The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper Read Free Book Online Page B

was. He felt like he didn’t deserve it for some reason. “I don’t hear them arguing downstairs anymore. We’d better go check and make sure everybody is still alive,” he suggested. He headed with Arielle toward the basement.
    â€œNice playing down there, Jericho!” Josh’s mother yelled from an upstairs bedroom. “You must have some new inspiration with you tonight!”
    â€œThanks, Aunt Marlene!” Jericho yelled back. He didn’t answer the second part.
    When they got downstairs, Josh and November were cuddled together on the sofa, obviously no longer angry with each other. Dana sat by the CD player in one corner, earphones on her head, pointedly ignoring Kofi, who sat in the farthest corner of the basement, playing a video game with unnecessary fierceness.
    â€œI better get home, Dana,” Arielle said, tapping her on the shoulder. “Can you drop me off at my house?”
    â€œYeah, let’s raise up out of here. I’ve had enough of these little boys.”
    â€œI had a good time,” Arielle said quietly, glancing at Jericho as she said it.
    Kofi never stopped playing the video game, never even acknowledged that anyone else was in the room. Dana continued to ignore him as well.
    After Dana and Arielle left, Jericho called his dad to pick him up, and asked if he could take Kofi and November home too. Then he went back upstairs and played a series of soft, sweet melodies on his trumpet in the living room while the fire died in the fireplace.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8
    THE SCHOOL DAY ON MONDAY SEEMED TO drag on forever. Jericho kept checking the time, hoping the loud clicking of the classroom clocks and droning voices of his teachers would move into fast forward. When the last bell finally rang at three o’clock, Jericho grabbed his book bag, hurried to where he knew Arielle’s locker was located, and grinned as she looked at him with pleasant expectation. They walked quickly to the warehouse, which was only a couple of blocks from the school.
    Jericho shivered a bit—partly from the excitement, partly from the weather, and partly because Arielle was walking so close to him. Jericho knocked and the door opened immediately. Michael Madison, one of the Warriors who had come to their table last week, smiled and offered his hand. No one ever called him Michael. He was called simply “Madison” by students and teachers alike, “Mad Madison”behind his back because he always looked angry. But he didn’t look angry now.
    â€œWelcome!” he said. “Let me introduce you to everyone.” Madison’s head was shaved completely bald, which made him look stark and serious, but he seemed to be trying to make everyone feel welcome.
    Josh and November arrived a few minutes later, followed by Kofi, who came alone. From what Jericho could tell, about ten of the people in the room were members of the Warriors of Distinction. Another ten were guys he recognized from the meeting last week, and he guessed the girls who were with them were their guests. Mr. Culligan hovered in the background; the Warriors seemed to know what they were doing.
    When everyone had arrived, Madison climbed on a table and spoke to the group. “We’re glad you’re here. This afternoon, and the rest of the days we meet here until Christmas, we’ll be sorting, wrapping, and later, delivering these toys.” He pointed to what seemed like a mountain of toys behind him.
    In one corner of the room a scraggly Christmas tree leaned against a wall. “Over there,” Madison explained, “is the tree we will be giving to an orphanage. All the ornaments are donated.” He laughed for no apparent reason then, and the other members of the Warriors laughed with him. Jericho couldn’t see what was so funny.
    Just then Dana walked in, dressed in black leather pants and jacket, and leaned against a wall. She did not look at Kofi and she spoke to no