The Twinning Project Read Online Free Page B

I spent a lot of time in the backyard garden talking to Eddie. We’d have these long conversations—out loud, if I wasn’t careful. Good thing I wasn’t going to a psychiatrist. Imaginary twins on other planets can get you locked up in a nuthouse.
    A double star double-blinked. That’s the signal. We talk only at night.
    Yo, Eddie. You there?
    Standing on the corner.
    That was a big song back in the 1950s. I Googled it first time Eddie sang it.
    I think I’m going to do something bad tomorrow. It’ll get me kicked out of school.
    Not again, Tomaroonie.
    No choice, bro. This Britzky is a bully. He has to be stopped.
    Why do you have to stop him? You’re not the Lone Ranger.
    He’s beating up on Alessa.
    What’s an Alessa?
    She’s, um, well, this girl . . .
    You’ve got a friend?
    Well, maybe, sort of . . .
    That’s super! You’re cookin’, good-lookin’. Now maybe there’s some other way of dealing with this Bratzky.
    Bratzky, I like that. Like what other way?
    Talk to him. Make him your friend.
    He’s my enemy. I can’t let him get away with what he did to Alessa.
    You’re not letting him get away with anything—you’re looking to get something out of him, make him part of your team.
    I visited Grandpa.
    Changing the subject?
    It was sad. He said, “The monitors have landed.”
    Huh. He say anything else?
    He said to stay on my toes. That it was crunch time.
    What’s that mean?
    How should I know?
    The stars blinked off. That happens when he gets called in to dinner. His grandpa is pretty strict about eating together while the food’s hot.
    Get Britzky on my team. Right. That’s Eddie, always trying to make people his friends. Another way he was the opposite of me.
    Why was I making up an opposite? What’s wrong with me the way I am?

ELEVEN
    NEARMONT, N.J.
    1957
    Â 
    D R. Traum called Eddie to his office. He tried to make Eddie feel comfortable, closing the office door, asking him to sit on the couch instead of the hard wooden chair. Dr. Traum sat on the chair himself so he could sit close to Eddie, his bright green eyes boring into him. Dr. Traum was wearing his zooty suit.
    After they lost the football game, the guys on the team made fun of Dr. Traum’s suit, along with the boring way he talked and how he coached. Some guys even threatened to quit the team, but Eddie met with them one at a time, face-to-face, and persuaded them to give Dr. Traum a chance. They all said they would do it for Captain Eddie.
    But he’s a weird one,
Eddie thought.
Why am I here? Only bad kids and crazy kids go to the school psychologist.
He would have felt better seeing Dr. Traum in the coach’s office.
    â€œThis isn’t coach business,” said Dr. Traum.
    Could he read minds?
    â€œThat was some hit you took.”
    â€œHappens all the time.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m worried about. Any headaches, nausea, dizziness?”
    Eddie shook his head, which made him a little dizzier. The headache had almost disappeared over the weekend.
I’d better be careful,
he thought.
Any little thing could be an excuse for this guy to make me stop playing football. And then what? Basketball doesn’t start for three months.
    â€œI hope you don’t think I’m looking for an excuse to pull you off the team,” said Dr. Traum. “You’re a terrific quarterback. We need you.”
    â€œThank you. I’m fine.”
    â€œI believe that, Eddie. I’m on your side. I want to prevent anything that might put you on the bench. Any flashes of light? Ringing sounds? Any changes in how your food tastes or smells? Any trouble doing homework?”
    I always have trouble doing homework,
thought Eddie.
    â€œI mean, more than usual,” said Dr. Traum.
    Eddie’s head jerked up so fast, he heard a bell ring.
Did he just read my mind?
    â€œThese are common thoughts,” said Dr.