The Wayward Gifted - Broken Point (8 page)

Steuart folded his arms and nodded, “Do
tell.”

This is not the same as going into
someone’s home. This is a tree house. Tree houses don’t count in the world of
private property.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“No. Tree houses are the same as park
benches—they’re here for everyone.”

“I’d like to know what book you’ve been
reading. You’re confused.” Sam didn’t care. Steuart worried. “Have you
forgotten the definition of
private
property?
I don’t know why you think a tree house is exempt. You know we’ve
been through this before. Have you forgotten the last time that you went into a
tree house that didn’t belong to you? Do you remember what happened?

Sam gave Steuart a blank stare.

“You hear me, but you’re not listening.
Is that what’s happening?”

“That was different. That wasn’t a real
tree house. We’re here now. We’re not there.”

“Different
how
? Why do you think that rules only apply to other people? Why do
you think that a tree house is any less private than other private property? If
this were your tree house would you want the entire world to feel free to climb
the ladder and go inside to play?” Steuart didn’t stop to take a breath. “I
don’t think so.”

Sam tried to ignore her brother and
answered over his talking. “It wouldn’t bother me. If I were lucky enough to
have a great place like this, I would be proud to share it with other people.”
She gazed at the tree house and the leaves. With her backpack on her shoulder,
she was ready and began climbing, “The door’s open.”

“So?”

“So—Grandmother said I should
follow the colors. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

“Oh, that’s classic. You want to blame
this on Grandmother. Do you actually believe this is what she had in mind?

“It’s possible,” Sam pursed her lips
and squirmed. “I’m taking her advice seriously.” Sam continued to climb.

“Stop Sam. Stop right now. I’m going to
tell.”

Sam looked down at her brother, “Are
you serious?” She stepped down.

Steuart shook his head, “This is not
what Grandmother had in mind. Do you remember the last time?”

Sam glared at Steuart.

“You’re not listening.” Sam didn’t say
a word. “Go ahead, ignore me. I know about a lot of things. I know what I’m
talking about. I also know that I don’t have to be here with you. I can go
home.” Steuart turned around. “I’m not going to get into trouble for you on my
first day in town.”

“Go—see if I care.”

Steuart took a deep breath and kept
talking, “We’re both aware of what happened back home. We both know that we
both know you remember everything. You’re just pretending to be naive.”

Sam stopped. “Why do we have to talk
about something that happened so long ago when we’re here in this beautiful
wooded place? Why can’t we just be in the moment? All I want at this exact
point in time is one beautiful leaf.” Sam shook her head and threw her hands in
the air. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing. You’re so exasperating.”

“I am not. You’re wrong. I’m talking
about this because it is a big deal. I’m talking about this because the last
time you did this we ended up having to explain ourselves to Mother,
Grandmother
and
the neighbors. Why
are you pretending that you don’t have a brain? Color collection got you into
big trouble.”

“Have you been reading those books
again? Don’t worry, we’re not going to be put in front of a firing squad.”

Steuart looked off in the distance.

“Steuart, do you always have to put a
damper on everything I try to do? Why did I invite you to come with me?”

“Because deep down you know that
someone needs to keep you out of trouble.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Yes you do, and you know it. You may
be the older sibling, but I’m the one who’s more responsible.”

“I do a lot of things for you
Steuart—all the time. I should have just come over here by myself. I
should have let you miss this entire adventure. I should have let you stay on
your side of the tracks with your baby chicken behavior and attitude.”

“Stop calling me names. Grandmother
straightened things out for you last time. She isn’t here for this.”

“If only you didn’t make such a big
deal about things. I could be home with my leaf now. I could be sitting down
enjoying my newest color. Steuart, you are destroying my happy autumn moment.”

“Ruining this? I’m trying to keep both
of us from getting into trouble.”

“Besides, if you remember what
happened, you’ll also remember that nobody called the police last time.”

“Are you trying to say that makes it
okay? Hey, I read every day,” Steuart threw his index finger against his chest
and puffed up.

“Old novels, yes, I know.”

“So what? I know that things happen all
around the world. You can learn a lot from a good book. There are always
consequences to your actions. That’s one of the most important things you’ll
learn.”

Sam sighed, “Are you done yet?”

“No, I’m not. Sam, we could have been
hurt. Since you know everything, tell me what either of us could have done
about that? Do you remember?” Steuart tried to whisper and raise his voice at
the same time. “Sam, look at this place. These people probably have a security
guard. They may have an entire security force. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re
on camera now. Go ahead, wave and smile for the camera.” Steuart paused to wave
and smile. “The juvenile detention officers are on their way. Let’s make it
easy for them to identify us.” He looked into the trees and waved, “Hi, hello,
my sister and I don’t want to cause trouble. We’re trespassing because she
would like to take one of your leaves. Please don’t kill us.” He put his hand
down and turned to look at Sam, “We’re just minutes from becoming infamous. We’ll
be locked up with a steady diet of dirty drinking water, cold beans and white
bread.”

Sam rolled her eyes. “I doubt the
water’s dirty.”

“What’s your point? We won’t be able to
see each other, or anyone else. Mother will sign a release for money, sell our
souls to the media and write a book called
Kids
Caught in the Act,
followed by a second one titled,
How My Children Embarrassed Me and Why I Can Never Forgive them.”

Sam shook her head and laughed.

“You think that’s funny? That won’t be the
end of things. She’ll keep going with appearances and speaking engagements
until she finishes up with her third blockbuster,
Adoption: I Did, You Shouldn’t. Please Let Me Tell You Why.”

“You’ve definitely been reading those
novels. I can always tell.”

Steuart reached down, picked up two
yellow leaves and held them over his eyes. “We’ll never be able to show our
faces in public again. I’ll never see my children because I’ll never have a
relationship outside of prison. I’ll never have a family unless I hook up with
some crazy woman who falls in love with bad men—a nightmare existence.

“Enough. I’m getting tired. Cut the
comedy routine. You’re being childish.”

Steuart shook his head and dropped the
leaves. “Maybe, I am. I’m only ten, but I know about these things. Sam, you may
be destroying my entire life and your entire life at the same time—wrong
place, right time, who knows what might happen?”

“What?”

“You’ll never enter politics.”

Sam cringed and then laughed. “What
makes you think that I have an interest in politics? You’re so silly.”

“You could change your mind.”

“I don’t think so. Maybe
you
should go into politics.”

Steuart shrugged, “Things like this can
follow a person forever.”

“You’ve got to stop reading those Tad
Grey novels.” Sam turned her back to the tree and leaned against the ladder.
“Steuart, you’re acting extra silly. Everyone knows that you’re entertaining,
but I’m getting bored.”

“I’m not trying to be humorous.”
Steuart picked up two more leaves and created a new mask. “I’m serious,” he
laughed.

“This is not one of your comedy
routines. We’re losing time with all of this silliness.”

“I’m not teasing. I remember. You do
too.”

“I think we’re safe. We’re not going to
be arrested.”

“You don’t know that. All it takes is
being in the wrong place at the right time. Maybe there’s a dead body up there.
We could be framed.”

“Stop it!” Sam held up her hand and
pointed her finger in the air towards the leaves. “I will concede that we
shouldn’t have gone into that woman’s building back home. And I have no problem
telling you that I will never do that again. This, however, is not the same
thing. This is different.” Sam sighed and shifted her feet. “Steuart, we need
to get started.”

“How is it different?”

“This is a tree house. That was a
shed.”

Steuart dropped his leaves, “We
shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting
this time—just an itty bitty bit?”

Steuart stared at his sister.

Sam sighed, “I’m sorry that you’re
feeling upset. I’m sorry that I’ve picked on you today. I am sorry that you’re
uncomfortable.” She turned and faced the tree, placed both hands on the ladder and
looked up at the leaves. “I have to have one of those leaves. I’ll climb-up,
get one, and then I will leave.” She turned and looked at her brother, “I have
to know that you’ll not say anything to Mother or Grandmother. Can I count on
you? You can go home now. I won’t be angry.”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel comfortable
leaving you here alone.”

“I’m staying.” Sam began to climb the
ladder.

Steuart continued to stare. He said
nothing.

Sam stopped and looked down at her
brother, “You know how important my colors are to me. Do I ever stop you from
getting new words? I always support the things you want to do. I never give you
a hard time. I always support you, don’t I?” She began to cry.

“Don’t start with tears. Please, don’t
do it. Don’t cry. I refuse to fall for that.” Steuart picked up his bike. “You’re
not winning any points with me.”

“I’m asking for help from my brother.
That’s all I’m doing,” Sam sniffled.

“I never break and enter to get new
words.” Steuart straddled his bike, folded his arms and looked at his sister.

Sam turned her head and looked at
Steuart who was still staring without any expression. “It’s just a color,” she
looked up at the house, “and I doubt seriously that these people have a guard.”

Steuart didn’t move.

“Tell you what. I’ll make a deal with
you. Help me get my leaf and in exchange, I’ll make your bed for the next three
days.”

Steuart shifted from one foot to the
other. He got off the bike for a minute, changed his mind, and then got back
on. “Three days?” He shifted a tiny bit more, pursed his lips, cocked his head,
and looked around for watchers.

“What do you say?” Sam asked.

Steuart knew that Ida would be
disappointed in the conversation. She wouldn’t agree with making these kinds of
bargains and would be quick to tell him so. He looked up at the tree house with
a curious sort of expression and muttered something under his breath as he let
out a sigh. He smiled, “Maybe we can negotiate.”

“What?” Sam stepped down a rung, “I
can’t hear you. What did you say?”

Steuart got off his bike and lay it on
the ground, “Sam, I can’t let you do this by yourself. I’m your brother, your
only brother. Unfortunately, we have to look at the facts. I’ve not forgotten
what happened last time you asked for my help. I’ve not forgotten that Mother
grounded you for an entire month. I have also not forgotten what she said.”

“What was that?”

“She said you wouldn’t be the only one
grounded next time. She’ll ground me as your accomplice. As much as I may want
to help you, I also have to look at the facts.”

“What facts are you talking about?”

“Quite simply, the potential risk to my
freedom.” Steuart put his hands in his pockets. He walked closer to the tree.
“The potential cost is too high to do this for nothing.”

“Three days are not
nothing
.”

“They are if I end up grounded for a
month. We’re in a new place. This is a new day. We’re in a new city. I’m
thinking that my services are worth more than a few days of bed making
freedom.”

Sam rolled her eyes and sighed.

“I don’t want to begin my life in a new
city stuck inside of the house for a month with that Nanny Claire woman.”
Steuart made a face, “She makes me uncomfortable. I don’t care for her.”

“I don’t either.”

“I’d vomit daily if that happened. She
gives me the creeps. I couldn’t stand that, even if you were making my bed.
Also, Grandmother isn’t here to help talk Mother out of extreme punishment. We
both know that Grandmother’s the only one who can curb Mother’s draconian
ways.”