City Center, The by Simone Pond Read Free Book Online Page A

tears in her eyes.
    “Bye, home,” I whispered.
    “We’re still together. Home is where your heart is, right?” She wiped away her tears and focused on the road.
    Along the eerie drive toward Pacific Palisades I stared out my window, looking at the charming homes. The yards, no longer landscaped, looked messy with tall grass and overgrown bushes. Mom bulldozed through the intersections. I turned on the radio to break the silence. The announcer read from a script.
    “Evacuations for all Westside residents are now in effect. Buses will be continuously transporting any remaining people to the emergency camps. Demolitions are scheduled to start tomorrow at noon, please be sure to arrive…”
    I turned off the radio and stared at the street corners, memorizing every sign and taking mental photographs of the neighborhood I’d never see again.
    We parked down the street from the address and waited in the car all afternoon until the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. We adjusted our backpack straps securely and grabbed the smaller bags from the backseat. I shut the door of our family car one final time.
    “Bye, car.”
    The streets were dark without the glow of street lamps. I kept Rags tight on the leash and we walked toward the Adobe-style house. We pushed open the wooden gate and crossed the overgrown backyard. The swimming pool was full of swampy water and leaves, and a few lawn chairs. We got to the row of bushes at the far end of the yard and wedged ourselves through the shrubbery. Branches scraped our cheeks and tangled in our hair. On the other side we found a narrow dirt path leading into the pitch-black woods.
    “It’s a few miles to the first checkpoint,” Mom said.
    Rags squatted next to a tree leaving behind her scent, and we hiked up the hill. We trudged along slowly; it was tough lugging our equipment. I stopped every few feet to catch my breath and wipe sweat off my forehead. Mom used a tiny flashlight to illuminate the path. I followed the outline of her shadowy silhouette. Her strength and determination amazed me. I prayed for safety and comfort, but mostly for the courage to carry on. We made it to the rocks at the top. Mom looked at the map.
    “This is it,” she said, and whistled three times.
    We waited, holding hands. Rags sniffed the air. After a few minutes, a flash of light struck our eyes, blinding us. We held hands waiting for our eyes to readjust.
    “Joe sent us,” Mom called out.
    A man stepped closer toward us.
    “Mary and Lillian?”
    “That’s us,” I answered with my best brave voice.
    “I’m John. Good to have you join the group. Let’s get to camp. We’re just a few hundred yards away.”
    We walked in silence. I noticed a glowing campfire come into view. We reached the site. I couldn’t wait to set down my bags. John pointed to an empty spot under a tree where we could station ourselves. I collapsed to the ground. Every muscle burned like acid. I opened up my sleeping bag and climbed inside, pulling Rags down into the cocoon. Mom joined the group, and I fell asleep to the murmur of their voices.
    The next morning I woke up to Rags licking my cheek. It was before dawn because it was still dark and silent. The air was icy cold. I scanned the campsite to assess what was going on. Mom stood next to the fire holding a mug. She talked with John. He looked strong and confident and I immediately trusted him with my life. A younger guy stood next to John. I figured it was his son because they had the same messy dark hair and warm brown eyes. They were kind eyes. I counted a total of seven people, including my Mom and me. I inched my way out of the sleeping bag, still wearing my boots. Rags and I found some bushes to pee in. Steam rose from the cold ground, warming my legs. I couldn’t wait to stand next to the fire.
    Mom waved me over. Her rosy cheeks were all scratched up from the night before. She handed me a cup of coffee and winked. That was my first cup of coffee. I didn’t care