Read Online The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper - Free Book Online

Warriors of Distinction?”
    â€œIt was fun, Dad,” Jericho said. “You wouldn’t believe the stuff they’ve got in there. A whole bunch of kids are gonna have a good holiday because of the Warriors.”
    â€œHey, Uncle Cedric, how’s it going down at the precinct?” asked Josh. “What’s the latest crime going down in Cincinnati?”
    â€œJosh, it’s never very pretty. Frozen homeless people, drug addicts breaking and entering, a couple of bank robberies, a murder by a jealous husband. Not pretty at all.”
    â€œSo why do you do it?” November asked. “Isn’t it depressing?”
    â€œNo, November, because sometimes I really get to help. Like the abused wife that I got safely to the shelter last week, or the abandoned newborn baby that I found and saved last summer, or the kids I get to talk to at schools about the dangers of drugs. Sometimes I love my job. Sometimes.”
    â€œI understand,” November replied quietly. “Believe it or not, I really do.”
    It took almost half an hour to drop everyone off at their homes, and Jericho knew his dad had worked two full shifts and was very tired.
    â€œThanks for doing this, Dad,” Jericho said gratefully. “Whenever you want to get me a car and let me take over this job for you, let me know!”
    His dad laughed. “You know, I used to wonder why they let kids drive at sixteen. Now I know—it’s because parents have had just about enough of driving their kids around by that point! But don’t worry, I’m not complaining—not yet.”
    â€œAt least I tried,” Jericho whispered to Arielle, who was the last to be dropped off.
    â€œI had so much fun today,” she whispered back. “Can I come with you again on Wednesday? The Warriors seem like they’ve got it together.”
    â€œI felt like I was one of Santa’s elves,” he told her. “I’m really glad you came.”
    â€œPretty big elf!” she teased. Mr. Prescott pulled into her driveway then and she hopped out of the van.
    â€œThanks, Officer Prescott,” she called out. To Jericho she said, “Call me later.” Jericho grinned and moved to the front seat next to his dad.
    â€œShe seems like a nice girl,” his dad commented into the darkness.
    â€œOh, yeah,” was all Jericho said.
    â€œAnd this Warriors of Distinction project seems like a really good thing,” his father continued.
    â€œOh, yeah,” Jericho said again. He reached over, turned on the radio, switched it from his dad’s station to the one he liked, scooted down in his seat, and grinned all the way home. His dad just looked over at him and smiled. Sometimes silence is best.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8—11:30 P.M.
    JERICHO FINISHED HIS HOMEWORK AND nervously waited for his father and stepmother to settle down and close their bedroom door. They usually turned in pretty early, and he was often awake long after the rest of the house was silent and asleep. Rory and Todd slept that sweet, deep sleep of children who play hard, but Jericho knew that his dad slept lightly, his police training keeping him aware of everything around him.
    Jericho headed down to the kitchen at eleven-thirty, got a piece of Geneva’s apple pie from the refrigerator, and listened to see if anyone stirred. All was silent. Geneva’s little brown dog, Dimples, woke from her corner in the kitchen to sniff for handouts, but Jericho ignored her. If anyone woke up and caught him going out the door, he’d say he decided to walk the dog.
    He pulled on his coat, listened once more for movement, and eased silently out of the back door, making sureit didn’t slam. The cold night air hit him full force, and he cursed himself for forgetting his hat. He pulled up his collar, hunched down into his coat, and walked briskly down the dark, icy street.
    Everything looked different at night. The leftover snow