The Snowball Effect by Deb Loughead

Author:Deb Loughead
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000, book
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2010-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

By the time I’d finished babbling to the reporter, I really did feel sick. She told me that the story would be on the front page of the next edition of the Bridgewood Weekly. It was a small-town paper and came out only once a week. That meant I had until next Wednesday to worry myself even sicker about everyone’s reactions to the story.

I kept it simple and managed to avoid any huge lies. I said I happened to be nearby when the accident occurred. True. I told them I felt I had to check and make sure the victim wasn’t too badly hurt. True. I told them I didn’t place the phone call. True. I told them that I was getting Cheezies at the station for Gran. True.

The whole time I was talking, the reporter was scribbling and the photographer was clicking his shutter. And everyone was watching. There were so many familiar faces in the crowd. I tried my best to avoid them all, especially Nicole’s probing eyes. The photographer took one final shot of me, Mom and Gran with the tree we chose. By then the Boy Scout leaders insisted we have the tree for free because I was an example of a good Scout.

We thanked the scout leaders and loaded the tree onto the sled. As we walked away, everyone behind us was clapping. I felt like throwing up.

“I almost feel guilty for choosing the more expensive tree,” Mom said as we were walking home. “We’re cutting into the scouting profits. But really, I’m so proud of you, Dylan. You did a great job explaining things back there. I can’t believe what you did on Friday night!”

I cringed when Mom put her arm around my shoulders and squeezed me. I didn’t deserve that hug from her.

“Just think,” Gran said. “If I hadn’t had that craving for Cheezies, you might not have even been on the scene at all.”

“If you say so, Ma,” Mom said, laughing. “I guess you’re a hero too.”

But I was there, and I would have been there anyway, I felt like telling them, because of the stupid snow bombs. I had no clue why everyone was making such a big deal out of it either. I mean, it wasn’t as if I’d saved her life. But, like the reporter said, it was a good Christmas news story. And in a small town, they were hard to come by.

I only wished that I wasn’t one of the main characters in the story.

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