The Power of Un Read Online Free Page A

things. He did most of the talking.”
    Then I felt her hands on my cheeks, which surprised me more than a little. Her eyes still had sparklers
of
anger in them, but when she spoke, her voice was softer than before. “You had me so worried, honey. Are you all right?”
    I smiled a little. We’d moved from
Gibson Finney
to
honey
. Maybe there was hope after all.
    Then she noticed the scrape. “Oh, your poor nose! Did he hurt you? If he hurt you I’ll … I’ll make him wish he’d never been born, that … that …” She patted my arms and shoulders semihysterically, maybe checking for broken bones. Her cheeks were bright red.
    I felt strangely happy. She would actually make somebody sorry they were ever born if they hurt me? She sounded like she meant it.
    “Mom, Mom, it’s O.K. I was in a hurry to get home and I tripped in the woods. That’s all.” I stopped her hand just as she started patting my hips. “He didn’t touch me. He didn’t even
try
to touch me. He was just a crazy old homeless guy or something. All he did was talk awhile. Then he disappeared.” I didn’t mention the unner, though I felt a little guilty about it. Something inside me wanted to keep it a secret, at least for now.
    She frowned and touched my face beside my nose, almost on the scrape but not quite. The wound was probably dirty, and I suppose she was battling to keep herself from brushing at it. She may be unusual in some ways, but when it comes to obsessively cleaning open wounds, she’s the same as every other mom in the known universe.
    “You’re sure he didn’t hurt you?” she asked.
    “Positive.”
    She looked doubtful for a second, then pulled me firmly toward the house. “Well, let’s get that scrape cleaned up. Your dinner’s ready. Roxy’s already eating, and Dad and I are leaving in a minute.”
    Before long, I had a Band-Aid on my nose and was seated beside Roxy at the table, shoveling down a big helping of Dad’s beef stew.
    “Do you think we should call the police?” Mom asked Dad as he helped her don a mind-numbing jacket with fringe and sequins.
    “
Mo-o-o-m
!” I said. “He didn’t
do
anything. He just talked to me.”
    “There’s nothing so bad about that,” said Dad.
    “Yeah, but anybody who hangs out in the woods at night is creepy,” said Roxy. “I’m scared!” She held her butter knife with both hands, as if she might have to use it for self-defense.
    “He wasn’t creepy. And he’s not hanging out! He’s gone. I already told you,” I said.
    Mom frowned as she picked up her purse—which had fringe like her jacket, plus red, white, and blue stars and stripes. I squirmed when I realized I was glad I wouldn’t have to be seen with her.
    “What if you only
think
he’s gone?” she asked. “He could still be out there, hiding. What if he watched you walk home and he knows where you live …”
    Dad said, “Sh!” and gave Mom a fierce look. “Gib, are you scared?”
    “No!” I didn’t want to get the old guy in trouble. I was beginning to feel sorry I’d ever mentioned him.
    Dad shrugged and held his hands out, palms up. “There’s your answer. Gib’s not scared. I trust his judgment. Rox, you don’t need to be scared, either. Gib’s got the situation under control.”
    Roxy frowned and huffed.
    “Oh, all right,” said Mom, sounding annoyed. She kissed me on the cheek. “But you be careful, Gib. You and Ash and Roxy stick together at the carnival. Don’t dawdle. And,” she gave Roxy a kiss, too, “have a wonderful time.”
    I couldn’t help rolling my eyes a little. Dad grinned at me as soon as Mom wasn’t looking, and they waved as they closed the door behind them.
    I peeled the Band-Aid off my nose and looked at the clock on the wall. I was supposed to meet Ash at 7:00. It was already 6:45, and Ash didn’t know about the Roxy debacle yet. I needed to make another change in the plan, too. I wanted to get a flashlight and look for the unner before we started for the