Peanut Butter and Chaos by Anita Daher

Author:Anita Daher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781773370781
Publisher: Great Plains Publications
Published: 2022-04-14T18:23:01+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Family Tradition

Dad shone a penlight in Sam’s eyes and made him turn his head one way, then the other. He wrote notes on a clipboard. “No change in the pixelated vision?”

There was a big change from the last time Dad checked his eyes, but not the way he meant. His other-world friend sat in Dad’s office chair and swung their legs.

“Nope. Everything’s the same.”

“Okay. That’s good for today. I need to pop by the Institute.” His pixels were vibrating again. “Get your shoes on. It shouldn’t take long.”

“Can I stay here?”

Dad paused before answering while Sam tried not to be distracted by Flum, who hopped off the chair, stood on their tiptoes and peeked at Dad’s clipboard before wandering out of sight down the hall.

“I don’t see why not. Just make sure—”

Whatever Dad was going to tell him was interrupted by a crash from the kitchen. Flum! Dad frowned and followed the noise, Sam at his heels.

“Oh no!” Sam cried. Dory’s favourite platter was in shards on the kitchen floor. Flum had flattened themselves against the wall, looking both guilty and contrite.

“Strange,” Dad said. “I’m sure I left this well back from the counter edge.”

“Maybe an earthquake. Sometimes earthquakes have tremors that travel incredible distances, isn’t that right, Dad?” He was speaking too fast and forced himself to slow down. “Could happen. Right?” He chided himself for not saying train. That would have been more

believable.

There was a softening of the confusion on Dad’s face. “Sam, if there is something you want to tell me, you should. I won’t get mad. Accidents happen.”

He thought it was Sam’s fault. If he tried to deny it, he would only make things worse. Dad knew something was up. Better to let him think it was this.

“But it was Dory’s favourite,” he said.

Dad pulled the broom and dustpan out of the closet.

“Let me do that.” Sam reached for the broom. “I’m sorry. I was looking at it and must have left it too close to the edge. I didn’t mean for it to fall.”

“There is construction going on next door. If the tray was close too the edge, vibrations from equipment might have rattled it over.”

“Construction?”

“The Smiths are renovating. I believe they are turning their spare bedroom into an office, or maybe a sauna. I heard Mrs. Cooper talking about it when I was in buying bread. She didn’t know the details. If the Smiths feel it’s anyone’s business, I expect we’ll hear soon enough.” Dad frowned. “I wouldn’t think they’d use a jackhammer or any large equipment that might cause a vibration.” He shrugged. “But what do I know about construction?”

Thyla’s room! Sam thought with alarm. It had to be. Just one step deeper into the mystery of why no one remembered her, not even her mom and dad. It was as if the universe was tying up loose ends.

Dad bent and picked up a perfectly round piece. It was the pattern!

And it glowed.

So that was weird.

“Do you see that?” Sam asked.

“The pattern? Sure I do.

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