Breaking the Fall by Michael Cadnum

Author:Michael Cadnum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

17

A white shape broke from the tangle of geraniums, and half hopped to where Sky sat.

She caressed the large white cat, a creature who leaned into her and purred. The cat had strong-looking hind legs, and a single large front paw. Where the other forepaw belonged was nothing. Not a stump, not a scar.

“A dog bit him,” she said.

This news silenced me. I stopped to caress the cat, too, and for a moment took pleasure in the fact that we were both touching the same living creature.

It was two days after I had helped push the big Ford back to the driveway. The car was there now, chocks behind the wheels to keep it from rolling, Tu bent over the engine. I had not seen Jared since the terrible night. Mrs. Trent had said he had a virus.

I had to talk to Jared. I had something to tell him.

“A German shepherd,” said Sky. “The cat was bloody all over. I tied a tourniquet.”

“You saved his life.”

She rubbed the cat one way and another. The cat spasmed, purring, hunching. “He’s a good cat.”

“What’s his name?”

“This isn’t our cat. He is his own cat. No name.”

“He likes you.”

“He remembers me,” said Sky. She looked up at me. “I know you used to pass by me and not know what to say.”

I wanted to say something smart but couldn’t think.

“And then you had your big chance with that guy on the football field.”

“You needed some help.”

“He wasn’t so strong.” She thought, and added, “That was a kind thing to do,” then looked away. “I was a little surprised.”

“Why were you surprised?” I said, more sharply than I wanted.

She tilted her head and did not answer, smiling at her own secret. “You try so hard, Stanley.”

I bridled. “I do more than try.” I hated my snippy tone, but it was really more than I could stand.

“I have offended Stanley,” said Sky to the cat. “Now he will never like me.”

“Oh, I’ll like you,” I said, and I hated the tone of my voice. I said it as though regretting it. I was doing everything wrong. Being close to her made me an idiot. I blundered further, aghast at my words. “Tu says you have a boyfriend.”

She gave a sideways look, her head tilted back, regal and very slightly offended. Her long black hair, full and highlighted with a burnish of mahogany, flowed about her, and her dark eyes took me in, weighed me, held me. “What does Tu say?”

“He says there’s someone else you know.”

“I know many people, Stanley.” She was solemn, but she was something else, too. Was she also teasing me, just a little? I tingled inside at the thought. It was an almost pleasant feeling.

“Tu likes you,” she added.

“I don’t know anything about cars,” I said, wondering why I insisted on making such a baldly honest statement.

She looked at me sideways again. She was smiling, inwardly, and her eyes were narrow and searching my own eyes. “I think you know some things,” she said.

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