Dawn of the Jed Read Online Free PDF

been in vain.”
    We walked in silence to the park a few blocks away. This wasn’t one of those awkward I-wish-I-knew-what-he-was-thinking silences. More like I’m-OK-with-you-shutting-up-for-a-while silences.
    I sat at an aluminum bench next to a playground that was oddly empty for such a nice day. I wished again I were wearing something more substantial than gym shorts.
    Luke sat across from me. After a few minutes, I broke the ice.
    “We had our Christmas list family meeting last night,” I said.
    “I figured that,” Luke said. “Normally on the sixth day before Christmas, you’re telling me the incredibly stupid presents your Dad asked for. Who can ever forget such requests as ‘Miracle Tan in a Can’ or ‘Swiss Army Grill.’ If I remember right, the grill could cook meat twenty-nine ways, none of them any good. I still regret Christmas dinner at your house that year.”
    “I can say he didn’t disappoint. But it’s what happened when I gave them my list.”
    Luke shook his head. “You knew what they were going to say. Why did you think this year would be any different?”
    Luke thought my dog wish was pretty cool when he first heard it. But that was six years ago. He has a very low tolerance for it now.
    “I thought it might be different this year,” I said. “I’m thirteen and at the height of personal responsibility. I put my clothes in the hamper. I take a shower without being ordered to. And I had a tough semester at school and thought they might cut me a break. I really thought this was the year.”
    “Let me guess. They had no idea you bought a dog bed.”
    “Right.”
    “Dude, sorry about this, but you brought it on yourself. They’ve never lied to you, like promising you a dog if you get good grades and behave.”
    “I get that. But last night it went a little farther than a dog. Mom said I couldn’t have one because of my ‘condition.’ That’s what she called it. A ‘condition.’”
    I looked Luke in the eyes. I knew he was preparing a smart-ass zombie remark. Maybe “If dead isn’t a condition, what is?”
    But he surprised me.
    “I’m sorry. That truly sucks.”
    I turned away just in case a few tears snuck out. Dead guy crying. No one wanted to see that.
    “Not that it means anything,” Luke said, “but you make life a lot more interesting. And your ‘condition?’ If everyone had it, do you know how much cheaper healthcare would be?”
    “No kidding, right? I was just thinking about that the other day.”
    “If I could zombify myself, I would. Totally. We could get a zombie place and start a zombie business. Walk dogs, maybe. Call it ‘Two Zombies on a Leash.’ Our ad could say ‘Searching for a lurching? Two Zombies will go out on a limb for you.’ Well, we can work on it.”
    This is why I called Luke. The guy can bring anything back from the dead. Even my mood.
    For the next fifteen minutes we did what we always did six days before Christmas: made fun of my dad for his ridiculous requests.
    I stood up and stretched. The duct tape pulled at my left shoulder, but it was getting better. The tingle was still there, but the burning sensation was almost gone.
    “I should probably get home and start my Christmas shopping,” I said. “That Flopchopper isn’t going to buy itself.”
    “The Flopchopper doesn’t even sell itself,” Luke said. “Let me know how it goes.”
    As we walked across the grass, I noticed activity had picked up. Walkers, joggers, some kids playing Frisbee, and—
    “Luke, wait,” I said, putting out my arm (the good one) to stop him. “The bushes over there.”
    “Dude, there are bushes everywhere.”
    “Maybe the ones I’m staring at right now?”
    “Oh, makes sense.”
    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luke’s gaze shift to a small stand of oleanders lining a block wall that separated the park from the neighborhood homes.
    There was a patch of gray. And white. It moved ever so slightly.
    Then peeked its head out.
    A dog. Medium