The Universe is a Very Big Place Read Online Free PDF

you decide to keep it. And I hope you do keep it."
    Spring listened as Jason stomped across the bathroom and out the door.
     

     
    2005
     
    Please pick up the boys from school. Sorry. Flat tire. Oh yeah, they have a counseling appointment today. If you take them I’ll owe you one.
    Jason’s voicemail irritated Spring. Jason knew that Sam was coming home today, which was probably why he had conveniently gotten a flat. She couldn’t call Jason back to tell him he should make other plans, either. Jason didn’t own a phone.
    "Oh yeah, I’m living the dream," she said, clenching her teeth and glancing at the bumper sticker on the car in front of her that read Casey Condom for President: To Protect and Serve. The condom was waving and smiling. Spring pulled into the empty parking lot of Cooper Elementary School and cursed Jason for the hundredth time since she had gotten his phone call.
    "Mrs. Felding won’t be happy,” she thought as she raced down the corridor to the twins' classroom. When she reached her destination, Mrs. Felding was holding the boys tightly in the crook of her arms while both children struggled to break free.
    "It’s about time you got here,” Mrs. Felding said, releasing the boys, who immediately began racing each other around the desks. “You’re almost as unreliable as the father."
    Spring cringed. She was a taxpayer. Sort of. Mrs. Felding could be nicer to her. “I’m so sorry, I had to work late. Long story I’m sure you don’t care to know about.” Spring scooped the boys up in her arms as they made a pass and headed towards the door. “We’re going now. Sorry.”
    "Ms. Ryan, Jason says you are taking them to the counselor for their attention deficit problem today."
    Spring stopped.   Mrs. Felding had been harping on her for months now, about the boys' problems in school. High energy. Inability to sit still. Wanting to do things their own way. Though Spring had never attended formal classes herself growing up, it didn’t seem like that big of a deal. "I’m no expert but I still don’t think we need to involve a counselor in this. Can’t we just work this out between ourselves?"
    Mrs. Felding crossed her arms and gave Spring a hard stare. “I’ve been an educator for twenty-seven years, Ms. Ryan, and I have to say these two have the worst case of hyperactivity I have ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot! I’m going to tell you just what I told their father. If you don’t get them some sort of help I will be forced to contact child protective services again and let them know of your parental negligence. Is that clear?"
    Spring’s throat tightened and she nodded. Mrs. Felding fetched a large spiral notebook from her desk. “I’ve written up my observations to help expedite the process,” she said, shoving the notebook at Spring.
    "The whole thing?” Spring shuffled through pages of frantically scrawled notes complete with stick figure drawings.
    "If you thumb through it fast enough it becomes a flip book.” Mrs. Fielding explained. “That’s in case the counselor doesn’t have enough time to read it in its entirety."
    "Thanks,” Spring smiled half-heartedly and slunk out the door.
     

     
    Spring watched the twins through the rearview mirror. They were identical in every way except for the perpetual cowlick on Blaine’s head and the two missing front teeth in Shane’s mouth, courtesy of a basketball hucked by his brother. They were thin for their age, almost frail-looking. But looks were deceiving. They were scrappy little guys who had no trouble standing up to anyone if they felt their pride, or their toys, were threatened. It had taken the both of them, but they had even wrestled down Jake Turner, the fifth grade bully, when he tried to load up his pockets with their hot wheels. They had either gotten that from their father or their grandmother.
    Spring cringed as Blaine picked at the holes in the knees of his jeans. Jason never paid attention to what he dressed them