Rainy Season Read Online Free PDF Page A

animals. Softer than Steph, who probably would have put the blame on the bat if she’d been the one to step on it.
    “Great. Let me ask my mom if you can come for lunch. Ted, you wanna come too?”
    “Actually, I have to get stuff for the fort.” When Steph had mentioned how good the other side’s fort was, Ted got all clenched up. Suddenly he jumps to a stand and walks away from us over to Dad and Charlie.
    Steph pushes her lips out like a fish, watching him go. “I think the sky show’s almost over,” she says. “I’m gonna ask my mom about lunch. Be right back.” She darts away, less interested in hanging around since Ted isn’t with us. I stretch out flat on my back on the poncho and close my eyes, letting the sun lash down on me, the strength of its heat planting me into the ground, into sleep. Dr. Forrest used to say that calm moments were better times than crises for meditation, so in my head I start repeating my secret meditation word vi-ta, vi-ta, very slow, the way they taught me at the center.
    “Check out my knees!” I open my eyes to see Charlie’s standing right over me. “Especially the left one.” The puffy scab on his left knee from when he fell off his bike last week is split open in a thin crooked line, leaking a smear of fresh blood.
    I sit up and scoot away from him crabways. “Cut it out, it makes me sick.” Charlie touches some of the blood to his fingers, then flashes them in my face.
    “Doesn’t hurt at all.”
    I smack his hand away. “Looks disgusting.”
    “You can come!” Steph bounces up to me. She looks over at Dad, who’s standing a few feet away, talking to Ted, and cleaning his glasses with me corner of his T-shirt. “Ask,” she hisses. She grabs at my hand and pulls, yanking me up to my feet.
    “Dad, can I go to Steph’s for lunch?”
    “Her mother knows?”
    “Mom knows. Charlie and Ted can come too.” Steph grins doubtfully at Ted, preparing for failure again, but it’s her nature to press a point.
    “Charlie and I are going to pick up lumber. We’ll stop at the McDonald’s on the Zone.” He speaks to Dad as if double-checking. Ted must have already run the plan by him. “We’ll come by after lunch to pick you both up—I can go on base since Lord Beck just gave me this military vehicle day pass.” Ted opens his fist to display Dad’s blue guest pass card, then shoves it deep in his shorts’ pocket. Steph looks down and scuffs the grass with the toe of her sneaker; she’s disappointed and it makes me mad. I feel like the consolation prize lunch guest.
    “Dad, I forgot to tell you. Mom and Alexa are having a party at our house tonight.”
    “Well, I hope she didn’t forget about the change of command party we have to—Aha, Captain!” Dad smiles as Steph’s dad joins our circle, dragging his half-packed parachute in his rucksack. He’s outfitted in his camouflage fatigues and boots. Sloppy half-moons of sweat darken the armpits and chest of his olive green T-shirt. Captain Wagner crisply salutes Dad, who just taps the closed fingers of his hand against his temple. “You looked good out there, Wagner. Easy jump?”
    “Yes sir, good day for it.”
    “We’re having a get together tonight at my place if you and Sue want to stop by.”
    “Will do, sir. Affirmative.”
    Dad had spilled the invitation before I could tell him about not inviting army people. My eyes try to fire a warning signal to him, but he doesn’t get it. He just smiles at me.
    “So you’re borrowing and feeding my daughter?” Dad asks. “I guess I’ll see you later then, Lane. Have fun building your clubhouse. No worrying, that’s an order. See you too, Captain.” He snaps his fingers and looks at me. “Around what time did Mom say for tonight?”
    “I dunno,” I mumble.
    “I’m guessing nine-ish then, after the change of command ceremony.” Dad nods to everyone. “Take care.” As I watch him leave I wonder if I should stop him from doing more damage, but