Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by White Jen

Author:White, Jen [White, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780374300852
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Survival Strategy #28:

OREOS CAN BE DANGEROUS, TOO

Now, lost in a den of identical apartment buildings, we crouched behind a Dumpster. I had no idea where we were.

“Billie,” I whispered, pulling her close to me. Her bare foot was cherry-Kool-Aid-colored from all the running. She needed a shoe.

“Shh,” hissed Star Wars Kid, breathing hard. Panic was smeared across his freckled face like peanut butter. Behind the Dumpster everything smelled like dirty diapers. Star Wars Kid was on lookout, but I couldn’t stand staying here a second longer.

“I think they’re gone,” I said, as I stood up.

“No, get down. Sometimes they just pop out of nowhere,” he whispered, pulling me back beside him.

Billie was pale again, only this time the crease between her eyebrows looked like it might slice her in two. “Why are they chasing you?” she asked.

Star Wars Kid shrugged. “Because they can.”

“But what happens if they catch you?”

He whispered, “You don’t want to know.”

Billie’s eyes got even bigger. I was not going to have her get all terrified just because some random Star Wars Kid was in trouble with his punk brother.

I pulled my hand away from him. “We’re leaving.”

“Come on,” I said to Billie.

“No,” he squeaked. “Stop.” Sometimes, animals fake it just to get out of a bad situation. Maybe that’s what Star Wars Kid was doing now. Why did he care if we stayed with him or not? Had he tricked us just to protect himself from his brother?

I grabbed Billie’s hand and walked toward the sidewalk that I thought led back to the gas station. The Spoon Guy had to be gone by now, so we’d just go to the gas station and call Julie.

But Star Wars Kid followed us, creeping along and looking over his shoulder every second. “Okay,” he stammered. “Let’s go to my house. Come on, it’s just around the corner.”

“Look,” I said, turning around to face him. “I don’t know what’s going on with you and your brother, but we’re out of it, okay? Just leave us alone.”

“But—”

“Seriously. I don’t care.” I could not worry about some kid I didn’t even know.

“But if you’re with me, he might not…” The puppy dog look was back.

“Might not what?”

He shrugged. “Never mind,”

“Fine. Whatever,” I said.

He looked offended, then he mumbled superfast, “It’s just he might not pummel me if you guys are witnesses.”

His eyes glistened. He actually looked really scared. Maybe he was telling us the truth.

Billie probably believed him already. She patted his hand like she understood everything. It was not my job to protect him. I couldn’t get involved in this. My job was to look after my sister.

We walked past an old stairwell, the railing splintered and cracked.

“Here,” he said, bounding up the first step. “This is it. This is where I live.” He paused and checked underneath the stairs. He took a deep breath. “It’s fine. I think they’re gone now.” He smoothed his Star Wars T-shirt like it gave him courage.

But of course, I could spy faking it from

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