Luke's Crazy California Christmas Read Online Free PDF

close together. “Yeah.” I eyed Charli. “What about you?”
    “A freshman. And you play baseball, right?”
    “Yeah, I made all-stars last year.”
    “You must be pretty good then. I don’t really get into sports.”
    “Art is your thing, I assume?”
    “Yep. I drew out some new designs. I can show them to you later.”
    “Great.”
    “So, where do you go to school?”
    “Aubrey Christian Academy,” I answered and then took another sip of soda.
    “And?”
    “And what?”
    “That’s all you have to say about school? Your conversation tonight has been nearly monosyllabic.”
    “What do you want me to say?”
    “Just making conversation.” She sounded hurt. Her offense didn’t last long. “I could tell you a hundred things about my school—none of it good.”
    “My school’s cool. I like it.”
    “A Christian school. Does that mean you’re a Christian?”
    “Yeah, I am. What about you?” I decided to smile. Maybe this was why God put me here with Charli tonight. I was supposed to be a witness to her.
    “I’ve been to church.”
    “Really? When was that?” I took a final bite of mashed sweet potatoes.
    “Oh, I don’t remember. Mom and I went sometimes back in Chicago with my grandma before she died.”
    I nodded to her. “I went to a really great church here in Orange County before Mom and I moved. Maybe we can go for a visit together while I’m here.”
    She shrugged. “Sure, I guess that would be OK.”
    After that, she seemed to lose interest in me and my brief answers. Her attention turned back to the adults, and she and her mom tag-teamed in questioning my dad about every topic under the sun. At least I wasn’t the object of her attention for the moment.

4
    Dad and I were up early to be on time for my 9 AM appointment with the UCLA admissions office. After that, we checked out the campus and met up with the assistant baseball coach. I even got to hit a few balls with some of the college guys hanging around the field.
    We left before lunch, and Dad took me out for pizza at my favorite place. The familiar smells wafted around me as we entered the building. What was it about pizza joints? Each establishment has a certain smell—same ingredients but a totally different taste. It’s one of those mysteries like how they built the pyramids and what happened to the city of Atlantis.
    I took a seat while Dad ordered.
    He joined me a few minutes later with two glasses and a pitcher of soda. “So what do you think? Are you more enthused about UCLA now?”
    “It’s not like we haven’t been on campus before.”
    Dad’s face formed a frown.
    “I mean, it’s great. It’s a good school. No one can argue that…except maybe USC.”
    That made him crack a smile. “I don’t want to even hear you hint that you’re planning on applying to USC.” He pointed his index finger at me playfully and then poured me something to drink.
    “I wouldn’t dare.” I took the glass and sipped at the cool beverage through a straw.
    Dad leaned back against the wood-backed booth with his glass. “So, I had a talk with the Bruins assistant coach while you were out hitting balls today. He liked what he saw in you. He asked where you were going to school and suggested if you were at an LA public school, you might have a better chance of being offered a scholarship.”
    The last bit of soda coming through the straw started me coughing at Dad’s hint. I tried to clear my throat and wiped my mouth with a napkin. “I’m not”—I cleared my throat again—“I’m not moving back…not yet.”
    “You’ve only been gone a couple months. You’d still be considered a resident of the state if you came to live with me, which would also lower tuition.”
    I shook my head. “I can’t leave Mom.”
    “Your mother would understand. It’s for your future.”
    The server showed up with our pizzas. She wore a Santa hat and smiled widely. “A Supreme with everything and a Veggie Extreme.” She set the pizzas up