Crash Test Dummy

Chapter 9

I changed and hurried downstairs. When I went in the kitchen to grab eats to take to F2, Momz was there.

"I made chocolate chip cookies. Did you get the letter from your Dad?"

"Yeah." I scowled. "He won't tell me where to find the key to the Blue Ox."

"Well, that's a good thing. You couldn't ride it if you had the key. You can't get licensed for a bike until you're 18. And.."

I interrupted. "And you don't want me riding one, I know. You made that clear plenty of times. I just didn't understand that you thought a bike came between you and Popz until you showed me the book with all the pictures of him on the Blue Ox."

"The bike wasn't what split us up. It was just a symptom of the problems we were having."

"Whatever. I know how you feel and for whatever reason Popz is supporting you." I grabbed a hand full of cookies. "I'm going out to my crib. That's a man cave to you old folks."

"Did you do your homework?"

"I did it while I was tutoring my homies." I intentionally threw in the slang for friends because I knew it would get her goat. She still wasn't sure if she wanted Jake and Marlow to be my homies, so I was rubbing her face in it. "Do you want me to get it out of my backpack and show you?"

"No, Wa... um, CW. You don't have to show me. I've always believed you before. I don't plan to stop now unless you give me reason to."

"So getting drunk and graffiting your world wasn't reason enough?"

"Well, at least you were being honest about your feelings."

"I suppose. Anyway, I'm outta here."

"Keep your phone on. I'll text you when the lasagna is ready."

"10-4."

I took my laptop out to F2. I logged in and played around on a few sites, but I wasn't into it. I was still bummed about the letter from Popz.

I finally got out the manual for the scroll saw. There were some pieces of board laying around. I thought maybe I could make something for Popz. He said he made me something. Uncle Clarence would have to tell me how to get it to him. He said he couldn't take anything in, but evidently he could bring stuff out if Popz made me something and was going to send it with Unk.

Uncle Clarence! It had totally slipped my mind that he was going to see Popz, like yesterday. With all the drama at school, I'd totally forgotten. I texted him. "rut (are you there)?"

I didn't get an answer. I was sure I told him to call after he saw Popz. Maybe he could shed some light on Popz letter.

I typed in "cm (call me)," and went back to the saw.

I fooled around for a while, learning how to get the saw to do what I wanted it to. It wasn't all that easy. I finally did manage to make the letter P. My plan had been to do Paul, but I kept messing up. I decided the P would do for now. It could stand for Popz or Paul. I sanded it and stained it with a sort of honey colored stain I found with the paints. I had just finished when my phone dinged. I grabbed it, hoping it was Uncle Clarence. It was Momz. "Come eat."

I went in and made nice, but as soon as I could, I took my plate to the dishwasher and headed up to my room. I sent Uncle Clarence another message. This time I got a reply. "not home - work thing-plans 2m (tomorrow) - ttu (talk to you) Sunday."

"Unk is getting old," I thought. "He needs dashes in his texts. At least he didn't spell all the words out and put in punctuation, like Momz."

I wasn't getting help from him any time soon. I took the letter out and read it again, hoping maybe I'd got it wrong the first time. I hadn't. It still sounded like my old man was on Momz side. I put it away and picked up the fantasy novel I was reading. I was in another world when Momz knocked on my door and hollered night.