Read Online Rebel Nation by Shaunta Grimes - Free Book Online Page B

modem away, Jude went to wake up Tim.

The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.
    â€”ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
LETTER TO JOSEPH GILLESPIE, JULY 13, 1849
    Tim, Wally, and David didn’t believe Jude. Clover stood near the window, listening to the four boys talk, and didn’t blame them.
    â€œYou got a ranch.” Tim laughed a little. “A television ranch.”
    â€œI know it sounds crazy,” Jude said.
    â€œNed Waverly
gave
you a television ranch.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd you want us to leave the city and go there.”
    â€œIt’s better than staying here,” Wally said. “If there’s really a ranch, I want to go to it.”
    â€œYou’re ten,” David said. “You don’t get a vote.”
    â€œYes, he does,” Clover said. “Every Freak gets a vote. Even Emmy gets a vote and she’s only seven.”
    The temperature in the room seemed to drop by several degrees, but she didn’t notice the change until it was too late. David stood up and took a step closer to Clover. “Who you calling a freak, hoodie?”
    â€œWait a minute,” Jude said. He crossed the room and stood between her and David. “Wait a minute. It’s just what we call ourselves, okay? We’re the Freaks.”
    â€œThe Freaks.”
    â€œYes, the Freaks. And yes, we have a ranch, with plenty of food and no one trying to make you go back to Foster City. And we want you to come there with us.”
    â€œWe’re gonna fly over the wall, then, yeah?”
    â€œNot exactly.”
    It took another hour, but eventually Jude wore them down. Clover mostly stayed quiet, because every time she opened her mouth, she made things worse. It was Jude telling them that they could bring others that tipped them.
    â€œA dozen,” he said. “Total, including us and Bridget. That’s six more. You can think of six more?”
    â€œI can think of twenty more,” David said.
    â€œSix. That’s it. For now, that’s it. You know where the wall bridges the river?” David said he did. Before his father died, the two of them had lived near there.
    â€œYou meet us there, then. Fifteen minutes before the curfew bells. No later. We’re on a timetable, yeah?”
    â€œYeah. We’ll be there.”
    â€”
    Clover thought Bridget looked like she might be sick. She sat on the edge of her bed with her hands on her knees, staring at the ground between her feet.
    â€œAre you sure we have to do this?” Bridget asked without looking up. “Are you sure it’s a good idea?”
    â€œI’m scared, too,” Clover said. “You’ll be fine.”
    â€œBut . . .”
    â€œBut what?” Jude sat next to Clover on Clover’s bed, opposite Bridget. “But you don’t want to leave?”
    Bridget’s voice was barely a whisper when she answered. “Not forever.”
    â€œYou don’t want to leave school? Is that it?” Clover was getting frustrated. They’d spent too long at the Dinosaur, and now this. They had things to do to get ready and they were running out of time.
    â€œThat’s not it,” Jude said.
    Bridget finally looked up. “It is. And my dad. I’m all he has, you know.”
    â€œI have to leave my dad, too,” Clover said. “And I had to leave my brother to come back in the first place.”
    â€œWell, it isn’t like you ever see your dad, anyway.”
    Clover bristled. Mango sat up and looked at her.
    â€œIt isn’t your dad, either, Bridget,” Jude said. “Why don’t you just be honest?”
    â€œFine.” Bridget lifted her chin and pushed a strand of dark blond hair behind her ear. “I’m not leaving the city without Isaiah.”
    Clover watched her stand and walk back and forth along the length of their beds. “You don’t need a bodyguard at the ranch.”
    â€œGod,” Bridget