Finders Keepers by Melanie McFarlane

Author:Melanie McFarlane [McFarlane, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459827714
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2020-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Back at the lookout, Mom waited in front of the Jeep. Her hands were on her hips, and she was frowning. But with each step I took, I felt the piece of shell rubbing against my leg. This had been all worth it.

“Get in the Jeep,” Mom said. She talked to Mark for a few minutes.

I slipped into the back seat. Sam was already in the middle, and Bug was on his other side.

“What happened?” Bug asked. “Mom is really mad at you.”

“I found the missing piece,” I said, pulling it from my pocket and handing it over to Bug.

“You went treasure hunting?” he stammered. “Without me?”

“You wanted to go birding,” I said.

“But I thought I was part of your team,” Bug said, his lips trembling.

“You are,” I said, but Bug scowled and looked out his window.

Sighing, I put the shell back in my pocket. Mom’s door opened, and I braced myself for her questions.

“Macy,” she said as she climbed in. “What were you thinking?”

“We found the hole in the fence,” I said. “I just wanted to see it.”

“But I told you to stay away from there,” she said. “And why were you in that van? Don’t you know that’s trespassing?”

“What do you mean?” I argued. “That van must belong to the vandals. You should be happy. I figured out who wrecked the fence.”

Mom shook her head and turned to face me. “No, Macy, I am not happy. We don’t know that the van and the vandalism are connected. But climbing into the van was very reckless of you. Not only did you put yourself in danger, but Sam too. What if the owner of that van had been in it? What if he’d gotten mad—or worse? You really gave me quite a fright.”

I looked away. I wished I could tell Mom about MerKay, the Beast and the shell, but I had sworn on my handbook that I would not. Even if I hadn’t, Mom would never believe me now.

Mom continued. “I don’t know what to do with you except ground you.”

“What?” I cried. “For how long?”

“One week. I want you to remember that when I tell you not to do something, I mean it.”

“A week?” I said. “That’s not fair! Summer is almost over.”

“Well, maybe next time you will listen to me.” Mom turned away and started the Jeep.

On the drive home I considered sneaking out that night after everyone had fallen asleep and letting Joy and MerKay know I had the missing piece. But if Mom caught me, what other awful punishment would she give me? Clean the public toilets? Shovel bison poop? Ground me for the rest of summer?

A darker thought occurred to me too. What if I kept the shell? Then would I be in control of MerKay? I shook my head. I’d sworn on my book to protect her. A deal was a deal. MerKay needed the shell.

Bug was still mad at me, but I needed his help.

“Bug,” I whispered, “take this.” I pulled the shell from my pocket and poked it into his side.

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