At lunch, Butter comes to me.
"Dude, we don't have the same lunch," I say. "What are you doing here?"
"Have you heard about Raven?" Alarm raises from his voice.
"What?" I say, jumping from my seat.
"They took him away."
KLABIN!
"Who," I said as my head gets dizzy. I sit back down before I blackout.
"I don't really know. It was a huge group of men, the principal, and Terry."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
"I don't know. That's all I know."
This just went in a whole different direction.
I run out to the front of the school to search for a group of people. I hunt for Terry.
No one.
"Where did they take him?" I scream.
"I am sorry, Dude, I don't know." Butter looks concerned for me. He had followed me out here.
I run to the office and barge into the principal's office. He has a kid sitting across from him.
"Tesla, you are going to have to wait your turn," he says sternly, but I don't care.
"No! You tell me where you took my brother to!"
The principal goes white. "You didn't know?"
"WHERE IS HE?"
Several of the secretaries show up to see what the screaming is about.
The principal stands up. "Sharon, can you excuse us for a moment, then we can finish this conversation." He says to the girl in front of him.
"But we didn't solve it," the eighth grader stammers.
"I know. I know. But this is kind of an emergency," the principal says to her.
"So is mine."
"Nancy," the principal says to the secretary. I can tell he is flustered. "Will you please sit with Sharon until I am done with Tesla?"
"Sure thing," Nancy says as she guides Sharon out of the office. The door closes behind her.
"Where is my brother?" I demand.
"Oh, Tesla. I am sorry I am the one to tell you this. Your father should have told you."
"That man is not my father," I yell through clenched teeth.
"Step-father."
"NOT MY FATHER!"
"Okay, whatever. He has had some great concerns with Raven and his mutism. Your father, I mean Terry, has been able to find an extensive program of the state that will take Raven in and give him all the help and financial means he needs."
"What are you talking about?" I can't follow what he is saying.
"Um, I don't know how to say it differently. Raven is going to a special home."
"So, he isn't coming home with me tonight?" My diaphragm tightens. My breathing speeds up.
The gutless principal looks away. "No. I am sorry."
My stomach tightens.
"Well, when does he come back?"
"He won't, Tesla. This is a permanent placement."
YOU ARE READING
Out of Breath
ParanormalA cold chill passes over me. She is here. She is always here. I haven't fished for two weeks because of her. I don't look over. I don't want to run like a coward anymore. I put my hand under my shirt and rub the garlic necklace I have on. Butter tol...
