Donut Days by Lara Zielin

Author:Lara Zielin
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA), Inc.

I had finally brushed my teeth and now, with coffees in our hands, Jake and I took our time as we wove our way back to the Harleys. Some of the grills were fired up, and the smell of frying bacon and sausages wafted toward us.

A donager approached us, holding a clipboard. “You all registered for the prizes we’re giving away?” he asked. He had bushy sideburns all the way down to his chin, and I noticed his knuckles had hair on them too.

“No, thanks,” I said. “We’re just here for the, um, ambience.”

“Fair enough,” said the donager, tipping his white hat at us. “Have a good morning.”

“Thanks,” said Jake, and the donager moved on.

We continued walking side by side for a bit, not really saying anything but still comfortable. It was so easy just to be next to Jake. I hope we’re past all the weirdness, I thought. We make such good friends.

The feeling lasted for about three seconds, until I saw a girl around my age—but with long, dark hair and the shortest shorts ever—eyeing Jake hungrily. Jealousy flared inside me unexpectedly.

“What’s wrong?” asked Jake. “You look funny.”

“Uh, I was just thinking about what we should do about those documents you found.” I wiped my forehead, which suddenly felt warm.

Jake ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah. That. I gotta say, I’m a little stumped too.”

The dew in the field was making my toes wet. I looked down at my sandals, which were dark with moisture. “We could send the information to my dad anonymously, maybe,” I offered. “He wouldn’t have to know where it came from.”

Jake reached out to pat a dog that had trotted up to us. The dog panted happily, then continued on. I heard a small girl’s voice in the distance call, “Buster! Come!”

“I just don’t know how we’re going to get the information to your dad anonymously, yet still have him get it in time to influence the board’s decision,” Jake said. “I mean, we could stick an envelope under his windshield or something, but who’s to say he’ll actually read it? And I don’t think we can tip him off to it without giving ourselves away.”

I nodded. Jake was right, plus planting the information anonymously seemed cowardly. I didn’t want to say that out loud, though. I knew Jake was wrestling with the fact that he wanted to tell the truth, but he didn’t want to hurt his family either. I could respect how tough that was.

“I guess we could just sit on it and hope the board does the right thing,” I said. “It’s pretty passive, but we could always revisit this after they decide about my mom. You know?”

Jake looked off into the distance, to where the tops of the trees met the bright blue sky. “I guess,” he said. He exhaled. “Then again, maybe we should take a risk on this one. I mean, your mom has taken risks. She’s gone up to the pulpit every Friday all summer long and given her sermons, and she hasn’t backed down once.

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