Road to Clover (The Breanna Raven Series) by Katarin Haley Pope Read Free Book Online

too, and she expects no less from me and Chloe. But I’m on a different level of expectation from my sister. My mom has learned to accept me as I am. I’ll act like a lady, but that doesn’t mean I’m wearing tiaras and acting like a princess all day long. I’m not putting on make-up and dressing the part of a prima donna. That’s the only battle I’ve won when it comes to her rules.
    My dad’s name is Adalbert Raven , and he’s a professor at Monroe University located on the far eastern part of Titan City. He has a PhD in Biochemistry. I have never asked him about his work simply because it’s beyond my understanding. He has red hair, a wide face, and a dimple in the middle of his chin. He’s tall, lean, but he’s out of shape.
    He really loves my mom. I can tell whenever he stares at her from across the dinner table. I believe he’ll jump into a blazing fire, swim the biggest ocean, and walk across the clouds for her. My mom knows it, too.
    My dad is a funny guy. He doesn’t mean to be. It’s just how he is . He does quirky things that seem normal to him, but it’s hilarious. One thing that happens every Sunday is that my dad irons five pair of pants for the rest of the work week while wearing silly boxer shorts. The fabric will have pens with smiley faces, different shapes and sizes of eyeglasses, cars with white smoke behind them, or windows. Windows upside down, right side up, and sideways. I don’t even ask why he wears those kinds of shorts openly, but Chloe always have something to say about it…always.
    “ Dad, I didn’t know your butt needed eyeglasses?”
    “ Very funny, Chloe,” he’d comment with disapproval. He never had a solid comeback, but it took every atom in his body not to laugh. Mom and I would be in tears and unable to breathe because the baby of the family outwitted him.
    Another time my dad decided to wear blue shorts with yellow footprints, and Chloe asked him, “Dad, why do you let people walk all over you?”
    He was confused by her question. “What do you mean? I don’t let anyone walk all over me.”
    “Well, you let them walk all over your shorts.”
    I had to leave the room. I was done, and the fact that my sister was so serious about the question, made it even more comical.
    It’s those moments that made Chloe and my dad so much fun to be around, but for some reason, I feel like I won’t get them back, like there are no more opportunities for laughter. I have to find Chloe and my parents. They can’t be gone forever, not like this.
    I go to my room. The flashlight is in my hand, and I’m going through each article of clothing in my closet. There are dresses with tags on them and old Halloween costumes dating back 6 years ago. I don’t know why I even bother looking in the closet. There’s nothing I ever wear in there on a good day. The top drawer of my dresser is open, and I pull out two pair of wrinkled sweat pants and two shirts. A week’s worth of anklet socks and underwear can’t be too heavy. I throw in deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and toilet paper from the bathroom. Seriously, I can’t forget the toilet paper. A hand towel and soap are necessary commodities, too. I put everything in the backpack I used my junior year in high school, and shoulder it to test the weight. It’s not a burden at all. Darn, I almost forgot. I still have to pack food, as well.
    Trying to figure out how much and what kind of foods to take are tough, but wondering where we’re going to get food if we run out is a bigger worry. I’m not a huge eater, but I don’t want to starve, either.
    Inside of the pantry are canned vegetables and beans, dried noodles, health bars, packaged cream cakes, and two huge boxes of individual bags of chips. I find packets of juices in the pantry, as well. I put a little of everything in the backpack, except for the canned vegetables and beans. I zip it up and hoist on my back to test out how it feels. Not too heavy and not too bulky. I can