Flyaway Read Online Free

swallow. I feel like I'm perched at the top of a roller coaster, about to drop.
    "And here I rescheduled my interview so I could pick up your homework."
    Pick up my homework? Who does she think she is, my mom? I start to walk away, but she stands and comes after me.
    "June lets you get away with this, doesn't she ? She lets you cut school."
    "And your point is...?"
    "And I see she lets you mouth off too."
    "Whatever."
    She grabs my shoulder. "Don't 'whatever' me. And by the way, you went off and left the door unlocked."
    I jerk away so hard I jab her with my elbow. "Get your friggin' hands off me!"
    "Hey, watch it! If you were my kid—"
    "Well, I'm not! And quit blaming everything on Mom!" I storm into the guest room, slam the door behind me, and throw myself face-down on the bed. For a minute it's quiet. Then I hear the
tap, tap
of Aunt Mindy's sandals approaching the door.
    "Stevie?"
    I bury my face in the checkered quilt.
    "Stevie, can I come in?"
    "Shut up!" I snatch the vanilla-scented candle from the little table by the bed and hurl it at the door. It hits with a
thump.
    "Stevie, please."
    I don't answer, and pretty soon her footsteps click off into the distance. About ten minutes later, the front door slams.
    The quiet in the house isn't cozy anymore—it suffocates me. I lie there with my fists clenched and stare at the ceiling. I should just get out of here, go stay at the apartment. But no doubt she'd find me and drag me back. I decide the only way I'm going to get through this is to keep my mouth shut as much as possible.
    Â 
    When there's a knock on the door maybe half an hour later, I open up to see Aunt Mindy standing there in sweats and running shoes, damp curls plastered to her forehead.
    "I went for a run," she says. "Always makes me feel better."
    I keep my face blank.
    "I'm starving. There's a great little Chinese place on Fifteenth. How does that sound?"
    I'd kill right now for a corn dog, but whatever. "Sounds okay."
    "Great," she says. "I'll hop in the shower."
    Â 
    The restaurant she picks is crowded and dark and stinks of incense. The hostess smiles at Aunt Mindy and shows us to a table in the back.
    "This is one of my favorite places," Aunt Mindy says. "I usually come here alone, so it's nice to have company."
    I stare at the weird names on the menu: Moo Shu this and Goo Goo that. "What is this stuff ?"
    She laughs. "I bet you haven't had much Chinese. Your mom's always been a burgers-and-fries kind of gal."
    What's wrong with burgers and fries?
I think. But I stick to my plan and stay quiet.
    The waitress slides a pot of tea onto the table between us and turns over our cups. They look like miniature white cereal bowls.
    Aunt Mindy pours herself some tea. "I remember one time, way before you were born, I took your mom to a little Chinese place that had just opened up in Helena. She stared at the menu like you're doing, with her forehead all wrinkled up. When the waitress came to take our order, June said, 'I'll have the Egg Foo Yung.' But when the food arrived, she took one look at it and said, 'What is this crap ? I thought I ordered eggs.'" Aunt Mindy chuckles and shakes her head. "She expected it to be a plate of eggs and hash browns, like in some diner."
    If we weren't in a restaurant, I'd throw the pot of tea at her. So Mom isn't all cultured and sophisticated. She's still worth a million Aunt Mindys.
    The waitress comes to take our order.
    "You should try the Kung Pao Chicken," Aunt Mindy says.
    I mentally stick out my tongue at her, then I turn to the waitress. "Give me the Egg Foo Yung."
    Â 
    When I finally give up on chopsticks and ask the waitress for a fork, I can see why Mom was surprised. Egg Foo Yung tastes nothing like eggs. It's actually pretty good—these spongy, spicy little pancake things with yummy brown sauce all over them. I start to wish I hadn't worn my tight jeans.
    I'm hoping we can eat in peace, but no. Aunt Mindy has to tell me stories about when she and Mom