Odd Man Out by Sarah Ellis

Author:Sarah Ellis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Groundwood Books Ltd
Published: 2011-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

TEN

THE KITCHEN was full of steam and girls. The Sea Urchin of Doom was boiling a big pot of water for corn.

“I told you,” said Alice from atop her ladder. “He’s got to be building a climbing wall. I tried that but the holes just kept crumbling.”

“Nope,” said Hilary. “He’s making a den of iniquity.”

“No fair,” said Emily. “I want a den of iniquity, too.”

“Do I hear whining?” said Gran.

“You don’t even know what a den of iniquity is,” said Alice.

“Do, too. It’s like a doghouse.”

Kip fingered the key hanging around his neck.

“Kip will reveal all when he’s ready,” said Gran. “Meanwhile, we’ve got some things to plan.” She plunked a big bowl of corn on the table.

For a brief moment nobody talked except Daffodil, who quietly recited the names of the flat and sharp keys in music while she rolled her corn in butter.

“Right, then,” said Gran. “I call for the vote. Which comes first? Hobo dinner or talent night?”

“Hang on,” said Hilary. “Kip doesn’t know what he’s voting for.”

The vote hung in the balance as Hilary explained the nature of the two events so that Kip could be an informed voter. Kip voted for the hobo dinner with all his heart. He was hoping they could delay the talent night indefinitely.

Kip didn’t have a talent. Talent was like Jared writing his own computer programs. Talent was when that new kid, Ming, did that amazing gymnastics routine in the school playground on her first day and shifted power away from Sondria, the girl dictator of grade five. Talent was Dad drawing a car so real you could hear it. Talent was ribbons and trophies and certificates and marks.

“A talent for helpfulness.” That was what his grade one teacher had written on his report card. Great. Maybe he could clean blackboard erasers or pass out little containers of arithmetic macaroni.

The hobo dinner support team, meanwhile, was cheering in triumph and planning for the very next day.

* * *

The next morning Kip was itching to get back to yurt life, but Gran insisted on a beach hike.

“Come on. Let’s get some fresh air. The weather is gorgeous.”

There were moans all around.

“Gran thinks we won’t grow up right if we stay inside too much,” said Hilary. “She thinks we’ll grow up to be unemployed misfits with bad posture.”

“Yeah, and zits,” said Alice.

“And dandruff?” said Daffodil.

“Yup, dandruff,” said Jane.

“And dog breath,” said Emily. “But I wouldn’t mind.”

“You’re absolutely right,” said Gran. “See what I’m saving you from? Get your hats. We’re off.”

The hike started from the swimming beach and carried on around a rocky point. Emily attached her leash to her collar and handed the other end to Kip.

“You’re my human.”

“He’s my human, too,” said Daffodil.

“Yeah,” said Jane. “He’s not just Emily’s human.”

“You don’t need humans,” said Alice. “You are humans.”

Hilary started to sing something about people who need people, and Jane pointed out highlights.

“That’s the bouncy log.”

“Three generations of family bounces,” said Gran.

There was a rock shaped like a creampuff and the eagle’s nest and the dangerous cliff in the distance.

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