The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price by Jennifer Maschari

Author:Jennifer Maschari
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-12-23T16:00:00+00:00

FOREVER

The words echoed in Charlie’s head. I want to stay here forever.

Mom had stood there quietly this whole time, a little smile on her face, but at Imogen’s words, she leaned in. “Oh, that would be wonderful,” she said slowly, as if she were considering the idea. “I’ve missed you so much, Imogen!” She put her hand on Imogen’s head. Imogen only held on to Mom’s waist tighter.

Another alarm sounded in Charlie’s head. There was nothing right about this. Before Mom had died, she had asked Charlie and Imogen to take care of Dad and to take care of each other. She wouldn’t want to separate them. She wouldn’t want them to leave Dad and everything else they loved forever.

Charlie mustered up every bit of courage he had and said, “You are not Mom.”

“Charlie!” Imogen said. “That is not very nice. Of course it’s Mom.”

Mom ignored his accusation. “I’d love for you to stay down here, too, Charlie. We can all be one happy family again.”

Charlie shot forward. “NO!” He grabbed Imogen’s other hand and pulled her up, away from Mom. Imogen tried to yank her arm away again, but Charlie held tight. “Something is going on here that is not normal, and we need to get out.”

“But what about our memories, Charlie?” Mom took a step toward him. “Don’t you want to relive them here with me?”

“I do!” Imogen said. She reared back and kicked Charlie in the shin. Charlie stumbled back but managed to keep a grip on her arm. Imogen bucked like a wild pony. “You’re hurting me, Charlie!” she said through gritted teeth.

He pulled her out of the family room. Her heels dragged on the carpet, and she let her body go limp. Man, she was heavy when she wanted to be.

“Charlie?” Mom tried again.

For a moment, Charlie stopped. He loved Mom. He missed Mom. But then his gaze settled on the hallway. And the pictures. And everything this world had subtracted out.

On the hardest problem of his life, Charlie was finally ready to buzz in. Mom was trying to subtract Imogen and Charlie out from the real world.

She must have seen something change in his face, because her mouth became a thin line and her eyes narrowed and now Mom didn’t even look like Mom anymore.

Imogen’s fists continued to rain down on his chest, and he braced himself for another kick to the shin. “I’m not going with you!” Mom now stood in the corner watching them, arms folded over her chest, silent.

“Imogen, please,” he said. Beads of sweat formed across his brow. “We have to go now.”

For a second, he wondered why this was so easy. Sure, he’d have nasty black-and-blue marks down his legs tomorrow morning, but Imogen was the only one putting up a fight. He’d have to think about it later. Right now, he had to get her out.

His hand encircled the doorknob of Imogen’s bedroom just as her fist connected with his ear. His head vibrated like a struck bell. The only relief came from the fact that the hatch was near.

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