A Missing Peace by Beth Fred Read Free Book Online

going on?”
    â€œDon’t worry about it.” He clipped the call.
    I was torn. I needed go see what happened to Abrahem, but at the same time, I couldn’t leave. Caleb was here alone, and when the doctor came out of that room, he was going to need someone.
    Half an hour later, a slender brunette woman rushed up to me in the waiting room. “You must be Mirriam.”
    I stood. “Yes.”
    She grabbed me and hugged me. “Where is he? I’m sorry. I mean thank you, so much. Where is he?”
    I walked his mom to Caleb’s room. She knocked twice, but there was no answer. She opened the door. I glanced inside. Caleb’s chest rose and fell in normal patterns, but even in his sleep a pained expression covered his face.
    â€œCan I tell him I’m leaving?” I asked. “I won’t wake him up.”
    Mrs. Miller’s eyes watered as she nodded. “Of course, sweetheart.”
    I crossed the room to Caleb’s bed, leaned over, and gave him half a hug. “I have to go help my brother. Goodnight, Caleb.”
    As I headed for the exit, I heard my mother shriek my name and turned to face her. “You cannot tell me you’re seriously thinking of walking home in the dark after your friend got hit by a car tonight? Why were you out after dark with a boy?”
    â€œHe’s my partner for a Government assignment.”
    â€œYou were studying?”
    â€œYes, Ommy.” I hope she believes that.
    She nodded. “Mirriam, I hope that is the entire story. I know things are different here, and kids do lots of things they shouldn’t. But you cannot forget who you are.”
    I called my brother who sounded fine now. Chipper actually.
    â€œCan you pick me up from the hospital?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œWhat happened earlier?”
    â€œIt was nothing. I overreacted.”
    It was dark, so I didn’t notice. I didn’t see it until the next day. Usually, I was out of bed by eight every day of the week, but last night was a long night, so I slept until ten. I figured nearly being run down by a car was an excuse to be late for school, so I wasn’t that worried about it. After all, Killeen High’s wonder boy could vouch for me. I got up and showered, threw on some jeans and a three-quarter-sleeve shirt, grabbed my book bag, and headed out.
    Something told me Caleb wasn’t coming home for a few days. I figured I’d take the books we got to the hospital, in case he got bored. I’d hang around if he wanted me to and do my calculus while I was there.
    But when I walked outside the house, Abrahem was running a paint roller over the garage door. Before I could ask why he decided to randomly paint the garage door, the answer slapped me in the face.
    It was metallic pink, the same color as one of the two convertibles in the student parking lot. It said, ‘RAGHEADS GO HOME!’ in looped letters. The single exclamation mark at the end was dotted with a heart.
    I dropped my backpack. “Oh my God. Were you home?”
    â€œI came home after it happened. It’s no big deal. We already knew we weren’t wanted here.”
    â€œShould we call the police before you paint it?”
    Abrahem laughed. “It’s a military town. You think the police are on our side?”
    â€œTrue. But I know who did this.”
    â€œI don’t think it’s going to happen again. You don’t have anything to worry about.” He pushed the roller up and down.
    â€œWhat makes you think that?”
    â€œI just know.”
    â€œHow?”
    He smiled. “Just do.”
    The air squeezed out of me.
    It was my fault we had to leave Iraq. Kailee Hill was out to get me, and I didn’t even know why. If we had to leave here, that would be my fault, too.
    I lost all interest in going to see Caleb. It wasn’t like I forgot about him. More like, I couldn’t breathe. I had to think. I forced myself to pull my backpack off