From Ant to Eagle(22)

“Sammy’s not feeling well again. I think his fevers are back,” she said to Dad.

Dad shook his head slowly. “Poor kid. It’s been a rough summer. Another cold probably.”

“I’m worried it’s not just a cold.”

“Let’s give it a day or two and we can bring him back to Dr. Whatever-His-Name-Is and have him take another look.”

“I’m going to call the doctor now and see if he can see him today,” Mom said, walking over to the phone.

“You know, I’m sort of a doctor myself,” Dad joked. “Remember the piece I wrote last year on medical errors? I had to interview more than a few white-coats and basically got my MD.”

“I’m not joking, Harold.”

Dad shrugged and went back to his reading. “Okay, suit yourself, take him in. But make sure they give him the banana-flavoured stuff. And ask them to pack seconds for me.”

Mom hung up the phone disappointed.

“They’re not open yet,” she said with a huff.

She started to walk out of the kitchen to go back upstairs.

“Mom, does this mean I don’t have to take Sammy with me?” I asked.

“Not today,” she said.

THREE MORE WEEKS had passed and I still hadn’t had to take Sammy to the Secret Spot. It was the last week of August and already the air was starting to change. The hot mugginess of summer had left and there was a cool bite to the breeze as it passed. A few of the farmers had been plowing their fields as I’d walked to the Secret Spot that morning. Soon the towering corn would be nothing more than dirt and grass.

“Can you believe school is less than a week away?” I said, catching up to Aleta as she stood on the top of a dirt hill looking out toward the lake. It had been another hour and we still weren’t any closer. “I really don’t think we’re going to make it,” I said, following her gaze.

I looked at Aleta and saw she looked worried. I guess making it to Lake Huron was a bigger deal than I’d thought.

“We could always try again tomorrow,” I said. “Start earlier or something.”

The wind picked up, blowing Aleta’s hair over her face but she didn’t seem to notice. She was thinking about something.

“We can keep going,” I said. “I was just saying that it’s getting a little late in the afternoon but if you really want to keep going we can probably make it.”

“No,” she said, “we should turn around. I was just thinking about school, that’s all.”

I felt relieved that we weren’t going to keep hiking.

“Don’t worry about school. The homework isn’t that hard, and I can help you.”

“I’m not worried about the homework,” she said.

“Then what are you worried about?”

“I don’t know, everything I guess—the kids, the teachers, the thought of going back to school. When I left Ryerson in London, things weren’t so great.”

“You’re worried about people asking you questions,” I said.

Aleta looked at me, holding my eyes for a moment. She nodded. “Yeah, that too.”

“I’ll sit with you on the bus and if anyone asks you anything, I’ll knock ’em square in the kisser.”

Aleta laughed. “The kisser?”

“It’s what my dad says. But seriously, I’ll make sure no one bugs you. It’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, Cal—you’re a great friend. I’ve never had a friend like you.”

“Me neither,” I said. “I’ve never had a friend like me either.”

We both laughed and turned back toward the pond.





CHAPTER 14

ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, MOM TOOK ME ASIDE IN THE morning for another “talk.” She pulled me into the living room while Dad and Sammy ate their breakfasts and I figured I was in trouble. Except usually I knew what I’d done—this time I wasn’t sure.

“I’m worried about Sammy,” she said. “He’s still not feeling well but he’s too excited to stay home. Can you promise me that you’ll keep an eye on him today?”

It was true. Sammy had been doing his best all morning to pretend he was well. He’d gotten up early, brushed his teeth, dressed and packed his lunch (which Mom had to repack)—all before I’d even gotten out of bed. Except when I’d climbed down from my bunk, I’d seen his sheets were drenched with sweat, so I knew he was still having fevers. The doctor had said Sammy had something called mono and that it would take him a few weeks to get over it.

“If he still isn’t feeling well why not just keep him home?” I argued. “Why does he have to be my responsibility?”

I was feeling a little nervous about my first day back at Huxbury too and didn’t want to have to watch out for Sammy. I already had Aleta to worry about.

Mom gave me an angry glare.

“Okay, okay, sure—I’ll watch out for Sammy,” I said.

In the kitchen, I found Dad and Sammy sitting at the table. Dad was eating and reading the paper while Sammy sat beside him looking nervous. His eyes were ringed with dark circles and he was wearing his new pants and shirt Mom had got him from our back-to-school shopping. Although, Sammy had needed more than just back to school shopping that summer. He’d lost a lot of weight, which I figured was a combination of playing so much basketball, not baking as much and being sick all the time.