Ms. Zephyr's Notebook by KC Dyer Read Free Book Online Page A

ever again. Any way he looked at it, Cleo was in trouble. And he was sitting in here, wasting time, trying to keep this little kid from talking.
    â€œShe probably only gave you the address because you’re too young to do anything about it,” he muttered to himself. He lifted his head and looked at Kip as though he’d never seen him before. “How old are you, Kip? Like nine or something?”
    For the first time in Logan’s memory Kip looked really annoyed. He drew himself up in bed. “I’m eleven, Logan. Nearly eleven and a half, actually. I’m just small for my age because… well, just because.” He looked up and Logan could see he was close to tears. “We can’t all be giants, you know.”
    Suddenly, Logan felt terrible. Here was this little kid who probably cared about Cleo as much as he did, or even more, truth be told, and he was a computer whiz. New possibilities clicked through his brain. Keeping carefully away from any of Kip’s equipment, Logan began to pace the floor at the end of the bed.
    â€œListen, dude, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say you were small — only that for a kid so small you have a really big brain.”
    Kip’s eyes welled up again.
    â€œWait, that didn’t come out right. I just mean … don’t be upset. This is a chance for us to work together, y’know?”
    â€œLike that time you said we could work together on the TV, but I ended up missing my show ’cause you wanted to play Xbox? I don’t want to work together like that.”
    â€œNah, forget about that time. That was the old Logan, kid. Things are different now. At least, I’m trying to make them different. And right now, the biggest problem we have is time. We need to find out where she’s going now. And since she’s not going to tell us, we’ve got to figure it out ourselves.”
    â€œDo you think she’d just go home, you know, to be in her own bed?” said Kip. “I really miss my own bed. That’s what I’d do.”
    Logan bit back a sharp retort. He had to remember the kid was only trying to help.
    â€œNot a chance, buddy. I think you’re right that she’s looking for something that’s important to her. I mean, it’s a big risk to run away, especially when…”
    â€œWhen what?”
    â€œWhen you… uh… know what big trouble you are going to get in if you are caught.” Logan grabbed the notebook and stuck it into the tiny circle of light made by the chart lamp. “I just need some kind of clue as to where she’s going. It’s got to be in here.”
    Kip lay back against his pillow, and yawned cavernously. “Well, I still think she’d want to go where somebody loves her,” he said sleepily.
    Logan nearly dropped Abbie’s notebook. He reached over and grabbed one of Kip’s feet under the covers.
    Kip’s eyes flew open. “Hey!” he said indignantly.
    â€œListen, kid, I think you’ve got something. Who is the one person Cleo loves most in the world?”
    â€œHer grandma,” Kip said promptly. “And her dog, Zoë.”
    Logan rapidly flipped through the notebook. “She wrote something about her grandma, Kip. I know it’s in here somewhere…”

    November 14
    Kip G.
    Dear Abbie,
    You said my journal entry for today should be about my friends. At school I don’t have too many friends. Sometimes the other kids don’t get why I can’t play rocket dodgeball or anything, and it’s hard to hang out with kids if you want to play rocket dodgeball but you can’t. So, today I’m writing about the kids at the hospital here who are my friends.
    The best thing about this place is that there are other kids around. Some aren’t very friendly, but some are. Like Spencer from last year. He was pretty friendly. Except that time he punched me for talking