The Graham Cracker Plot Read Online Free Page A

to stay with us for a week because your mom’s going on vacation!”
    I made stiff legs and dug my feet into the ground. My swing groaned and stopped. “What?”
    â€œYour mom asked my mom if we’d watch you for a week. Alex is taking her to a resort in Mexico. I guess they want some kissing time.” He made lip smooches. “And you don’t get to go.”
    â€œYou better be wrong!” I shouted.
    Alex is ancient. He’s at least forty, and he’s got a little ring of black-and-gray hair around his head. He’s been dating Mom for a year. Her other boyfriends treated me like a pest. Mom always said I’m more important than men, but that was bull. She’d hang on them, they’d both ignore me, and then Mom would send me to bed early.
    But Alex is different. He calls me his buddy. Alex doesn’t have kids, so he said he’s counting on me to teach him how to be cool, which is our joke. So why wouldn’t they take me on vacation, too? His buddy? Mom’s more-important kid? Hah.
    â€œHey, don’t blame me. Blame your mom and her stupid boyfriend. I’d be pissed off, too. I’d run away to the resort and get a job as a surfing instructor.”
    â€œYou don’t know how to surf.”
    â€œDuh. I have to learn first.”
    â€œYou probably got it wrong. You never listen, Graham Cracker!”
    He stopped swinging and kicked dirt at me. “I listen. I’m not deaf, you know.”
    Graham started talking about horses and snakes. My head burned. Mom on vacation without me! To a beach! She never went swimming with me because she said her legs look like sausages. I guess Alex likes sausage! Come to think of it, they go to the stadium theater without me on account of the R ratings. They probably pick R-rated movies so I can’t go. And Mom always asks Alex what he wants for supper. Chili. Lasagna. Italian beef. Doesn’t matter—she’ll stay by the stove until it’s done. But me? She just slaps fish sticks on the table whether I want them or not.
    Fish sticks, Judge Henry, fish sticks! They must always be on sale.

 
    DEAR JUDGE HENRY,
    Sure enough, Mom told me Alex was taking her on a trip because they needed some “alone time.” I wanted to tell her I was alone all the time and it wasn’t so great. I wanted to ask her what would happen if their alone time was amazingly fabulous and they stayed in Mexico. Would Mom ask the County to take me? A long time ago, the County threatened to put me in a foster home, which is a place for kids when their parents need parents. But Mom got her act together. She started going to the alcohol meetings with Kari, and Kari became her sponsor. That means Kari is the parent of Mom not drinking anymore.
    Then Mom got a job at the nursing home, and in the fall, she’s going to school to be a real nurse and I get a trampoline from her first paycheck. I reminded her that River Estates bans trampolines because they probably hate fun. Alex smiled all big and said, “Hey, buddy, there’s no ban on trampolines at my house.”
    Buddy? Whatever.
    I didn’t act sad or mad or anything when Mom told me about the trip. I said, “Whatever.” And she said, “Is that your new favorite word?”
    I shrugged and turned on the TV.
    â€œYou need a positive attitude,” Mom said. “You’re acting like a teenager and you’re not even twelve! Can’t you be happy for me?”
    â€œWhatever.”
    â€œYou know, I’d like to talk to you, but talking involves two people actually talking. Not just shrugging and eye-rolling and whatever-ing.”
    â€œWhy can’t I stay with Grandma? Why Graham Cracker?” The question was a waste of time, but I asked just to see Mom’s face crinkle up. That’s how mad I was.
    â€œUse his real name, Daisy.”
    â€œWhy do I have to stay with Graham Hassler instead of