Between Heaven and Earth Read Online Free Page A

might,” she said.
    â€œIt’s not the same. Nobody in the world is afraid of Spencer.”
    She laughed. “I’m just glad my little Tigger has always been there to take care of his little cousin Bunny, the way Tigger took care of Winnie-the-Pooh.”
    There was nobody else in the car, so calling me Tigger, her special name for me, was okay. It wasn’t so okay when Steve called me that, especially in public.
    â€œYou are a very hard act to follow,” my mother said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œSometimes I think your cousins feel like they can’t hope to compete with you.”
    â€œIt’s not a competition,” I said.
    My mother laughed. “I never thought I’d hear you say the words not and competition in the same sentence.”
    â€œI just try to do my best, that’s all. The point of a game is to win, but I am a good loser too.”
    â€œAnd how much practice have you had at being a loser?”
    â€œI’ll try to lose more in the future.”
    â€œLosing isn’t the end of the world.”
    â€œI never said it was.” Although it had felt like it the few times it happened.
    We circled around the ring road leading to the terminal.
    â€œAre you sure you don’t want me to come inside?” my mother asked.
    â€œNo need for you to spend money on parking. I’ll be fine.”
    She slowed down and pulled into an open spot. I got out quickly, and she popped open the trunk. I grabbed my green duffel bag and my backpack and of course my grandpa’s cane with his remains in a secret compartment inside. I held it tightly.
    â€œAre you sure you have everything?” she asked.
    â€œEverything.”
    â€œI’m not even sure why I asked. You are the most responsible seventeen-year-old in the world.” She paused. “But I’m still going to be worried until you get back.”
    â€œFunny, but I’m going to be worried about you until I get back.”
    She started to tear up. I felt tears start to surface, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t let her see me cry or let her know that I was worried.
    â€œI better get inside and check in,” I said.
    She threw her arms around my neck. She was small but strong. I gave her a big hug back.
    â€œI love you,” she said.
    â€œYeah, I sort of figured that. I am pretty loveable.”
    She made a huffing sound in my ear.
    â€œI know, I know, Mom. I love you too, but I have to go.”
    She squeezed a little tighter before letting go.
    â€œI’ll text you as soon as I’m on the ground,” I said. I reached out and gave her another hug and then walked toward the terminal. I stopped, turned around and waved. She waved back, and then I went inside.
    Now that she was gone, I could let my defenses down a bit, although I didn’t want to cry in front of strangers either. I was worried. More than that, I was scared. I was traveling halfway around the world, by myself, to climb a mountain. A really big mountain. Maybe I should be scared. I just couldn’t let anybody know.
    I had one thing to do before I checked in. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my cousins.
    Hey guys. Just getting on plane to Tanzania. Good luck to all. Back soon. Text if you need help. Don’t let Grandpa down.
    I pushed Send , knowing that almost instantly all six would get my message. Each of us had an individual task to complete, but somehow it felt like it was up to me to make sure they were all completed. But I’d have to finish my own task before I could help anybody else.
    It was just me—me and Grandpa’s cane. It was made of smooth brown wood and the handle was two carved elephants, their tusks intertwined. I thought back to him, cane in hand, walking, or leaning on it, sometimes spinning it around or using it as a dancing partner as he did a little jig, his ever-present black beret tipped to one side. I gave the cane a little shake and I could feel the