Safe Landing Read Online Free PDF

jelly, Ty.” The twins were ready to go. With freshly washed hair and glowing faces, they looked like they’d stepped out of a modeling ad.  They were headed, as usual, for instant popularity at their new school.
    Mom turned off the stove and dropped the frying pan into the sink. “I’m going up to see what kind of disaster you three left in the bathroom. I’ll meet you in your room with the first aid kit.”
    The toast kept sticking in my throat either because it was really dry toast or because I was nervous about today. It may have been some of both. I choked down three bites and left the table. Grabbing the ornate iron railing, I heaved myself back up the stairs. Mom was standing with a ball of gauze and tape in her hand, carefully surveying the old bookshelf. The drawer stood ajar.
    “I guess you got the old lock to turn,” I said.
    “Huh? The drawer was open when I came in.” Mom picked up the key to get a closer look. “This is really old.”
    “It’s O.K., Mom. I really don’t care if you opened it.”
    “I’m not one of your brothers, Brazil. If I’d opened the drawer, I would tell you.”
    “Then that key has a mind of its own, and things are getting pretty freaky up here.” I plunked down on the bed without taking my eyes off the drawer. It was only open an inch or so, but last night, it would have taken a crowbar to open it.
    “I know this is an old house, Zilly, but don’t be so absurd.” She knelt down, removed the old gauze, and rewrapped my foot.
    “I’m not absurd,” I protested. “I’m nuts. See what you’ve done to me. A year ago I was perfectly sane, and now, I am one pancake short of a stack.”
    She laughed and gathered up the first aid supplies. “You’re wrong.”
    “Really, Mom, I’m losing my mind.”
    “No. I meant the part about you being perfectly sane a year ago.” She kissed the top of my head and headed to the door. I hurled my pillow at her, but Darcy intercepted it like I was throwing a Frisbee.
    Reaching the doorway, Mom stopped and turned. “Don’t be nervous about today, Zilly. You’ve never had trouble making friends—or boyfriends. It won’t be any different here. Drop it, Darcy.” The gangly dog reluctantly dropped my pillow and followed her out.
    At least one of us had confidence that I could start up a social life again. Of course Mom hadn’t factored in the possibility that I really didn’t want one. The lovely pictures of Jenny with her arms around Blake drove me to the decision that friends were not worth the effort. Being a recluse might have some advantages, especially if I was losing my mind. Then I could just keep my wacko thoughts to myself.
    I stood to leave and pushed the drawer shut. The faint scent of flowers wafted into the air surrounding the bookcase and a shiver crept up my spine. Not only was I seeing and hearing things, but I was smelling stuff too. As I grabbed my backpack and raced out of my possessed room, I wondered if insanity ran in my family.
    ****
    My new high school was about the same size as the elementary school I’d attended in the city. There were lots of big trees surrounding the school, but otherwise it was the same as any school, a slapdash paint job over layers of old paint, long cement hallways dotted with flattened mounds of chewing gum, and endless rows of dented student lockers. There was a guy leaning against one of the trees playing harmonica, which was different, but otherwise the kids were all the same. Just different faces.
    A girl smiled at me as she strolled by. She had a thick head of curls that she had obviously tried to iron straight, an impossible feat, living this close to the ocean. Her backpack was hanging open and her wallet was about to fall out.     
    I shuffled after the girl like a nine-toed hobbit. “Excuse me! Excuse me!” I called
    She stopped and turned. “Are you talking to me?”
    “I don’t know if you’re aware, but your backpack is unzipped, and it looks like your