes, and super nose. To see and hear trouble coming.”
    “I wished for enough stuff and money to keep us comfortable,” Uncle Rod adds.
    I look back at Uncle Jet. “And you?”
    He stares back at me for several long moments, before giving in. “I made a wish to keep us safe and hidden from anyone wanting to use what we could do the wrong way. And if you’re smart, you’ll make a similar wish. We were lucky, though, there were three of us and we were able to multiply our wishes. You don’t have that luxury.”
    “Okay,” I say in a small voice as inside me the truth hardens like cement. I always wondered how my uncles had enough money and got all the stuff that fell off the back of trucks and how everyone knew about the moonshine but never bothered them about it and how Uncle Dune could smell rain in the air when the skies were blue.
    “Um, Lennie . . .” Smith says, slowly pulling himself to his feet.
    “What?” Uncle Jet demands.
    “I think, I’m not sure, but I think Lennie did make a wish. She sorta tacked one on after mine.”
    “That is such crap—” I start to deny it, until I realize . . . Oh, hell, he’s right.
    I wished for Dylan to be alive again.
    Holy shit. Holy holy holiest of shits.
    I wished for Dyl to be alive and if everything is fucked up the way my uncles say it is, then that means . . .
    As one, Smith and I sprint toward the door.
    “Hey,” Uncle Jet hollers behind us. “Where do you think you’re going?”
    I turn to see all three of them running down the porch steps, ready to jump in their truck and come racing after us wherever we go.
    It’s easier to simply tell them the truth. Or at least part of it.
    “He’s right. I made a wish,” I say. “And it was a big one.”
    Uncle Jet stops and stumbles and then finally sinks to his