Booked Read online

Like everyone else?

  Yep.

  Even on the soccer field?

  That’s different.

  How?

  I like soccer.

  And you don’t like being smart?

  I don’t like being forced to sound smart.

  . . .

  . . .

  Tell me, how do you feel about your mother leaving?

  I feel like I’m drowning.

  What will it take for you to get above water?

  I don’t know. It’s outta my control. She’s not coming back, and they’re getting divorced.

  Can you swim?

  Uh, yeah!

  So if you feel like you’re drowning and you know how to swim, then maybe you can get above water.

  That sounds crazy.

  I guess it does.

  . . .

  How are things going in school?

  School’s okay, but I’m tired a lot.

  Are you getting sleep at night?

  I was. Probably not now.

  Why not?

  ’Cause I’ll be thinking about my mom.

  How long has she been gone?

  Three days, this time.

  Have you spoken to her?

  When she got to her, uh, new house, she called.

  And since then.

  Nope.

  Maybe you should call or text her.

  Yeah!

  It’s hard for her, and for you. And as hard as it is, regular communication is what gets things back to normal.

  Normal? Yeah, right.

  Change is hard, Nicholas, for all of us. We figure out how to cope, how to adapt, and eventually things do get back to normal.

  Yeah!

  . . .

  . . .

  Talking about things is good. It can help you stay above water.

  Oh, really?

  Yes.

  . . .

  So, I’ll see you next week?

  Tupac.

  I’m sorry?

  You asked who my favorite rapper was. It’s Tupac.

  Keep your head up, Nicholas.

  Yeah.

  Regular Communication

  Hey, Mom, I’m good, though my toe

  nails have grown so long that my

  hooves hurt bad. April says hi.

  At Miss Quattlebaum’s

  The girls line up

  ear to ear

  so you and the other boys

  can greet them

  with a proper hand kiss.

  Gentlemen, backs are straight and stiff, Miss Fruit Tree says.

  She passes

  out gloves

  to the girls,

  so they

  don’t have to

  touch

  our clammy hands, you guess.

  You zoom down the line, and

  when you get to April,

  in her blue mini-dress,

  you decide

  to finally

  wear cool:

  Uh, April, I was wondering, if you, uh,

  wanted to go to the eighth grade formal

  with me?

  Regular Communication

  Hey, Mom, I’m good, though I’m a

  little sick of Cheetos and

  grape soda. April says hi.

  After School, You Stop in to See The Mac

  Hey, Nick,

  did you know that

  outside of a dog,

  a book is a man’s best friend, and

  inside of a dog,

  it’s too dark to read? he says, laughing.

  C’mon, you know that was funny.

  It was corny, Mr. Mac.

  Before you leave, grab your flash drive

  out of lost and found.

  Oh, snap! Been looking for that.

  It’s got my outline on it.

  You left it in the computer.

  Dang, I sure did.

  So, no soccer practice today? What’s up?

  Yep, I’m on the way there now, but

  I wanted to give you this.

  What’s this?

  A birthday gift.

  For me? How’d you know it was my birthday?

  Google.

  You stalking me, Nick Hall!

  You were a pretty good rapper, Mr. Mac.

  Pretty good? I was dope.

  You’re a cool librarian. There’s a surprise in the book.

  Oh snap, you did another black out joint!

  Yeah! Plus, I read the whole freakin’ book.

  How was it?

  It was sad, and crazy funny, and really good, and I think you’ll really like it.

  Kid, you’re the real deal. This means a lot.

  How much?

  A whole lot.

  So much that you’ll tell me what’s inside your dragonfly box?

  You want a look inside Freedom?

  Huh?

  My dragonfly box. I call it Freedom.

  You name everything, your car, your box—

  Wanna know what I call my bowling ball?

  Uh, no thanks.

  Fine, go ahead, open the box.

  Seriously?

  Go for it.

  COOL!

  Wait, it’s locked.

  Where’s the key, Mr. Mac?

  Ya gotta have the key

  Ya gotta have the key

  Ya gotta have the key if ya wanna be free.

  The Mac repeats this a few times, then

  takes the box back.

  Real funny! Hey, Mr. Mac, why are you

  so into dragonflies?

  Because they’re electric, Nick.

  Like bolts of lightning,

  they rocket into the day.

  That’s how I wanna live. You?

  Yeah, uh, I guess.

  Well then, carry on.

  I’ve got some work to finish.

  You’ve got a clerk to diminish?

  You know a jerk that’s Finnish?

  You’re officially the malaprop king, Nick, he says.

  Thanks again for the gift.

  No problemo.

  Playoffs

  April comes over

  to wish you luck

  before your first game back.

  Score one for me, she says.

  You don’t.

  You score

  Two.

  Text from Mom

  Nicky, didn’t hear from you

  this weekend. How was the game?

  Your texts are funny. Miss ya!

  Regular Communication

  Hey, Mom, I’m good. Can’t talk, as

  I’m in school, failing gravely.

  Who cares about grades? We won!

  Winnifred may be a gadfly*

  but her slideshow tribute to

  Ms. Hardwick is pretty swell

  and it sends us all to sob town.

  Waiting at the Bus Stop When a Police Car Pulls Up

  Hey, Nick, we can take you home.

  No thanks, we’re good, April.

  Get in here, fellas, looks like it’s about to rain.

  Uh, okay, Coby says, climbing into the back seat.

  Dad, this is Nick, remember?

  Oh, yeah, I remember, from the phone, right? He shoots you a look through the rearview mirror.

  And this is his best friend, Coby.

  Cool ride, Mr. Farrow.

  Don’t get used to it, son.

  No sir.

  I understand you play soccer?

  Yes sir, we do, you say.

  Who’s better?

  I am, sir, Coby says, all polite.

  Nicholas, how is school?

  It’s fine, sir.

  Y’all stop calling me sir. Officer is fine!

  DAAAADDDDD, stop!

  April tells me you’re a wordsmith or something. You a wordsmith, Nicholas?

  Uh, I guess . . . Officer.

  Are you or aren’t you, son?

  DAAAADDDDD, why are you interrogating him? Leave him alone.

  I know a lot of wo
rds, if that’s what you’re asking.

  He sure does, April brags. Nick, tell him about that word limerence.

  Yeah, Nicholas, tell me about that word limerence, the one that my daughter has written on every notebook, plastered all over her door, and which she now wants to tattoo on the back of her neck. Tell. Me. About. That. Word.

  DAAAAAAAAD, STOP IT!

  This is so cool, Officer, Coby blurts out.

  Uh, why is the siren on?

  Thirty Minutes Later

  My dad’s just trying to scare you.

  Well, it worked.

  You coming to Charlene’s pool party?

  I don’t know.

  Well, I think you should.

  Okay, maybe.

  Try again, Nicky.

  Yeah, I guess.

  Better. Text me later.

  Okay. Thanks for the ride.

  I can’t kiss you on the cheek, ’cause my dad is look—

  GOODBYE, NICHOLAS, her dad screams from the car, then turns on the siren. Again.

  Geesh, I gotta go, Nicky.

  Uh, uh . . . Bye. Thanks.

  I’ve been thinking

  maybe you take

  a break from

  my dictionary, son.

  The irony

  of this

  is colossal.

  You laugh long

  and loud like

  a Guinea baboon

  being tickled.

  And so does he

  when you say:

  Well that’s just perfect, Dad, ’cause

  I finished it

  last night.

  Really? Well, that’s great.

  We should celebrate.

  You hungry?

  Very.

  I’ll make dinner.

  How about NO, Dad.

  Let’s go out.

  Great. I got

  the perfect place.

  No white tablecloths, Dad.

  I was thinking

  a sports restaurant.

  Unlimited Hot Wings

  and Soccer.

  YEAH!

  Conversation with Dad

  Your dad

  is always full

  of words

  to hurl at you,

  but tonight,

  for once,

  he’s wordbound.*

  So are you.

  . . .

  . . .

  These wings are good.

  Yeah.

  . . .

  . . .

  Dad, can I ask you a question?

  Of course.

  Did you ever get into a fight at school?

  Fights? No.

  . . .

  Not at . . . school.

  . . .

  There was this kid at church named Skinny who picked on me.

  Really?

  He sat behind me in Sunday school and would slap me on the neck. We’d be at the fountain, and he’d spit water on me. One time when it was raining, he even tripped me and I busted my lip. It was Easter and I was wearing a brand-new white suit.

  Oh, snap! What did you do?

  I ran to my mom, bleeding and crying.

  Oh.

  But my dad came over and dragged me to the bathroom.

  What’d he do, fuss at you?

  No, he cleaned me up, and asked me a question.

  What?

  What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

  That’s what he asked you?

  Yep, and I told him, Maybe fight him.

  What’d he say?

  “Bullies don’t like to fight, son. They like to win. Being afraid is normal. The only fight you really have to win is the one against the fear.”

  What does that even mean?

  And then he said, “You got this” and walked out.

  What’d you do?

  I cried some more, then went back outside, where all the kids were, and walked right up to Skinny, and said, “Hey, Skinny, I’m sick of your yobbery.*” And then I put up my dukes.

  You, uh, put up your dukes, Dad?

  Yeah, l was ready to fight, Nick! I dodged and weaved like Muhammad Ali. He looked a little confused, maybe even a little afraid. I charged him like a bull, knocked him to the ground.

  That’s so cool, Dad. What happened next?

  He got up and punched me in the eye. I had a black eye for two weeks.

  Dang! Sorry, Dad.

  Don’t be. Your granddad was right. Skinny stopped messing with me after that. I mean, he used to make jokes about me, but even that stopped after a while.

  That really happen, Dad?

  Sure did.

  Should we get some more wings, Dad?

  Should we knit some floor swings?

  It’s gotta make sense, Dad.

  Should we quit before Spring?

  Well done, Dad.

  Good, now let’s order more wings.

  Hey, Mom

  Dad’s at a conference. I’m

  home alone. It’s house party

  time! YEAH! Holla! Giddy-up!

  Mom Calls Immediately

  He’s just gone for the day. I’m fine, you tell her.

  After she finishes worrying, you ask her

  how to make Dutch pancakes,

  but it sounds too complicated,

  so you stick to

  instant oatmeal.

  After breakfast

  and a quick game

  of FIFA online

  with Coby,

  you shower,

  grab your gear,

  and head out

  for the match

  when you hear

  Morning, Nick!

  Blue Moon River

  Standing outside

  leaning against

  a light blue convertible car

  is The Mac.

  Hey, Mr. Mac. What’s up?

  You forgot this. Again, he says, handing

  you your flash drive

  with Hardwick’s almost finished

  persuasive essay on it.

  Thanks. You rock, Mr. Mac!

  Maybe you need to wear it

  around your neck.

  That’s your new car?

  Blue Moon River.

  Huh?

  It’s a 1972 Ford Mercury Brougham Montego drop-top.

  Pretty zazzy!*

  Interesting name for a car, though.

  Nicholas, there’s only a hundred or so of these left.

  Oh, I get it—it’s rare, like once in a blue moon.

  Exactly! Me and Blue Moon River are searching for the rainbow’s end.

  Uh . . . okay, but why River?

  Nick, the river is always turning and bending. You never know where it’s going to go and where you’ll wind up.

  Follow the bend.

  That’s pretty deep, Mr. Mac.

  Stay on your own path. Don’t let anyone deter you. Eartha Kitt said that.

  Who’s Bertha Schmidt?

  Nicholas, turns out Ms. Hardwick isn’t the only one leaving, he says.

  What do you mean?

  Langston Hughes will be looking for a new librarian, too.

  You’re not coming back?

  I’m not coming back.

  Why?

  Because the river turns, and there’s a lot of world to see.

  Are you following Ms. Hardwick?

  You’re a smart kid.

  A new book for you,

  he says, reaching

  into the bag

  on the ground next to him.

  Thanks. Rhyme Schemer’s a dope title, Mr. Mac.

  Is this your autobiography?

  It’s not, but you’re gonna dig it.

  The question is will it rip my heart out

  and stomp on it?

  I’m outta here, he says, jumping

  into Blue Moon River.

  Don’t forget your bag, you say,

  picking it up to hand to him, but

  right before he speeds off

  The Mac
yells,

  That’s yours too. Be cool, Nick.

  Inside the Bag Is, Get This, FREEDOM

  You unlock

  The Mac’s dragonfly box

  fully expecting

  bursts

  of electricity

  to flitter

  and flutter

  like blue lightning

  like souls

  on fire.

  What you see

  is even better.

  WHOA!

  Sub

  Coach finally puts you in.

  It feels good to run toward

  something, and not away . . .

  After the Game

  At Charlene’s pool party you

  see Coby, April in a

  pink swimsuit, and, uh, your bike.