Juniper Berry by M. P. Kozlowsky Read Free Book Online Page B

delighted Juniper to have a friend she nearly forgot the tree entirely. The reminders were never very far away—two of the biggest were lurking within her house—but for the moment they remained in the background.
    Juniper led them on several insightful expeditions to the outlying areas of the yard, although not anywhere near the clearing. Through a variety of lenses they spied even more birds and animals making their way in the world, documenting it all in her notebook. “Can I see space with these?” Giles asked, scoping the sky with her binoculars.
    â€œNot even close. I have a telescope in my room, though.”
    Giles was excited. “Can I see it?”
    Eyes to the ground, Juniper answered, “My parents wouldn’t allow it.”
    â€œOh.” Giles pulled at the loops in his jeans and rocked on his heels. “Can you see far with it?”
    â€œThe telescope? Really far. I’ve seen meteor showers, the phases of Venus, lunar craters, and, because I have a solar filter, sunspots. I’ve even seen the shadows of Jupiter’s moons on its surface.”
    â€œWow, really? Just think what else is out there.”
    â€œYou don’t have to go far. I’ve seen just as much in an anthill.”
    Giles’s eyes searched the ground for one. Quietly, he began to sing. “‘Next time you’re found with your chin on the ground, there’s a lot to be learned, so look around.’” Catching himself, he suddenly stopped, embarrassed.
    â€œWhat was that?” Juniper asked.
    Giles blushed and fidgeted. “Nothing. A song my mom used to sing to me. I forgot all about it until now.”
    â€œYou have a nice voice.”
    Giles smiled, then stopped, his eyes suddenly sad. “We used to sing together, the three of us. My father gave me his record player—he says records make music sound more emotional—and we would sit around and sing old songs. I miss that.” Giles froze and looked gravely at Juniper. “Are our parents going to be okay?” His voice shook.
    Just hearing such a question made Juniper’s entire body go cold. She didn’t know how to respond. She could only grab his hand and give it a soft squeeze.
    They shook these fears free by keeping busy. They tracked Kitty through the woods, Juniper informing Giles on how to proceed in such a quest. While wearing goggles, they scanned the shaded depths of the heated pool for sunken treasure and did flips off the diving board. With a microscope, they examined a ladybug. They played hide-and-seek, which Juniper found to be no different from Here, Kitty Kitty except that Giles said she couldn’t use her spyglasses. It was as if they had been friends for years.
    At dusk, just before Giles left to go home, Juniper suggested one more activity. “I want to have a race. One end of the yard and back.”
    Giles looked intimidated. “Does the loser have to do something embarrassing?”
    â€œWhat? No. It’s just for fun.”
    Having agreed, at the starting point Giles asked, “Are you fast?” and Juniper responded, “I have no idea.”
    Raising his arm, Giles announced, “On your mark, get set, go!” for Juniper didn’t know such protocol existed. They kicked their legs to the limit, these two, a fury of speed. Giles was quite fast indeed, and Juniper was surprised to discover that she was, too. In mere seconds they made their turns at the halfway mark and headed back for the finish line. Juniper grinned the entire way. When it was over, they hugged and said good-bye.
    As for a winner, it was decided that the race was too close to call.
    But if one were to possess a keen eye, as Juniper did, the outcome was evident: She won.

Chapter 5
    J UNIPER HAD AN IDEA, and that idea morphed into a plan, and that plan was put into execution, and that execution was taking place presently. It was well after bedtime. Blanket pulled to her chin, head