Glimpse by Steve Whibley Read Free Book Online Page B

back at me. She was at the kitchen sink looking very pleased when my parents walked through the backdoor, each carrying a pile of newspapers.
    â€œOh, you’re up,” my mom said. She put her stack on the counter and walked over to give me a hug. “And I see you’re well into your birthday breakfast.”
    â€œ My birthday breakfast?”
    â€œSee, Jonathan,” she added, looking toward my dad. “And you thought Becky might try to eat it.”
    I glared across the kitchen at my sister. “But she—”
    â€œHow many of those papers can you possibly need?” Becky interrupted as a crooked smile inched across her lips. When it came to sibling rivalry, my sister was no slouch. I vowed revenge.
    My dad held up a copy of the Gazette . “You read the article, right, champ?”
    â€œUm… yeah, Dad. I read it.”
    â€œYou saved that man’s life, Dean,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you get a medal.”
    â€œWhoa, whoa,” I said. “Just slow down. I didn’t save anyone. In fact, the article says the man’s still in the hospital. And just so there’s no confusion, all I did was call 911. No, I didn’t even do that, I just held my wallet to my ear. That’s it.” My mom made a gesture like she wanted to speak, but I cut her off. “Thank you for the breakfast, Mom. It was delicious. But please, when my friends come here tonight, don’t make a big deal of this whole hero nonsense.” I knew Colin would probably already make a big enough deal of the whole thing on his own. He didn’t need help.
    I grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair and made for the door, pausing to add, “And don’t make a big deal about my birthday either, okay?”
    My dad laughed. “Modesty. I like that.”
    â€œMe too,” my mom said. “I’ll pick you and your friends up after school.”
    â€œNo, it’s okay. I think we’ll walk, or we might take the bus into town.”
    â€œYou’ll call when you decide, right?”
    â€œJeez, Mom. Yes, I’ll call.”
    I looked across the kitchen. Becky pointed at me and started rocking an imaginary baby in her arms as she mouthed the word “pathetic.”
    â€œNice hair, Becky,” I called as I reached for the door. I heard a loud growl and the stomping of feet before the door shut behind me. This could shape up to be a good day , I thought.
    Boy, was I wrong.

Chapter 9
    Â 
    Colin and Lisa were waiting at my locker when I got to school.
    â€œWhat’s the deal?” Colin held up a cut-out of the article from the Gazette ’s front page. “You never told us this was the reason you were late on Friday.”
    â€œYeah, Dean. Why didn’t you say something?” Lisa added.
    â€œI was a bit preoccupied, what with all the hallucinations.”
    â€œYeah, but now your hallucinations make sense,” Lisa said.
    â€œThey do?” Colin looked confused, and I was pretty sure my expression matched his exactly.
    â€œStress,” she said. “Stress can make people see things. You had to fight off a couple of murderous thugs. I’d say that qualifies as stressful.”
    â€œI fought off murderous thugs?” I looked at Colin and then back to Lisa. “Where did you get the idea that I fought anyone? It doesn’t even say that in the paper.”
    â€œIt says you stopped them,” Lisa said. “And your face was all bruised up, so I figured you must’ve—”
    Before Lisa could finish, Eric Feldman’s nasally voice came from behind me. “Well, if it isn’t our resident hero.”
    I spun around, sick of Eric’s teasing and ready to face the little twerp. But as soon as I saw Rodney, I recoiled. Perhaps because Eric’s oversized goon was wearing all black and seemed really pale, or perhaps because he'd always looked a bit zombie-like but I'd never