Target by Patrick Jones

Author:Patrick Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group

21

“Frankie, a moment,” Mrs. Howard-Hernandez said as Frankie started to leave the classroom, carefully watching Sofia exit.

After making him wait two days for an answer, Sofia had told him before class, “I won’t go to the party with you, you know, but you can ride with me, Luis, and Jose.” Frankie had daydreamed through class about the party’s possibilities, but the teacher’s words burst his bubble. She motioned for Frankie to sit in the chair next to her book-covered desk.

“About the book you chose for your next project,” Mrs. Howard-Hernandez said. “You can’t do it.”

“Why not?” Frankie expected a “because I said so,” mom-like robot response.

“You’ve already read The Outsiders, many times, you said,” his teacher explained. “For this assignment, I want you to read something new. Something you’re interested in.” Frankie nodded his head every few seconds as the teacher rattled off title after title, describing books that didn’t interest him at all. He had to make her stop.

“Was that movie Hombre a book first?” he asked.

Mrs. Howard-Hernandez smiled briefly at him. “Let’s see.” She typed something on her keyboard as Frankie’s mind wandered again. He had plenty more questions, none of which his teacher, her computer, or her beloved books could answer. How would he get out of being grounded to go to the party? His three-day Riverwood retreat had cost him two full weeks of not leaving home except for school. Well, not leaving home when his mom was awake. When she was asleep, Frankie went about his business, selling smokes by the west-side entrance to his building.

“Good news, Frankie. Hombre was based on a book, and they have it at the library!”

Frankie tried to manage a smile as he realized his next obstacle. After the stunt he’d pulled with the scissors, he thought, even getting his mom to let him go to the library might be tough.

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