The Last Stand of Daronwy Read Online Free PDF

made for the edge, ready to jump. They were faster. He saw the hand come over his arm, grabbing the notepad. He tried to hold onto it, but other hands pressed into his back, and he pitched forward, toward the edge of the rock.
    He tumbled, hitting his shoulder on the edge, then bounced into open space. The ground thwacked against his back. He choked and gasped, and his head swam for a moment. Then he realized he no longer held the notepad and jumped to his feet.
    â€œWhat is this? What do all these lines mean? What is T.H.?”
    â€œLook at that. What is H.S.? You’re so stupid.”
    â€œYou’re an idiot.” The voices wafted down from above. He was too dizzy at first to look up. Then he found Travis and Lee staring at the steno pad, flipping through the pages. Lee pointed. “Is that supposed to be a tree?”
    â€œGive it back.” Jeremy ran around the hill, ready to climb up after them. To his surprise, they rushed down to meet him.
    â€œGive it back!” he said, throwing a wild punch at Travis, who easily dodged it. An arm crossed his shoulders, a foot shot into his shins, then Jeremy was on the ground again. Before he could get up, a leaden weight crushed him into the dirt. Jeremy coughed into the rough gravel. Travis took a fist of hair and slammed Jeremy’s face into the ground. “Shut up.”
    Spitting sand, Jeremy tried to rise again. His face got slammed back into the pebbles.
    Travis stood. He and Lee took turns ripping each page from the notebook and wadding them into a paper ball. Jeremy pressed himself back to his feet. He lunged at Travis, who threw the ball and the remnants of the notebook to Lee. He ran toward Lee, who threw it to Travis.
    â€œGive me that back.”
    â€œOh, he wants it back,” sang Lee.
    â€œYou’re such a loser.”
    Jeremy charged Travis. Travis threw the paper to Lee, but Jeremy would not be deterred. He drove his shoulder into Travis’ chest, sending them both toward the edge of the cliff. They fell and rolled down the slope. Travis wound up sitting on Jeremy’s chest. Jeremy grabbed for Travis’ hands. A punch just missed Jeremy’s nose, connecting with his forehead. Jeremy covered his face and rolled over. Travis laughed and stood. Feet crunched away on the gravelly sand.
    â€œDo you want it now? What are you going to do about it, you crybaby?”
    Jeremy sat up and thought about chasing them, but they were halfway across the Mini Desert. His eyes stung, and his stomach ached like he was going to be sick. He sat on the ground, following them with his eyes.
    â€œI want it back! Give it back!” Lee mimicked in a high falsetto.
    Travis laughed, wagged a finger toward Jeremy. “If you want it, you can go get it!” He lofted the wad of paper into the pond and they laughed again, running down the trail toward the street.
    The maps floated among the rainbows on the surface of the black water. Anger drove Jeremy to his feet one painful movement at a time. He sprinted down the trails, not running after them, but running to be free of them. He cut through the bike trails and across the empty lot, up his driveway, and did not stop until he had thrown his aching body onto his bed, stained clothes and all. He grabbed a fistful of pillow. “Travis.” He punched it. “Lee!” Punch.

Chapter Three
    Father Pat sat in Dad’s chair at the dinner table. Dad sat next to Jeremy, across from Rosalyn, and Mom sat at the other end. Steaming bowls of chicken and sausage gumbo sat before them. The thick, earthy broth made Jeremy’s mouth water, but he didn’t dare touch it. Father Pat was praying, his close-cropped white head bowed over his bowl. He wore the usual black suit with his white priest’s collar. “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” He raised his head and smiled, continuing in his Irish lilt. “Thank you again for inviting me over.