Scattered Leaves (Early Spring 2)

Great-aunt Frances tasted them and smiled. "They're perfect. dear. Thank you," she said.

"We'll just have our breakfast and come up to see you before we leave." Alanis told her quickly and hustled me out of the bedroom. "Chad better not be late," she said when we reentered the kitchen. She made us some toast and jam and put up some coffee for herself.

I told her I never drank coffee. "My

grandmother said young people shouldn't drink it."

"You drank booze and alcopops, Jordan. You can drink coffee, believe me." she said and poured me some. I tried it but I didn't care for it. Like Great-aunt Frances. I preferred the hot chocolate.

"You better stay down here." she told me afterward. "I'll see to Great-aunt Frances. She's liable to start asking too many questions and you won't know what to say or she'll see right through that glass face of yours."

Soon after, she returned with the tray and told me Great-aunt Frances hadn't even gotten out of bed vet.

"Let's get going," she said. "We'll wait for Chad out on the driveway. I don't want to take any chances."

I followed her out. She was worried that her granddad hadn't left for the store yet, but his car was gone.

"All systems are go," she told me. "As long as Chad shows," she added.

We went down to the end of the driveway.

"Why are we going to see Toby DeMarco again?"

"It's a mystery, Jordan. Don't you want to solve it? It's more fun than sitting around watching your great-aunt fall asleep in the Eying room or reading your brother's nutty letters."

"They're not nutty."

"Whatever," she said. "I'd rather do this than think about my mother anyway," she added and kicked a stone down the road. Of all the reasons she gave. I thought that was the most important for her. We both looked at the oncoming traffic.

Above us, a hazy morning sky sprinkled sunlight like light rain on the surrounding fields and forest. There was a nice breeze. but I could feel the underbelly of the oncoming cool fall. A few leaves from older trees let go of branches and drifted lazily toward the around.

Alanis paced impatiently, her arms embracing herself. She glared at the traffic, anger at every car that wasn't Chad's. She was still in a very bad mood because of what her mother had done. I wanted to suggest that if her mother had done this before and retur

ned, maybe she would again, but I was afraid to say anything. I looked back at the house. Maybe a new letter would come from Ian today. I thought. Maybe my father would call again. Maybe I shouldn't leave.

"Here he comes." Alanis announced before I could change my mind.

A dark blue Mustang sped around the far turn. We could hear the thump, thump of the rap music. Chad deliberately sped up, then hit the brakes in front of us.

"Hey, girls," he said, leaning out his window, "Going my way?"

"Get in," Alanis told me and hurried around to open the passenger side door. I hesitated for a moment, then slipped into the backseat. "Go, before my granddad returns," Alanis ordered him.

"Yes, ma'am," he said and accelerated so fast that the wheels squealed. "Where we going in Johnsville anyway?" he asked after a few moments.

"Just drive. I'll tell you when we get there."

"It better be worth it," he said.

She dug out a twenty-dollar bill from her pocket and tossed it into his lap.

"Gas money," she said.

"Okay. but I'm not talking about money, Alanis." he said. smiling. "I deserve more than money."

Don't worry, you'll get more than you deserve." she told him.

"Well, why can't you tell me where we're going in Johnsville?"