The Set Up by Kim Karr

Author:Kim Karr [Karr, Kim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Set Up
Publisher: Kim Karr
Published: 2016-08-06T04:00:00+00:00

Mr. Storm and one of his friends are unloading a small car from the back of his truck.

“Wow, what’s that?” I ask through the fence.

“It’s my new go-cart.” Jasper comes running over to the fence and opens the part that is broken. “Come see it.”

I glance back at the house. My dad is at work and my mother and Mr. Worth are inside. Tory is playing on our swing set and I’m under strict orders to watch her, and that means not leaving the yard.

“Come on, Charlie,” Jasper says. “Really fast. She won’t know.”

I look around. “Okay.”

Mr. Storm puts his hand on Jasper’s mop of brown hair and squats down. “Hi, Charlotte, want to sit inside it?”

“Can I?”

“Of course you can.”

I look at Jasper. He nods. “Don’t be afraid. It’s fun.”

So I do. I sit in it. I turn the wheel. I pretend I’m driving it.

Mr. Storm’s friend approaches. “Now listen, Jasper, some advice,” he says. “After a few laps, you’re going to want to hustle and go flat-out. Don’t. Full power, flicking the car like a demented rally driver, is exciting, but it really slows you down. Carting is a game of momentum, where the guy who lifts slightly to avoid sliding, and has silky-smooth steering, will be the fastest.”

Jasper’s face is lit up like a Christmas tree. “I can’t wait to try it out on the track. Thank you, Mr. Harvey.”

“You’re welcome. My son doesn’t use it anymore, so I figure why not let someone share in the fun? When you’re done with it, give to someone you know who will love it too.”

Jasper looks at me. “I’ll give it to you,” he mouths.

“Charlotte! I’m telling my daddy you left me alone.”

Tory is only five, but she likes to get me in trouble. I hop out of the cart and rush for her. “No, Tory, don’t! I’m coming back right now.”

She’s heading toward the back door.

I run faster and faster, but when I try to open the spot in the fence that’s broken my foot gets caught and I fall.

Jasper rushes over to me.

I look at him. “If Tory tells my mother, she’s going to lock me in the closet again.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“How?”

“Hey, Tory!” he yells.

She turns around.

“Want to sit in my new go-cart?”

She eyes him.

“It’s really fun.”

Instead of turning the screen door handle, she turns around and walks toward Jasper.

“Thank you,” I mouth.

He pulls me to my feet and holds the fence open for Tory.

Once she’s sitting in the go-cart, Jasper looks down at her. “You know, Tory, if you tell Mrs. Lane that Charlotte left the yard, Charlotte will have to tell her that you left the yard too, and you will both be in big trouble.”

“Oh, I won’t tell,” she says.

Again, I look at Jasper and mouth, “Thank you.”

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