Turn on a Dime - Blane's Turn Read Online Free PDF Page B

house.
    “You must be Kade,” Mona said. “I’m Mona. It’s so nice to meet you!”
    Kade eyed her, but didn’t react nearly as suspiciously as he had with Blane, giving her a nod and mumbled, “Hi.” No smile, though, and Blane noticed his knuckles were white again as he clutched the knapsack.
    Mona cast a practiced eye over Kade and Blane knew what she was seeing - a dirty, scared little boy who was too skinny for his age. Her lips thinned, but her voice was friendly when she asked, “Are you hungry? I made some cookies. Would you like some?”
    “Sure.”
    Mona placed a platter of cookies on the table along with two plates.
    “And I know you’ll want some, Blane,” she said.
    Kade seemed unsure whether to stand or sit, so Blane sat in one of the kitchen chairs, slouching in his seat while Mona set two glasses of milk on the table.
    “Come sit down, Kade,” she encouraged.
    Kade approached the table and slid into a seat. Mona reached for his knapsack.
    “Here, let me take that—”
    “No,” he interrupted loudly, clutching the knapsack. “I’ve got it.”
    Mona smiled like this was nothing out of the ordinary. “Okay.”
    “So how’s Gerard coming with the garage door repairs?” Blane asked Mona. He didn’t want Kade to feel like they were staring at him. Mona seemed to catch on, picking up the conversational ball and telling him all kinds of minute details about the house Gerard’s current projects. Blane listened with half his attention, the other half firmly focused on Kade.
    Once Blane had taken a cookie to munch on, Kade had reached out, too. That cookie had disappeared pretty quick, as had five more in rapid succession, one of which was stealthily slid into his knapsack.
    Both Blane and Mona pretended not to notice this, keeping up the patter of conversation until Kade seemed to have his fill and leaned back in his chair after draining the last of his milk.
    “Come on,” Blane said, getting up from the table. “I’ll show you your room.”
    Kade followed him up the stairs and Blane took him to the first room on the left. Serving as a guest room, Mona had quickly redone the décor in something more personal to a ten-year-old boy than the bland elegance that had been there before.
    A queen-size bed a navy and hunter green plaid print bedding took up one corner, the matching furniture in a warm honey oak. The heavy drapes that had dressed the window before were gone, replaced by filmy white ones that let the sunshine in.
    “The bathroom is across the hall,” Blane said, watching as Kade looked around the room. “And I think Mona put some clothes in the closet for you.” She’d guessed at his size and Blane knew everything she bought was probably going to be too big, but maybe after a couple months of her cooking, the clothes would fit Kade properly.
    “I thought you said you had video games?”
    “Yeah, I do. They’re in the TV room.”
    Kade follows him back downstairs, still keeping his knapsack with him, and Blane sets up the video games. They spent the next few hours playing Super Mario on the PlayStation. Blane had never seen someone beat the levels as fast as Kade did. After Blane’s Mario died yet again, Kade tossed down the controller.
    “I’m hungry,” he said.
    Blane glanced at his watch, then rubbed his eyes. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d spent so long playing video games. “Mona should have dinner done by now. Let’s go check.”
    Sure enough, Mona was just setting the dishes on the table when they got to the kitchen. Blane chatted with Mona and Gerard during dinner, watching as Kade put away a good amount of food as well as sneaking a chicken leg and biscuit into his knapsack to go with the cookie from earlier.
    Blane glanced at Kade, who seemed to be having a hard time keeping his eyes open. “Well, I’m tired,” he said. “I think I’m heading upstairs. Kade? What about you?”
    Kade nodded and slid out of his chair. He looked at Mona.