B Negative by Vicki Grant

Author:Vicki Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV013060
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2011-05-03T04:00:00+00:00

John Patrick Armstrong

Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class

Blood Type A+.

Chapter Eleven

I don’t let myself think too much yet. That would be a bad idea. I could just be making up problems where none exist.

I sit down. I take a moment. I figure out what to say and how to say it. I call Mom’s office.

“Child Welfare International.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Paddy! What’s up?” She sounds so happy to hear from me. I get a stitch in my side and have to hit it with my fist before I can answer.

“I’m filling out a form for the Army,” I say. “I’ve got your birthdate but I need your blood type.”

“Oh. Well. That’s easy. It’s A.”

I get that stitch again, only twice as bad this time. My eyes sting. I’m glad she can’t see me.

“You’re sure?” I say.

“I’m sure. I give blood once a month…Why would the Army need to know something like that?”

“Well…um…” There’s so much crap on the Internet. How do you know what to believe? What if I’m wrong?

What if I’m right?

Her other line starts ringing while I’m trying to think of something to say.

“Oh, honey, I’ve got to go. It’s crazy here today. Let’s talk when I get back. I’m going to make that pasta you like with the tuna.”

She hangs up. I stand there, still holding the phone. The way I’m looking at it, you’d swear it was a hand grenade with the pin already out.

I’ve got to get out of here. It suddenly doesn’t feel right being in his apartment.

I’m walking out through the living room when I notice the pad of paper on the coffee table.

I should leave him a note. I’ll just say—I don’t know—I came by or something. We can talk later. Maybe I’ll know what to say by then. I pick up the paper.

There’s something written on it.

Dear Paddy,

That’s as far as he got.

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