Bottled Up by Jaye Murray Read Free Book Online Page A

“Superman can’t even get near me.”
    â€œCheck it out,” he yelled, pointing to the backhoe digging away at that hole in front of the school. “Maybe they’re building a swimming pool.”
    â€œNot in the front of the school, bean head.”
    â€œI’m going to be a construction worker when I grow up,” he said. “I’m going to dig holes and fix things.”
    â€œYou better get into school or we’re both going to be late.”
    â€œKnow what?” He pulled his backpack up on his shoulders. “Daddy’s going on a class trip with me.”
    All I could do was blink. Once.
    â€œWe’re going to the zoo,” he said.
    Don’t hold your breath, I almost answered.
    â€œHe’s going to be a leprechaun,” Mikey said.
    â€œYou mean a chaperone.”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œYou know, Bugs, sometimes Dad says he’s going to do something, then he doesn’t.”
    â€œLike taking us to the beach—”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œAnd to McDonald’s that time—”
    â€œYeah and—”
    â€œBut not this time.”
    â€œHow do you know, Mikey?”
    â€œHe promised.”
    I blinked again. “Oh,” I said.
    He turned to the school, but stopped for one more question.
    â€œPip, what was that stuff this morning? That stuff you got so mad at me for eating?”
    I made like I didn’t hear him and walked away.
    Maybe he’d forget to ask me later—if I was lucky.
    Maybe he’d stick to asking about M&M’s.

TWO
    I want to be a rock star.
    I want to bang on the drums or wail a guitar so loud, it blows my ears out.
    Then I wouldn’t have to hear anything.
    School sucked. All day.
    It started with Giraldi grabbing me on my way to first period.
    â€œDid you make your call?”
    Crap. I knew I’d screwed something up.
    I checked my pockets to see if I still had the counselor’s business card while Giraldi sort of shoved me into his office. If I hadn’t had it on me, I think Giraldi would have called my father right there on the spot.
    I held it up. “See? I was going to call. I was just on my way to a pay phone.”
    I started to leave and he blocked my way.
    â€œCall now,” he said.
    â€œIt’s kind of private. You know what I mean?”
    â€œIf you don’t use the phone on my desk right now, I’ll be making my own call.”
    I picked up the receiver and started to dial the number on the card. I felt funny being on his side of the desk while he was where I’m always standing. I thought about giving him a detention.
    I sat down on his chair and leaned back to get comfortable. I sort of sank into the chair and started swiveling back and forth.
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding!” He came at me and put his finger on the phone like I’d done the day before.
    â€œStand up,” he said, pulling on my elbow.
    I stood.
    â€œYou don’t seem to understand, Phillip—”
    â€œPip—”
    â€œQuiet. I’m giving you a chance to turn your life around. I’m paying attention to something going on with you that no one else has bothered to do anything about. I am giving you a shot here.”
    â€œYeah, some shot. More like blackmail.”
    â€œThat’s the way you see it?”
    â€œI see you threatening me.”
    â€œWhat you don’t see, Mr. Downs, is that I’m the best friend you ever had.”
    He nodded his head toward the phone and stepped away so I could dial.
    â€œJensen Family Counseling,” a woman’s voice said on the other end.
    â€œCan I talk to Claire Butler?”
    â€œThis is Claire.”
    I was hoping she wasn’t going to be in. I mean, I knew I had to do this or get killed—I just didn’t want to do it right that second.
    â€œMy principal told me to call so I can come in and see you.”
    â€œWhat’s your name?”
    â€œPip