The Unicorn in the Barn by Jacqueline Ogburn

Author:Jacqueline Ogburn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Back at my house, I wrapped the bracelet in a tissue and stuck it in a little box that I kept a dead June bug in. I dumped the June bug out first. Even though I knew Grandma would like the swirling colors on its green shell just like I did, I figured they wouldn’t appreciate June bugs at the nursing home.

I changed into Sunday clothes and went out on the front porch to wait for Dad and Steve. The little box was tucked safe in my back pocket. Dad came out and sat down next to me. He bumped my shoulder with his, and I bumped back. He fished a cigarette out of his jacket pocket and lit it with Poppaw’s Zippo lighter. I liked the click it made when he flipped it closed. Dad blew a stream of smoke up into the air. The mintiness of the menthol didn’t cover up the warm toastiness of the tobacco. I know cigarettes are all kinds of bad for you, but I sure did like that smell.

“Steve!” Dad hollered. “Get your rear in gear and get on out here.” He blew another stream and bumped my shoulder again. “That boy can take longer primping than your mother ever did.” I perked up at that. Our mom died when I was two and I don’t really remember her. Dad and Steve don’t talk about her much, and I hadn’t heard that detail about her before. Then Steve came clomping out, calling, “Shotgun!”

“No fair, I was ready first,” I cried, swiping at his leg as he went by.

“You snooze, you lose. You gotta call it,” said Steve as he strode around to the passenger side of the car. Dad grabbed me in a headlock and messed up my hair. I yelled, “Cut it out,” but really, I was too happy to care.

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