The Sentinel Archives

Chapter Four

"See Pops 4 chore list when u get home." The first text from Mom said. Kai scrolled to the next. "Deal with u 2nite."

Kai groaned, snapping the phone shut. Russ Hosspupper stood by the buses, towering over the other kids as he searched each one who passed by. Kai used up every ounce of self-control to keep from running over and punching the giant nuisance in the face for tripping him in the science lab. However, Kathryn Raider was also waiting by the buses, cracking her thick knuckles as she looked up and down the walkway. Kai was sure she waited to punch him in the face for ruining her new sweater. Luckily, his bus loaded at the opposite end of the parking lot and he was able to slip by without either one of them noticing. All the way home he'd tried to work out a sure-fire plan to keep Mom from making his week off pure torture. Nothing came.

First thing Kai did when he finally reached home was to get out of the over-sized track shorts and pink t-shirt which was all the school nurse had to offer as replacement clothing. After showering the goop out of his hair, he dressed and headed downstairs, intent on quieting his rumbling tummy. He grabbed two ham sandwiches, his iPod and the newest Extreme Sports magazine. Heading to the porch, Kai decided he would take a much needed snack break before tackling any chores or homework.

A cool autumn breeze whipped around the house from the northwest. Since the air conditioner didn't work, Kai often slept out on the patio, or up on the flat part of the roof near his window when it got too hot inside.

The cushioned bench swing was his favorite place to relax. With ear buds plugged in and music blaring, Kai let the back and forth movements settle his jumbled thoughts.

He flipped through the magazine. One day soon, he'd find a way to get on a BMX team. Half way through the article about the extreme sports event in Madrid, his eyes grew heavy. He imagined traveling the world with his bike, performing before cheering fans. A collective gasp would go up as he wowed the crowd with a double back flip, something he still worked on doing without landing in a crumpled heap. Oh, to travel the world, visit cool places and tackle the most challenging mountain trials. To be somebody special.

"Hey," Wynn's voice broke into his dream world. She gave the swing a hard jerk and yanked out one of the ear buds. "Poppy wants you in the yard. Now. He said if you argued then I'm to remind you that Mom will be home early today. She expects all the chores to be done if you hope to...uh... sal-vage? Yeah, salvage your birthday."

Some birthday. He seriously doubted Mom would drive him to Austin and get that new bike after today's report.

"Come on, Kai." She tucked a wild blond curl behind her ear. "You don't want to spend our whole week off doing worse chores, do you?"

Why did she have to be such a goody-goose anyway? Always the one to make top grades. The teacher's pet. Mom's pet. Pops' pet. Not that Kai cared... but still.

He smacked the magazine onto the seat beside him then stuffed the iPod into his pocket. "Fine. Fine. Fine!"

She skipped off ahead.

Guilt pecked at his temper. He didn't want to cause more problems for Mom. Before Dad left for Montana, he had pulled Kai aside, and said, "Just because you're young doesn't mean you aren't capable of taking care of things while I'm away. It's what we men are supposed to do, right?"

How could Kai refuse? Especially when Dad wrapped him in a tight bear hug saying, "You make me proud, son."

Dad was the only one who ever said that and really meant it.

Pops assigned green-thumb Wynn to weeding his herb garden with the hoe. Clumsy Kai could never be trusted around Pops' precious plants. Which was fine with him. He was still freaked out over that strange vine and feared what else might be lurking just behind the tomato post or cabbage patches.