Spineless by Samantha San Miguel

Author:Samantha San Miguel [San Miguel, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Published: 2022-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

THE NEXT MORNING, Algie tiptoed through the door joining his room to Everett’s. A pajama-clad arm dangled from a snoring lump of covers.

“Everett,” Algie whispered. His brother had been avoiding him, but Algie hoped time had cooled him off. He needed advice.

The lump snored louder.

“Everett!” Algie shook the lump and jumped back. Experience had taught him to stay out of range when his brother was rousted from sleep.

Everett sat up, bleary-eyed and bristling. “You’d better be here to tell me the hotel’s on fire.”

“Worse.” Algie climbed onto the bed and crossed his legs. “I got in a fight with the Davenport girls.”

“You should have given me a warning. I would have put money on them.”

“It wasn’t a fistfight.” Algie scowled. “I said something Frankie—Francisca—didn’t agree with, and she jumped all over me.”

“Who does that sound like?”

“How long are you going to stay mad?” Algie demanded. “I’ll say I’m sorry if you want. What more do you expect?”

“Why does it matter what I expect? After all, I’m a traitor who doesn’t care about you.”

Yanking the covers from beneath Algie, Everett disappeared into the bathroom and slammed the door. The sound of the running bathtub reverberated beneath.

Algie stared at the closed door, trying to remember their last conversation. Had he said that to Everett? Yes, but—he’d been angry.

You could have been nicer, said the voice in his head that forced him to face things he rather wouldn’t. You didn’t have to say it like that.

Algie considered. Arguing with Frankie last night had given him perspective on how Everett might have felt when Algie attacked him. Yes, they disagreed over Professor Champion’s plume-hunting. But no matter what either of them said to the contrary, Algie knew his brother cared about him. He’d said what was untrue to try to hurt Everett. Well, it had worked. A wash of unhappiness engulfed him.

Everett’s voice issued with a cloud of steam beneath the bathroom door.

“Aside from fighting with the Davenports, are you staying out of trouble like I told you to?”

Algie thought of almost drowning in the alligator’s jaws yesterday. Sure, Everett cared about him—but not enough to spend time with him. He left the room without answering.

Stomping back into his own room, Algie yanked on his day clothes and jerked open the hall door. He fell over Frankie sitting in front of it.

“I’m sorry for last night.” She snapped her book shut. “I knew you were right, but it was easier to get mad at you. And you were right that my theory about Professor Champion letting loose a monster was a bunch of hogwash.”

“Excuse me?” Algie tried to wrap his mind around this new situation.

“I already apologized. Don’t make me do it again. Here, I brought you this.”

She handed him a leather explorer’s rucksack, bristling with straps and buckles.

Algie took it in astonishment. The leather was new and scratch-free. Inside was a waxed canvas dry bag, a field notebook with attached waterproof pencil, and a heavy brass cylinder.

“You’re giving me your flashlight?” He hefted it in his hand.

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