The Liberation of Gabriel King by K. L. Going

Author:K. L. Going [Going, K. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781101657539
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2007-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

CORPSES AND DOBERMANS

FRITA WAS REAL SORE AT ME AFTER THAT—DESPITE THE REAL NICE funeral we held in her backyard. She didn’t call me on the phone or ask me to come over for two whole days, and when we finally did get together, it was another day and a half before things were back to normal. Only they weren’t exactly back to normal. Frita didn’t mention our lists again once. Not even when I told her I’d crossed off number twenty-three since she’d forgiven me.

Life was strained. Summer was at its peak—you couldn’t move an inch without breaking a sweat—and there’s nothing worse than suffering in the heat while your best friend is sore at you. The only saving grace was the Bicentennial. It was on its way and we were real excited.

The last week of June, me and Frita met up in Hollowell to get ice cream cones. I’d saved up my allowance every day since I’d squished the centipede, so it was my treat. Frita got a strawberry cone and I got a vanilla one and we sat on the lawn in front of the town hall to eat them. That was a good spot because you could listen in on everyone’s conversations.

“You got those fireworks set for the Fourth, Joe?”

“How about those sparklers for the kids?”

“Who’s in charge of the parade floats this year?”

Everyone had something to say, and it was fun listening to them with ice cream dripping down your chin. At least, it was fun until Duke and his pop pulled up in their old monster truck. I’d been trying not to think about Duke all summer, but now I remembered him right quick.

“Let’s go,” I said to Frita, but she stayed put.

“They’re not gonna chase me away,” she said. She was pretending to be brave, but I noticed how she watched real careful while Mr. Evans climbed out of the truck. Duke climbed out after him and said something to his pop. Then he glared at me and Frita, but she glared straight back. Mr. Evans glanced over at us but he didn’t say anything. He just kept walking to the general store.

“See?” said Frita. “That wasn’t so bad.” But I wondered who she was trying to convince—me or herself. I was glad Mr. Evans hadn’t called Frita any names again, but I didn’t want to stick around until they came back.

“C’mon,” I said. “Let’s go back to my house and make another obstacle course.”

I tried to pull Frita up with me, but she didn’t budge. Her eyes narrowed into slits like she was getting an idea. Then they started to sparkle again. I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Only thing I knew for certain was it meant trouble.

“I got a better idea,” Frita said.

“What?” I asked, real suspicious. I sure hoped it didn’t involve bugs.

Frita’s chin jutted out like it did when she got something in her head she was going to be stubborn about. “Gabe,” she said, “it’s time to do some liberatin’.

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