Read Online Mayday by Jonathan Friesen - Free Book Online

haven’t skipped in ages.”
    â€œNo!” I stumbled away from the table. “No, I’ll be fine.”
    Basil jumped up and walked toward me. “But you don’t know where she is.” He reached out and gently removed a piece of romaine from my shoulder.
    I paused. “And you do.”
    â€œYeah, I do.”
    I grabbed a napkin and swiped low-fat ranch dressing from my forehead. “Show me.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Basil and I slipped out of the mayhem, crept downstairs to the gym door, and raced across the field.
    â€œJust tell me where she is.” I huffed, and doubled over.
    He slowed and walked back toward me. “She’s with my mom.”
    Of course!
    I straightened and jogged away from Basil. In his middle school form, he was officially a pest whose presence hindered my work. And my work was to find Crow, to stay with her, to help her change the course of one day. It was possible; I’d seen events change with Jasmine and, with them, Crow’s future.
    Together, we could protect Addy. Yes, Sadie wanted me to focus on my life, but she probably wasn’t briefed on my sister’s fate.
    I reached the bus stop just as the Metro ground to a stop.
    â€œHold up! You’ll never find her!” Basil pounded behind me.
    Wrong.
    I couldn’t forget. There was one adult who made me think growing up might be worth the effort: Basil’s mom—hippy throwback, Save Tibet activist. I believed it rare that a cop would end up hitched to the woman who, upon their first meeting at a PETA rally, smacked him in the nose. But he arrested her, cuffed her, brought her in . . . and fell in love. Such were Officer David and Dove Dewey, Basil’s odd-couple parents.
    I shook thoughts of Dove from my mind and climbed bus steps, Basil screaming in the background. I slotted my coins and plunked down, trying to recall when I first met Dove. The time escaped me. The location did not.
    Officer Dewey purchased a plot of land outside city limits. He claimed he wanted a place for target practice, but the truth was that Dove had demanded a garden Basil’s apartment complex couldn’t provide. A cop’s pay didn’t allow for a house, so Dewey dropped an old RV right in the center of the land, considering it both a great place to store his guns and a first-rate poker getaway.
    I don’t imagine he figured on Dove’s moving out and taking up residence.
    â€œOh, I still love the man,” she used to say. “It’s the living with him I can’t stomach.”
    She claimed the RV, turned the plot of land into gardens, and Officer Dewey never got in even one hand of poker.
    The RV became Basil’s second home, and eventually Crow’s sanctuary.
    What a tangled web Basil and I did weave.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Basil’s hand jammed the accordion bus doors, and he staggered up, collapsing next to me in the front seat. I chuckled and turned away, again letting my head
thunk
against the window. Shane must’ve done that often, as it felt so natural.
    â€œSee, Crow and my mom have always had this thing,” Basil said.
    â€œYes, they did. I know about your family. I know Dove and the officer.”
    He frowned. “Crow tells you more than most. So tell me about yours.” He nudged my shoulder. “Your and Crow’s dad. Where’s he at now?”
    â€œKentucky.”
    â€œKentucky.” Basil rolled his eyes. “Great accent.”
    â€œWell, first Alaska, and then recently Kentucky.”
    Basil held up his hand. “Okay, dead.” It was a possibility, and it both ended all the family talk and provided a nice reason for my sudden appearance at Crow’s tree house.
    The bus bounced on, slow and hypnotic. A stray leaf of romaine lettuce fell from my hair. I peeked at Basil, so comfortable in this crazy world of mine.
    â€œHey, Basil, why do you put up with Mel?” I lowered my voice.