Read Online Water Steps by A. LaFaye - Free Book Online Page B

breath, I reminded myself that the water couldn’t reach me that high up on the shore. Put both feet firm on the ground. I closed my eyes and stood there without prickling up. My skin felt calm. My muscles felt loose. I could even breathe like normal. Felt a hint of good seeping into me.
    Then the air changed a little, got a bit thicker, even wetter. A bit spooked, I opened my eyes to see Mem and Pep standing on the steps below me, staring. Their eyes looked gray and glassy in the moonlight.
    â€œKyna?” Mem asked as if to say, “Where are you headed?”

    â€œI, I . . .” I couldn’t tell them about my little private water war. Giving away the secret would mean they’d force me to keep my word. They’d never let me back out. Pointing to a tree, I said, “I just wanted to know if you’d buy me some night film. I’m going to take a picture of an owl in flight.”
    â€œAre you, now?” Pep asked, looking like he only half-believed me.
    It would make a pretty good picture, but film had nothing to do with why they’d found me there.
    As they walked toward me, ignoring just where they’d found me, they stood on either side of me, so we could all go into the house together. Mem said, “Sounds like a plan to me. Maybe you could capture a shot of one of those great horned owls. I love them.”
    â€œHave wingspans the length of a kayak, they do.” Pep said, heading to the stove.
    â€œCan eat a skunk, those owlies can,” Mem said.
    â€œMust give them powerfully bad breath,” Pep added.
    We laughed, then shared a cup of cocoa before bed, dropping a marshmallow down for Kippers to bat about. I could tell by the way they brushed my hand, looked at me over their steamy cups, and tucked me into bed for a little too long that Mem and Pep knew just what a big water step I’d taken
that night. Their pride made me feel hot cocoa warm all over. I fell asleep believing I might even be able to take the next step.

WOODS
    M y owl story had all the fixings. It gave me a need for night film. A good goal for my county fair picture. And a reason to be out at night with Tylo, who wanted that picture to shut his brothers up. Of course, Mem and Pep insisted on meeting him before they let us trolly off into the woods.
    Tylo stood by the kitchen table, decked out like he’d just stepped out of a tomb-raiding video game—all shoulder-strap pouches, binoculars, and adventuring garb from his brown hat to his hiking boots.
    Pep squinted at him. “You look pretty well outfitted.”
    Tylo tugged on his straps. “Yep.”
    â€œGot drinking water, have you?”

    â€œYep,” Tylo tapped on his canteen.
    â€œTorch?”
    â€œIn the woods?” Tylo asked, shocked.
    Smirking, I told Tylo, “He means a flashlight.”
    â€œOh,” Tylo nodded. “Yep.” He turned it on and off, nearly blinding Pep.
    With a leer, Pep teased, “Glow in the dark compass?”
    Tylo patted his chest pocket. “Yep.”
    Mem and I laughed to see Pep stifle a look of surprise.
    â€œAnd what do you do if you get lost?”
    â€œScream until someone comes and finds us?”
    Pep curled his nose in disgust. “No.”
    Tylo laughed and gave Pep a shove. “I know.” He held up a walkie-talkie. “It’s got a ten-mile radius. Five in the woods. Beeps when it’s out of range, so when I hear it beep, I turn around.”
    Pep nodded, impressed. “And your mem has the other one?”
    â€œMem?”
    â€œMom,” I told him.
    â€œYep.” Tylo nodded, looking a little confused. He didn’t expect that meeting my parents would require a translator.
    Once Tylo had written down his number so they
could reach Tylo’s mom if they needed to, Pep finally agreed that Tylo was ready for the woods and let us go.
    I grabbed Tylo by the shoulder and pushed him toward the door. “Let’s head out. I