The Twelve Stones Read Online Free Page B

It slammed to a stop in front of Alex’s house . A woman who would feel perfectly at home on the front lines of a professional fo otball team got out of the beat- up Chevy Wagon, stomped up the front steps , and screamed, “SCOOOTTT!!”
    Scott winced and rose from his chair slowly.
    “Take it easy,” Ted urged.
    “I’m OK , Mr. McCray, I think Alex cured everything. I don’t think anything's broken anymore, ” Scott replied, his eyes downcast.
    “No , I meant with your mom.” Ted replied , grinning. Scott laughed and returned his friend’s father’s wink.
    “ See ya later , Alex.” Scott called over his shoulder as he left the house.
    “Later , man . ” Alex frowned . Scott’s mother could be terrifying when she was angry. Scott, shoulders slumped like a prisoner going for his last meal, walked downstairs and out the front door, closing it behind him.
    It was only when the tires screeched away that Ted finally sighed with relief. He looked at his son and wondered : what else do you say to a kid after he’s seen his best friend nearly die?
    “ How about some food?” Ted managed after a moment.
    It was these sorts of times that he missed his wife the most. He was supposed to have help with this kind of stuff. His heart s welled in his chest. He had no idea what else he could say. So he drew his son in and hugged him.
    Alex stood there, the events of the afternoon replaying in his head. His father’s awkward embrace suddenly made everything clear for him. They had something incredible in common. Neither one had any idea how to react to what they just saw. They only had each other. It was that moment that Alex decided to be brave for his father. He would not ever let this man down in his life. He swallowed and looked at his dad with shiny new eyes.
    “ Are you sure you’re gonna get me Street Fighter ?”
    Ted choked up. He couldn’t help but laugh. Smiling broadly, he scooped his kid up, and took him to the kitchen, where he would do what fathers did and make his son some lunch.
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    Later that night, after again promising for the hundredth time that they were indeed going to the mall tomorrow to purchase the video game system, Ted finally got Alex to bed. Going downstairs to the front door, Ted opened it and looked outside, unsure as to what he was even looking for.
    After ensuring that the night remained still, Ted closed the door. He checked twice to make sure it was locked , then went downstairs to the basement and opened the safe that contained Alex’s stone. Careful only to grasp the edges of the cloth that held his son’s prize, Ted put it into his coat pocket and went outside of the house he had designed for his wife. She had never lived to see it.
    He opened the French doors that were on the far side of the house and walked out onto the deck , looking up at the black night sky. The stars flickered and danced above , slyly offering their secrets to Ted, as he closed the ornate doors behind him. Opening up his jacket, Ted removed a pack of stale cigarettes. After his wife died, he had quit smoking for his son , hoping to last a few extra years. He shook them loose, the stale tobacco scent catching on the damp evening air. It had been years since Ted had even touched a cigarette . Whatever the risks to his lungs, Ted considered, after what he saw today, he was sure one smoke was not going to be the end of the world. Fumbling with his lighter, he snapped the wheel several times until the flame caught, as he managed to coax the end of the old cigarette to light.
    “ Idiot - proof lighters,” Ted muttered to himself. He put the lighter back into his pocket and felt for the flannel shirt that contained Alex’s mysterious stone.
    Squeezing the warm lump through the bloodied flannel, Ted looked up at the stars above. It was a particularly clear night for Onyx. The altitude had a great deal to do with that. The clear