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will
bring up the whole church thing again.
    “Are you going to introduce her to your mom?”
Caleb smirks. “If you do, you should probably warn Autumn about
her.” He laughs. “Remember your last girlfriend? Your mom had her
near tears.”
    “Thanks for reminding me.”
    “Hey, that’s what cousins are for.”
    “Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll warn her.” Evan
won’t let his mother near Autumn before he explains how picky and
sometimes rude his mother can be. He doesn’t want to scare her off.
Not this one.
    A thin layer of sweat beads on Evan’s
forehead and nips his skin against the air. Two hawks soar in the
sky, circling ahead of them, above the open field. They run in
silence.

CHAPTER TEN
     
    Sunday, October 4 th
     
    I’m primed and ready to spend my entire
Sunday planning at the kitchen table, designing my new life. Rainy
texted me that she’s being shipped to rehab, which totally sucks,
and Grams left for church already, so I have the house to myself to
make my fresh start.
    Pen in hand, paper on table, I write:
     
    NEW LIFE RULES TO LIVE BY TO BECOMING
CAREFREE AND SUCCESSFUL
     
    1. Wear a smile every day.
    No. That’s lame. I don’t want to smile every
single day.
    1. Wear a smile every
day .
    When I first saw Ms. Lightheart, I don’t
think she was smiling. Of course she was all by herself. She seemed
like the type of person who would smile whenever people were around
though. So, maybe smiling every day is a good rule.
    1. Smile and be pleasant. This will create a
feeling of well being. People like others who are pleasant. (I
think)
    Carefree people most likely work hard at it.
Ms. Lightheart must have worked hard because she has a nice car, a
symbol of her hard work.
    2. Work hard in school and in everything I
do. This will give me a sense of accomplishment.
    3. Help others in need. See number
two.
    4. Eat well balanced meals. This will
keep me healthy and my complexion will glow.
    5. Exercise regularly. See number
four.
    6. Make new friends. Popular ones. Or
just better ones that don’t drink, do drugs or whine and complain.
People who do well in school and also want to improve their lives.
Or friends that are already carefree and successful.
    7. Read these rules daily. Practice these
rules hourly.
    Now, if only I can stick with these
rules…

CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    Monday, October 5th
     
    I’m a free spirit without a worry in the
horizon. A road, smooth as glass, lies before me for miles and
miles.
    “Good morning Grams,” I announce in the
kitchen. Rule Number One: check.
    Grams sits at the table with her scissors and
newspaper sprawled out in front of her. “Clipping coupons this
morning?”
    “I didn’t get to them yesterday.” She looks
up from her clippings. “Well, well, well. Don’t you look nice.” The
expression on her face warrants an explanation, but she asks before
I can say anything. “What’s the occasion?”
    “No occasion. I’m trying something new.” I
shrug, a little embarrassed. “Aren’t you going to Matt’s this
morning?”
    “I’m waiting for you.”
    “Oh, I’m not going. I thought I would have
some fruit and oatmeal before going to school early this morning.”
Rule Number Four.
    “Come here.” Grams points to the side of her
newspaper.
    I step forward. “What?”
    She presses her hand against my forehead.
“Nope. You don’t feel warm. Were you smoking that wacky weed with
Rainy the other night?”
    “Ha! Very funny.” I walk to the cupboard and
pull out the necessities to make oatmeal. “No. I just don’t want to
end up like her, or like Mom. I’m being proactive and
carefree.”
    “Carefree? Huh. I’d say you’re anything but.”
She folds up the newspaper.
    “Well, in order to be carefree, I have to get
organized first. Like, a structured plan and stuff.” I place a bowl
of oatmeal mixed with water into the microwave. “I’m not sure
exactly how to get there, but I dunno, with a few guidelines to
live by, I’ll figure it