Life on Mars Read Online Free PDF

eyes met …
    â€œArty!”
    It was Cassi and her constant companion: her giant mouth.
    â€œAr-teee!” My bedroom light flipped on, bathing the backyard in light. “I know you’re out there, you creeper. You need to come downstairs. Now! Family meeting! Dad said!”
    I glanced back at Mr. Death just as he turned and walked into the woods.
    â€œArty!” she shouted again. “I know you hear me!”
    I swiveled in through the window, yanked it shut, and dropped to my hands and knees. “Shhh! Do you want to get us both killed?” I crawled over to the light switch, reaching up only enough to paw it off.
    â€œYou. Are. So. Embarrassing,” Cassi said, then turned and tromped downstairs.
    Once upon a time, we had family meetings often. Mom said it would make us all closer so that when we were grown up and they weren’t around anymore, my sisters and I would still have each other’s backs. We’d had dozens of family meetings, and while I didn’t feel any closer to Vega or Cassi, I did like the board games we sometimes played.
    We hadn’t had a family meeting at all since Dad lost his job.
    So why were we having one now?
    Suddenly, I was more worried about what awaited me in the family den than about Mr. Death wandering around outside looking for a place to bury his dead bodies or eat faces. Slowly, I crept downstairs.
    Dad was sitting in his recliner; his hair tufts, for once, were flat against his head. Vega was parked on the sofa, with her hand glued to the Bacteria. Cassi was sitting cross-legged on the floor next to Comet, doing some sort of cheerleader stretch. Mom placed a plate of still-steaming banana nut bread on the coffee table. The Bacteria immediately leaned forward and swiped a piece.
    Warily, I kneeled next to the table.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” I asked.
    â€œFamily meeting,” Mom said brightly, perching on the arm of Dad’s chair.
    â€œBut why are we—?”
    â€œNo raisins,” Vega interrupted, pointing at the last crumb of bread in the Bacteria’s hand. She whipped around to Mom. “You didn’t put raisins in this bread.”
    Mom shrugged. “I got tired of them.”
    Vega and I exchanged glances. Dad’s tufts were combed down and Mom was tired of raisins?
    She gasped. “You got a job!”
    Dad smiled. “Well, I was hoping to be the one to break the news, but … yes, I did.”
    Cassi squealed and clapped her hands. I let out a cheer. Vega’s eye roll was a little less rolly than usual (which, trust me,is as close to cheering as Vega comes). Even the Bacteria let out a whoop (a one-syllable whoop, of course).
    â€œCongratulations, Daddy,” Cassi said. “Can I get a phone?”
    â€œWell, before you …,” Dad began.
    â€œNo way you’re getting a phone. I had to wait until sixth grade to get one,” Vega shot to Cassi, overriding Dad.
    â€œSo what? You weren’t in cheer. I need a phone. Mom said …”
    Dad tried again. “Listen, before anyone gets anything …”
    â€œWhat? Mom!” Vega yelled. “You can’t get her a phone. I was, like, the last person in the entire middle school to get one, and it was so humiliating, and you said …”
    â€œNobody’s getting a phone,” Mom said, holding her hands out toward my sisters like she was directing traffic.
    Cassi yelped. “You said I could get one. Not fair! It’s none of Vega’s—”
    â€œIt’s totally fair. Armpit should get one before you do, and he doesn’t even have one yet,” Vega yelled.
    Technically, she had a point. I should have gotten a phone before Cassi, just by sheer seniority. However, I had no desire for a phone, so it didn’t really matter to me if Cassi got one or not.
    â€œNo way! If I have to wait for Armpit, I’ll never get one. He has, like, zero friends to call anyway.”
    Whoa. Not