Mason Read Online Free PDF

His hands were clenched into tight fists. Sweat poured over his face, his neck, and his wounded back.
    â€œThere,” Gene said, out of breath, “now, don’t you feel better?”
    Mason said nothing.
    â€œBe sure you keep a shirt on around Molly for the next week.”
    Mason sat trembling.
    â€œDid you hear me?”
    â€œI’spose.”
    Finally, Gene left the room, and Mason got to his feet.
    Â 
    Mason lay on his stomach. He looked through a film of tears at the door to his room. More than anything, he wanted his mama to walk through that door. She’d know how to make the pain stop. She’d bring him cookies and kiss his forehead and stroke his hair. Maybe she’d tell him a story to take his mind off the pain.
    So hard did he wish to see his mother, she appeared in the room before him. A green cotton dress hung from her shoulders and hugged her waist tight. She was still really pretty. Her long brown hair hung straight to her shoulders. Her face was shaped like a valentine heart, and she smiled at him.
    She flickered and almost disappeared, but Mason concentrated harder, until she looked as solid as the chair by the door. With a bit more thought, he gave her motion, brought her close to his bedside, and made her sit next to him.
    The scent of sweet chocolate-chip cookies filled the air.
    His mama reached out the way he wanted her to, but he didn’t feel her palm on his brow. It was just amind picture, and mind pictures couldn’t touch you.
    Seeing her would have to be enough.
    â€œI didn’t do anything,” Mason whispered.
    His mama nodded her head and smiled a little wider, even though her eyes looked sad. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. His mind pictures couldn’t talk, either, but he knew what she’d say.
    You’re my special boy. My good boy .
    â€œAre you ever coming home?”
    I am home .
    â€œBut for real?”
    Mama shook her head. No .
    â€œI miss you,” he said. “Lots.”
    I miss you. …
    His bedroom door opened again, but Mason was so happy, he barely noticed. He wanted to keep looking at his mama’s pretty smile and her warm, sad eyes.
    â€œWhat the hell?” Gene whispered.
    The voice startled Mason. Panic flared again. His thoughts became jumbled.
    No more, Gene.
    I’ll learn. I’ll learn.
    I’ll step up .
    The mind picture of his mama disappeared.
    â€œWho…?” But Gene couldn’t finish the thought. He stood in the open doorway. Even from his bed across the room, Mason could see the door tremblingin his big brother’s grip.
    Did Gene see Mama too? Mason wondered. He wanted to ask, but he was too afraid to say anything.
    From the darkened threshold, Gene chuckled. He stepped back into the hall, whispering, “I must be losing it.”
    He closed the door without saying another word.
    He did see her , Mason thought. He did .

6
Chiaroscuro
    On Thursday morning, Rene woke very early to the sound of rain. The night before had been clear with a big orange moon in the sky, but sometime during the early-morning hours, the clouds had rolled in. She opened her eyes to the gray downpour smearing the world beyond her window. She blinked and rolled over, giving herself an extra five minutes of pillow time. Her bed was just too comfortable to leave, and it was Friday, and there were surely a dozen other good excuses to lie there and do nothing.
    Maybe a sick day was in order. She could always fake a stomachache. Hold a thermometer near the lightbulb of her desk lamp. Just stay in her comfortable bed all day, watching Smallville or Heroes on DVD. Once her mom went to work, she could get online and text some friends or just surf ’n’ shop the web.
    As tempting as these thoughts were, Rene rolled out of bed. She scratched her head. Yawned. Walked to the bathroom to shower. No hooky today.
    There was a test on the colonies in American history class.
    They were choosing lab