Journey of Hope by Lurlene McDaniel

Author:Lurlene McDaniel [McDaniel, Lurlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-53349-4
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2014-08-20T00:00:00+00:00

2

“Why are you acting antisocial today, Amber?”

Amber raised her eyes from the mush on her food tray and looked at Dylan Simms. “I’m in the dumps and didn’t want to inflict myself on anybody else.”

“I’m your guy remember? You’re supposed to tell me when you’ve got a problem.” Dylan slid into the empty chair beside Amber at the table she’d chosen on the far side of the cafeteria. “So, did you and your old man go at it again?”

Amber stuck her fork upright into her mound of mashed potatoes. “Believe it or not, I got into it with Heather yesterday afternoon.”

“Your sister? The Queen of Good-Deed-Doers?”

“Hey, show some respect.”

Dylan held up his hands. “Sorry. It’s just a surprise, that’s all. You’ve only spoken of her in worshipful tones until now.”

Amber made a face. “Do you want me to talk about it, or do you want me to dump my tray in your lap?”

“Talk. Please. I can’t do this menu twice today.” He rested his chin in his palm.

“We had a big fight, and she must have been really angry because she didn’t come downstairs for dinner. She was asleep when I left for school, but I’m positive she’s still mad at me.”

“What happened?”

“You know how I’ve told you what a hard time she’s having coming back to her real life from Africa.” Dylan nodded. “Well, she had been doing better, but then yesterday she got this letter from the missionaries she lived with over there and it set her off again. She’s totally fixated on that little baby she helped get out of Sudan. She acts as if unless she does something personally to help the baby, the baby will die. And if the baby dies, Heather’s going to feel as if it’s all her fault.”

“And you said …?”

“I told her to get over it. There was nothing more she could do. It was time for someone else to take over the project. She wants Mom or Dad to drop everything and zip over to Africa and operate on the baby—which neither one can do. Heather’s sore at me because I actually see their side. I know she thinks I’m insensitive. I’m not, but there’s only so much one person can do. She’s got to realize that she can’t fix everything that’s wrong.”

“You’ve always told me the two of you were different.”

“I don’t want to go out and save the world like she does. I know my limits.”

“Her thing isn’t your thing. And that’s why I love you—you’re fun. We have fun together. Blow off your funk, girl. I’ll take you out tonight. That’ll make you feel better.”

“You know Dad won’t let me date on a school night.”

“So sneak out. You have before.”

Amber sent him a sideways glance. She could tell by his expression that he had lost interest in her problems. “I don’t want to sneak out. I want to get things right with my sister.”

She watched Dylan’s gaze drift toward a group of his baseball buddies coming through the door.

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