Trouble at the Tangerine by Gillian McDunn

Author:Gillian McDunn
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781547611010
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

After dinner, Simon and his parents walked home. It was a warm summer evening with a light breeze—one of those nights where everyone seemed just a little bit happier than usual. The sky was streaked with purple, and the street was bustling. Someone on the corner was playing the saxophone, and Dad dropped some money in the case.

Mom tilted her head at the little grocery store. “We need fruit and almond milk. I’m going to run in for a few things.”

Dad and Simon decided to wait on a nearby bench. A crowd of bicyclists whirred past. They moved in perfect synchronization, like they were part of the same multi-headed, many-wheeled being.

Somehow, the city felt alive—kind of like a friend. But it was hard to enjoy that feeling when the threat of moving away hung over Simon’s head. If he and Amaya solved the case, they’d stay . . . ​for a little while. But it would only be a matter of time before his parents suggested moving, and Simon’s life would be in boxes—again.

Dad patted his belly. “I think I ate too much. But those pancakes are so good, it’s hard to stop.”

But Simon didn’t want to talk about food. “Can I ask you something? Why do we move around so much?”

Dad scrunched his forehead. “You know why—it’s what the Hyde family does. We’re always looking for something extraordinary. It can be hard to find that if you stay in the same place your whole life.”

Simon waved his hand. “I’ve heard you and Mom say that, but I feel like that isn’t the main reason. When Mom was a girl, she lived in three different houses, which I think is a medium amount of moving. But you lived in the same town—the same house—until you left for college.”

Dad tapped his chin, thinking. “There’s such a big world out there,” he said finally. “When I was a kid, I felt bored in the town I lived in. I never wanted you to feel that way. Mom and I are lucky enough to have jobs where we aren’t stuck in one place. Don’t you like seeing new things?”

“I do,” Simon answered. “But I think I would like living in the same place for a while, too. Coming back to school at the same place for a second year. Not having to be the new kid all the time. I think that would be an adventure, too, in a way.”

Dad made a noncommittal sound.

Out of the corner of his eye, Simon spotted a streak of green across the street. It was Amaya on her scooter, darting by. Ezekiel clung to her shoulder, screeching delightedly.

“Pretty baby! Here’s a kiss—mwah, mwah!” the parrot shouted.

Simon raised his hand, about to call to them—but then something curious happened. Instead of riding by the mansion, Amaya cut her wheels to the right. She coasted by the lush topiaries and followed the path up to the front door. The uniformed man smiled and said something to her as he held open the door.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.