Across the Maps

Chapter 17

He sits there silently, looking at the ground, his brow creased and his face sad.

"When?" I ask, my voice almost inaudible.

"A week," he answers. A week! No! He can't leave. He can't. I can feel tears welling up in my eyes and I try to hold them in, but I feel a single tear rolling down my cheek.

Wiping it off, I ask. "Where are you moving?"

"California," his voice is barely a whisper. I wince. California is so far away.

"I don't want to leave," he whimpers, his voice sounds broken and shattered and it tears my heart.

"Why not?" I ask quietly. "I thought you said you didn't have friends here."

"I don't. Well I mean besides you. But it's just going to be such a big change. And I don't think I'm ready to go to California."

"You might like it there," I suggest.

"Maybe," he says. "But I don't want to go."

"Why are you even moving?" I ask.

"My Dad got offered a huge job there in landscaping. He'll make triple the money he does now. It's a job he can't pass up." His voice gets quieter with every word he says. "That's why I had to help my Dad today. Tomorrow we start packing and on Friday we move."

I can here the sadness, the anger, but mostly the hurt in his voice. Finally I crack. I feel tears run down my cheeks like a flowing river.

I turn to face him and out of my blurry vision, I see Cole, tears streaming down his face. He doesn't even try to wipe them away.

"You really don't want to leave," I ask. "Do you?"

He shakes his head, his messy hair flopping around. "No. I don't want to go. I just wish there was a way I could stay here."

Then my eyes light up as an idea comes to my head, but I shrug it off because the idea is so ludicrous.

"We should head back," he says, setting the plates and everything back into the basket.

"Yeah," my voice sounds distant and far away.

We stand up and start walking back, neither one of us speaking one word. When we get back, my parents and Cole's dad are all talking in our driveway.

Coles Dad is a little taller than Cole and has a lighter hair, but his eyes are just as green. He runs a hand through his muddled hair and smiles, showing almost prefect white teeth.

"We better start packing," Cole's dad says to him. His voice is low and deep and he has a slight accent.

"Dad," he pauses for a second. "I don't really want to move."

"I know son, but you can't stay here."

"Yes he can," I interrupt, hopeful. "He can stay with us. I mean we have enough room." I gesture to our large house. I turn to Mom and Dad and beg them. "Please."

"Mom, Dad, please," I plead, my voice insistent.

"I don't know sweetie," Mom says.

"We have enough room and he won't be trouble. Please!" They think about it for a while, exchanging glances. "He doesn't want to go to California. He wants to stay here in Texas."

"Well," Dad says, hesitantly. "I guess as long as he helps out. But he will have to transfer to your school. But as long as his dad agrees, it's fine with us."

Everyone turns to face Cole's father, who looks shocked. "Um...well... I really wanted you to go to California with me and your mom, but if you really want to stay here, then you can."

Cole's eyes light up and he hugs his dad tightly. "Thanks Dad," he says.

"Your welcome son," his father replies, patting him on his back.

And just like that, it was settled. Cole is going to live with us.

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