The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine Read Free Book Online

it so matter-of-factly, like he was one of those big law firm attorneys who work around the clock. Except his office was a park bench.
    He stood up. “We should get you back to Moo. She may be starting to worry.”
    I got up, too, and watched as he picked his jacket up off the cart and put it on. I was stunned that he would want to wear a jacket when it was still so hot. But I was even more stunned to see what was now visible on the front of the cart where his jacket had been draped. It was a photo. Of a boy. Who looked just like me.

6
    COMMON FACTOR
    â€”a factor that two or more numbers share
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    C ute kid, huh?” Past said as I continued to stare at the photo.
    I nodded. Piercing eyes. Like mine. Pale brown hair, what there was of it that you could see, because he had an almost-buzz cut. His mouth was open just a little, like he was trying to smile, enough to show a missing front tooth. And he was wearing my shirt.
    â€œThat’s my T-shirt,” I finally managed to say.
    â€œI sincerely doubt that,” Past said.
    â€œIt is! It’s my Buzz Lightyear shirt!”
    â€œUh-huh,” Past said, not sounding convinced.
    I couldn’t take my eyes off the photo. “And he looks just like me.”
    â€œHe looks nothing like you.”
    â€œHe’s wearing my shirt! And—and he’s got a tooth missing in front! Just like I had!”
    â€œHe’s six, Mike. Every six-year-old has front teeth missing.”
    â€œTrue. But still, that’s my shirt! Or it used to be. I had one just like that.”
    â€œGiven that Buzz Lightyear is a Disney character, I would wager that there was more than one made in the world.”
    â€œYeah, but—”
    â€œAnd this boy lives in Romania, so—”
    â€œRomania? That’s where my dad is! And that’s where my shirt went! I think.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œYeah, Sasha’s—my friend’s—church collects old clothes and sends them to eastern Europe. The kids’ clothes go to orphanages. That’s my shirt! I mean, think about it, how many Buzz Lightyear T-shirts could there be in eastern Europe?”
    â€œOh, I don’t know . . . hundreds?”
    â€œNo! That one’s probably mine.”
    I heard a gasp from Past. I looked at him. His eyes were wide. Finally, he was seeing the significance. Then he let out a yell. “Look out!”
    He grabbed me and pulled me behind the cart.
    Tyrone came barreling up on the sidewalk near the bench and jerked to a halt.
    I felt Past release his grip. “It’s okay.” He exhaled. “She stopped.”
    â€œThere you are, Mike!” Moo called, getting out of Tyrone. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
    â€œMoo! How did you get gas?”
    Moo clutched Junior and grinned. “I siphoned some out of Poppy’s car. Don’t tell him! But I had good news, so I just had to come find you.” She pulled two envelopes out of Junior’s outside pocket. “Look! My next-door neighbor admitted that she was—uh— borrowing my Oprah magazine that was put in her mailbox by mistake. I can’t blame her. Who doesn’t want to read O ? But then she found our Social Security checks inside the magazine and came running over. So now we can pay the bills! The bank and the electric company are closed, but if we hurry, we might get to the phone company in time and we can talk to them about getting service back.” She turned to Past, who was handing me my Shop ’n Save bag from his cooler. “Would you like to come with us, dear?”
    Past took a step backward. “No. Thanks. Listen, are you sure you should be driving? You look a little . . . tired.”
    Moo glared at him. “Of course I look tired. That’s perfectly normal when you’re old as the hills. Goodness, most people my age are dead!” She grabbed my arm. “Come on, now, Mike, hop