The Year of the Storm by John Mantooth Read Free Book Online Page A

language.” She turned to Tina. “You have the floor, Miss Bray.”
    Tina stood up. “Thanks. Well, a lot of things are more important than diagramming stupid sentences, but this one is especially important. Meredith was just trying to spread the word that her ten-year-old cousin is missing. Has been missing since Saturday night, as a matter of fact. Considering today is Tuesday, this is a heck of a lot more important than your brainless sentences.”
    A lot of things might have happened after that. I’m sure they probably did. I heard later that Mrs. Harris almost had a come-apart. She gritted her teeth and broke her ink pen. She gave Tina a look so evil that a month later when Tina herself went missing, people actually muttered about Mrs. Harris being a suspect. Truth was, I didn’t notice anything at that moment except Seth. Seth broke. Right in front of us all, though I’m sure nobody else was watching, being too preoccupied with Tina and Mrs. Harris.
    He started by shaking his head, slowly, side to side. It was like he refused to believe what he’d heard. His mouth dropped open and just hung there, slack. He groaned and closed his eyes. He was gone, his eyes vacant, as he dropped his head to his desk. He didn’t move until the bell rang.
    After school, I followed Seth to the park downtown. I realized this was the second time I’d followed him. I hoped this one turned out better than the first.
    â€”
    T he park was already getting dark. Phillips Park. It’s still there, just nobody goes anymore and the swings are all rusty. Truth is, they were rusty back then too, and on this particular day it was pretty much empty. It was the perfect place for Seth to go.
    I found him huddled under a dogwood tree, arms wrapped over his knees. Damned if he wasn’t shaking.
    I sat down beside him and didn’t say a word. He knew I was there but didn’t look at me.
    I waited for him to stop crying and said, “This is the second time I’ve chased you down.”
    He didn’t even look at me.
    â€œYou know, you never even said thank you.”
    He shook his head. “You shouldn’t have bothered, but thanks.”
    I shrugged. “You’re welcome. Jake and Ronnie don’t like new kids. That’s all.”
    Seth let out a sad kind of laugh. “Is that all? Jesus, they tried to murder me.”
    There was an awkward pause. I didn’t know what to say.
    â€œYou should have died that day,” I said finally. “How’d you stay under so long? You were sunk for a good four minutes.”
    He brushed his long bangs out of his face. “Is that what you followed me down here for?”
    â€œNot really, but I do wonder. I mean, that night, after it all happened, I filled the sink up with water and, you know, tried it. I barely lasted two minutes.”
    â€œThat’s a good way to die.”
    I didn’t respond, and I think he realized he’d hit pretty close to home.
    â€œYou were probably thinking on the bad stuff. The way your lungs ached. How bad it hurt. That sort of thing.”
    I shrugged. “Nothing else to think about. You don’t have much choice.”
    â€œI’ve got this thing,” he said. “It’s something I’ve learned. You go somewhere else. You know, inside. Once you do that, there’s nothing you can’t endure.” He smiled weakly, and I wasn’t sure if he believed his own words.
    â€œI’m not following.”
    He plucked some grass and tossed it out in front of him. “You train yourself after a while to think about positive things. Here, let me show you.” He reached out and grabbed the fat of my arm between his thumb and forefinger, pinching so hard I jerked away.
    â€œOw! What was that for?”
    â€œTo show you. All you thought about was the pain. You let it overwhelm everything else. Now, think about something that makes you really