Coming Across Jordan by Mabel Elizabeth Singletary

Author:Mabel Elizabeth Singletary [Singletary, Mabel Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-57567-336-3
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2009-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

IT’S A GOOD THING!

AS A SIXTH-GRADER, Kevin was fully aware that he was supposed to be able to distinguish right from wrong and good from bad. Wrong, of course, was anything that could land him on the receiving end of a two-week detention. Wrong was making the mistake of deciding to take part in a plan to create “big art” on the walls of the boys’ washroom and watching Curtis get caught with a permanent black marker in his hand. Right was feeling good about getting commended for achieving the highest math grade in class for the second time on a chapter test. And right was also in knowing that he’d played a part in one of Jordan’s accomplishments.

But even in considering all of this, Kevin quietly had to admit to himself that it had been a long time since he heard someone say to him, “well done.” That kind of news now seemed like nothing more than a distant memory.

As far as Melanie was concerned, all of Kevin’s problems at Harriet Tubman started the day he decided that he wanted Curtis Givens as a friend. In her opinion, their friendship was anything but good. However, Kevin didn’t share those feelings. Somehow, in spite of the awful trouble he’d managed to get into, he still believed being a friend to Curtis was the right thing to do.

On his way to detention in Mrs. Blake’s classroom, Kevin remembered how she had played soft, soothing music with instruments that sang melodies while he, Melanie, and Jordan stood gazing at the beautiful tropical fish swimming the length of the tank in the back of her room. He was pretty sure Curtis wasn’t going to like the music and probably wouldn’t like the fish either. Knowing that made Kevin wonder if he should pretend he felt the same way.

Then he thought about the warning Mr. Tate had given. And though he wanted to wait for Curtis, he decided not to take the chance. Kevin was determined he wasn’t going to allow himself to be late. He liked Curtis, and greatly admired his artistic talent, but Kevin’s mind was made up. No one was going to cause him to get on Mr. Tate’s bad side or push him in any deeper than the trouble he was already in.

Just as he was about to turn the corner of the sixth-grade wing, he could hear Curtis’s voice. “Hey, Kevin!” he yelled. “Wait up!”

Kevin waved but he kept walking. He figured if Curtis was serious about getting to Mrs. Blake’s room on time, he’d just have to move a little faster. And move faster is exactly what he did. Within seconds, he had made his way through the throngs of students coming from every direction and soon found himself walking right beside Kevin. “So, what can you tell me?” Curtis asked anxiously.

Kevin didn’t understand Curtis’s question. “ … about what?” he asked.

“Mrs. Blake. Is she nice or is she going to dump a whole lotta work on us ’cause of what we did?”

Kevin kept walking.

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