The Dragon in my Back Yard by Alan Goldstein

Author:Alan Goldstein [Goldstein, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dingbat Publishing
Published: 2021-06-23T22:00:00+00:00

18 — The Plot Thickens

The mumbled words surround me like a fog. I try to focus, but cannot understand the language. It’s like eavesdropping on a conversation through a wall.

I sent my friends a two-word message: I’m back! As soon as school was out, they called. Desiree actually cried. Girls!

The incident was a setback, but not as bad as it could have been. Yu was successful at scaring the timber workers away for a couple days. But they would return. Dad would make sure.

My family’s response to my injury and recovery was a surprise that put a lump in my throat. They were always so busy that I’d long questioned whether they really cared about me. On the down side, if they clung to me like a limpet, visiting Yu and saving my favorite place would be more difficult. Dang! That could be a real problem.

Yu and I discussed what to do after my mother tucked me into bed. She hadn’t done that since I was five. Sheesh.

Yu said, I will continue harassing the workers from the forest, but we will not connect unless there is an emergency. Do you agree?

With reluctance. I sighed. How about if you contact me at lunch time? Or better yet, I will contact you.

Whatever you prefer. I doubt you will connect with me during the few seconds I’ll be roaring at the workers. This time I will create a mental barrier before my attack. If you just happen to find yourself talking to a wall instead of me, you’ll understand why.

Good plan. I don’t want to go through that again.

***

I knew everyone would be staring at me when I returned to school. It was rare for someone to be airlifted from Alabaster Academy. So to fill the role that was expected, I mimicked my sister and sauntered in the front door. Usually I did a low-key amble. Desiree hugged me. That was embarrassing! I threatened Alberto and Jacob when they tried to mimic Des.

“Hug me? You do, you die!” I growled before grinning.

The rest of the class bombarded me with questions: “What happened?” “Did anyone ever figure out where that awful noise came from?” “Did you go to the hospital?” “I heard you lost your hearing? (Guffaw!) Was that a lie?”

I tried to give some simple yes and no answers, but that became confusing when two people asked me two different questions at the same time. I chose not to answer questions that required an answer of more than one word. I was happy when the homeroom tone went off and everyone had to go to their desks. Unlike Sarabet, I hated being the center of attention. The first class hadn’t begun and I was already exhausted and getting a headache.

Classes proceeded as usual. I hadn’t been able to do any homework. Lucky for me, the teachers cut me some slack. I was the famous Josh Draconette, the boy who was flown from Alabaster Academy to the hospital in a helicopter. Believe it or not, it’s not as cool as it sounds.

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