Chapter10
Garrison
“How you doing over there?”I glance up from my computer toward where Kyle is seated on the floor in front of the couch, a textbook open on the coffee table.He looks up at me, pencil hovering over the page of his notebook.He’s been in that exact spot since we got back from lunch two hours ago.
“Good.Trying to decide what to do for my creative writing assignment.”
“Oh?What’s the topic?”
His brow furrows.“Anything I want it to be.That’s part of the problem.I have no idea what to write about.It has to be three to five pages and have a plot twist.”
“A plot twist, huh?”I push up from my chair and cross the room to take a seat on the couch beside him.
“I’m not a writer.”He groans and sets his pencil down.“I’m reading through my language arts textbook for inspiration.”
“Well, there’s your problem.”I close the book and stand.“Come on, let’s go for a walk.”
“How is that going to help?This is due tomorrow.”
“Well, procrastination is never a good thing.”I reach down and tug him to his feet.“But sometimes the best remedy is fresh air.So, let’s go get some.”
With another groan, he opens the door and steps out with me right behind him.We move past the receptionist desk, and Suzie waves, her expression bright.
“Getting some fresh air?”she asks as she pushes her glasses back up onto the bridge of her nose.
“That’s the plan,” I tell her.“I have my cell, so call if anything comes up.”
“Will do.If you happen to get fresh air by the coffee shop, I wouldn’t complain about a caramel macchiato.”
I laugh and nod.“You’ve got it.”She doesn’t even realize she’s handed me the perfect opportunity to stop in on someone I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
We step out into the bright sunshine, and I breathe deeply, inhaling the cool spring air into my lungs.Man, I love this town.I had no idea what to expect when I moved here, yet I ended up getting what I didn’t even realize I was asking for: a home.
“How exactly is this supposed to help?”Kyle asks as we step onto Main Street.
“Consider it a power cycle for your brain.”
“Isn’t that what sleep is?”
I laugh and shove my hands into my pockets.“I struggled with school, too, and anytime I’d get frustrated with an assignment, my aunt would make me go outside.Most of the time, we’d sit on the porch and just stare out at the back yard.We’d talk about everythingbutthe assignment, and somehow doing that completely cleared my mind enough that I could actually focus.”
“It really works?”
“It does.But only if we talk about something other than the assignment.”
He smirks at me, something that’s coming a lot easier to the boy weighed down with far more than his fair share of life.“So what should we talk about?”
“How about Pauline?How is she doing?”
“Much better.”His shoulders relax, and the crease between his brow lessens.It’s no wonder; the kid adores his little sister.She’s his entire universe.“We went and saw a movie last night.”
“Oh yeah?”
He nods.“She’s doing so great, and I know she’s starting to think that maybe she won’t have any more issues, but...”He trails off, and his expression darkens.“I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“That’s a stressful way to live, Kyle.”
“We have to be prepared.What if it happens when she’s walking to school?What if she falls and hits her head?”