The Unexpected by K.A. Applegate

Author:K.A. Applegate
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2017-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

“AAAHHH!”

“AAAHHH!”

“Gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.”

I screamed.

He screamed.

His dog flattened himself against the ground in front of his master and let out a low growl.

I crept backward in the dirt.

“It’s okay, Tjala.” The kid reached out to scratch the dog’s neck. He glanced up at me, then lowered his eyes. “He won’t bite you,” he said.

The kid was about my age, maybe older. It was hard to tell in the moonlight. He’d been sitting between a big rock and a clump of bushes, and I’d practically landed in his lap when I’d climbed out of the ravine. His skin was dark, darker than mine. He dissolved into the night shadows.

I glanced around. What else was lurking in the dark?

“No worries,” he said. “We are alone.”

I glanced around again, not sure whether or not to believe him. “Man,” I said. “You scared me.”

“I scared you?” He laughed. His dark curls bobbed. The dog’s ears twitched. “That’s funny.”

“Yeah. Hysterical.” I pulled myself out of the dirt and started to brush off my clothes. I peeked up at the kid and caught him staring at my leotard.

He looked quickly away.

I glanced down. Okay, so the thing was in shreds. Rachel would be thrilled. She’d get to take me shopping for a new one when I got home.

If I got home. I looked up. “Um —”

The kid smiled. “You’ll be needing some help.”

“Uh, yeah.”

What was it with him? It was like he was reading my mind. His voice was soft, and a little shy, but also confident. Like he knew what needed to be done and was willing do it. Kind of like … Jake.

I shook my head. No, nothing like Jake.

“Yeah, I could use some help. I’m sort of —” Gee, how was I going to explain suddenly appearing out of nowhere? “Lost.”

“Lost.” He laughed again. “The bird-girl who can change into a bug is lost. No worries. Now you’re found.” He climbed to his feet. “I’m Yami and I’ll be your guide for the evening.” He smiled. “I like to say that. One of my uncles is a tour guide at Uluru.”

Yami turned and loped off along the creek bank. Tjala the dog trotted behind him.

“I’m Cassie,” I hollered after them. “And thanks. I think.”

I ran to catch up before I lost them both in the dark. I stumbled about as I followed them through the scrub, trying to keep my bare feet on the soft sand and away from rocks and sticks and prickly clumps of grass.

Yami was barefoot, too, but his skinny legs rambled along with a natural grace. Tjala bounded along at his side. He was a sturdy little dog, not more than a half-grown pup, with dark speckles all over his coat and sharp ears that perked up at every rustle and birdcall.

We walked in silence for a few moments.

“So,” I finally said. “You saw all that back there, huh? The bird? The flea?”

Yami nodded. “And the funny airplane.” He shook his head. “Many planes fly over, but I’ve never seen one like that before, chasing birds and blowing holes in the ground.

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