Sparrow Migrations by Cari Noga Read Free Book Online Page B

Better than the subways, with the swooshing trains and chiming doors and chattering riders and the surprise invisible announcer voice. Way better than Uncle Tom and Aunt Robin’s house, where they went for dinner last night, before his cousin Tyler’s hockey game.
    Dinner wasn’t ready. Why were they invited at five if dinner wouldn’t be ready for another hour? “How’s it going, buddy?” his uncle had said.
    “I’m not your buddy. We don’t ever see each other.”
    “Robby!” His mother laughed, her gasp-laugh. Then she told him to go upstairs with Tyler. “I’m sorry, Tom. He’s just so literal,” he heard her say as he followed Tyler, sighing.
    Upstairs in his room, Tyler kept asking him questions. What sports did he like? Had he ever been to a hockey game? Did he want to watch Tyler’s hockey highlight DVD and learn everything?
    Robby didn’t answer. He asked if Tyler had any video games.
    “Video games are a waste of time,” Tyler said. “Turn you into a slug. Let’s play hoops in the backyard?”
    When Robby still didn’t answer, Tyler waited, then shrugged. “Fine. I’ll go ask Uncle Sam.”
    Tyler’s room overlooked the driveway. Five minutes later, Robby heard the thump-thump-thump-thud of the basketball dribbled onto the concrete, then lofted at the rim. Thump-thump-thump-thud. A shout. A laugh—his dad’s. Then the smack of a high five. More laughter. Robby had drawn the strings of his Detroit Lions hoodie tighter, until the taut gray fabric almost covered his eyes. His own cocoon there in northern New Jersey, miles and miles from home.
    On the museum steps he drew the strings again, but not quite so tightly, peering through the fringe of his bangs. He wanted to be able to see his dad come back, because that would mean it was time for them to unlock the doors. Unlock the doors to this place. Let him in so he could learn about the geese from Canada. Find them and figure out just what had brought them to the Hudson River, these birds in the bird strike.
    Robby chewed the hard end of the drawstring. Just minding their own business, those geese were. Like he did. But that wasn’t enough for everyone else. They had to prod and intrude. And look what happened.
    He tried to imagine how it would feel to hit the plane. Geese usually flew in Vs. He saw them in the fall at home, soaring above the gray suburban roofs, their long dotted lines somehow appearing simultaneously fluid and regimented.
    They must have been flying like that yesterday. What happened to the geese farther back? he wondered. Did they see what happened to their leader? To the next two or three or four? Did they understand? From the docks he saw the geese swimming by the plane. Were they from the stricken flock, circling back upriver to look for their lost companions? Or did they just continue on their instinctive path southward? Who would know?
    “Here comes Dad, Robby.”
    His mom’s voice broke his concentration. Robby blinked. He had forgotten to keep watch. His dad was passing the green newsstand again, carrying a white bag. Robby felt his stomach tighten.
    Finally .

    “Amanda. Amanda. Amanda!”
    Walking to her locker, Amanda felt someone at her elbow just before her earbud was lifted. Abby.
    “Today’s the day! Audition day! How do I look?” She twirled in front of Amanda, showing off her bouncing high ponytail. She did look like Sandra Dee, at least as Olivia Newton-John portrayed her. “Can’t hurt to drop a little hint, right? I’m so nervous. I’m so glad you’re coming with me.”
    “Oh, Ab, I don’t think I can today, after all. I’m really sorry, but I’ve got some, uh, other stuff to do.” She couldn’t explain why, but Amanda didn’t want to tell her Kelsey had been right about her mom being on the news.
    “No way. You’re not serious.” Abby’s face became bereft.
    Amanda tried to placate her. “There’s two days of auditions, right? I’ll be there tomorrow. Promise.”
    “That’s