Sewer Rats by Sigmund Brouwer

Author:Sigmund Brouwer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2006-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

chapter ten

Yesterday’s wind had become colder. Low dark clouds hung heavy. There was nothing to enjoy about our bike ride to Lisa’s house. Not the weather. Not what Micky and I knew we had to ask her.

Lisa’s mother answered the door of their small house.

“Good afternoon,” she said. Mrs. Chambers pushed some hair from her face. She was blond like Lisa, but her face was tired. “You two aren’t here for paintball or anything, are you?”

“No, ma’am,” Micky said.

“Good,” Mrs. Chambers said. “I have a hard time keeping her out of trouble.”

“Is Lisa home?” Micky asked. “We just want to talk to her.”

“In her bedroom, I think,” Mrs. Chambers said. “I’ll go get her. Meet me in the kitchen. I’ll see if I can find you something to eat.”

She gave us a smile, a tired one, but still a smile. “Don’t think I’m upset with you about yesterday. You two are good guys. And I understand kids trying to have fun. I’m just glad you promised not to go into the sewer tunnels from now on.”

We nodded as we stepped past her into the house.

“How’s that boy who was hurt?” she asked.

“He’s all right,” Micky said. “He’s got an eye patch, but the doctors say it will be off soon.”

She smiled a grown-up smile. “That’s good. I’ll get Lisa.”

Micky and I waited in the kitchen as Mrs. Chambers went to get Lisa. We sat at the table. Lisa got there a few seconds later, with Mrs. Chambers behind her.

“What,” Lisa said.

Not hello or how are you. But that was Lisa.

“We need to talk,” Micky said.

“No, we don’t,” Lisa said.

“Yes, we do,” Micky said.

Mrs. Chambers coughed.

“Mom,” Lisa said, “it’s okay. People don’t have to talk nice to each other all the time. That’s pretending. You know I don’t like pretending.”

“Do you want me to stay?” Mrs. Chambers asked her.

“It’s fine with me,” Lisa said. “I have nothing to hide.”

“What about the way that you set Carter up to get blasted in the tunnel?” Micky said. “Think we wouldn’t figure it out?”

“Go away,” she told us.

I had hoped Lisa would frown the way she frowned in class when she couldn’t figure out an answer. I had hoped she wouldn’t know what Micky was talking about.

But this sounded like she knew exactly what Micky meant.

“Why do you hate him so much?” Micky asked. “He’s a good guy.”

“Go away,” Lisa said.

“No,” Micky said, “not until I have an answer.”

“How’s this?” Lisa pushed Micky in the chest.

Then she turned and ran out of the kitchen. A few seconds later, we heard the front door slam.

“Lisa!” Mrs. Chambers said. “Lisa!”

She ran after her daughter.

“Wow,” I said, “that wasn’t exactly what I expected.”

“No,” Micky said, “but I’d say it proves she set up Carter, doesn’t it?”

“But why?” I asked. “He just moved to town. Why would she hate him so much?”

A half-second later I stood up. I pointed at the fridge behind Micky’s shoulder.

“I think,” I said, “I may have the answer.”

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