Forever Friends: Sticking Together

By Gregory Huber

The three main characters, known as the trio, have exciting times with friends and family as they turn eleven years old and enter middle school. Join the boys as they meet new friends and get involved in the school basketball team, talent show, and spring play.

Graham's father, being a math and science teacher at a local community college and having a great interest in history and geology, takes the boys, and occasionally friends, on field trips to Mt. St. Helens to visit and learn about the formations of the famous lava cave called Ape Cave, the lava castings at the Trail of Two Forests and Lava Canyon. Dad takes them to the Columbia River Gorge as he points out the geology, history, and native lore of the infamous Bonneville slide at Cascade Locks and the many great waterfalls, including the national historic Multnomah Falls, probably the most visited tourist attraction in Oregon beside Crater Lake.

Good clean fun for kids and adults of all ages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 4, 2024
• ISBN: 9798889603061

Book preview

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Forever Friends

Sticking Together

Gregory Huber

Copyright © 2024 Gregory Huber

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to person, living, or dead, places, events or local, is purely for the purpose of enhancing the story. The characters are production of the author’s imagination and us fictitiously.

ISBN 979-8-88960-291-0 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88960-306-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

I want to thank my dear friend, Marianne Gordon, for encouraging me to write books (I call her Gooser, which is short for Mother Goose, from her initials). She said she loves the characters in my movie scripts and pushed me to write books. I would have never done it had it not been for her, and she was right; it has become my passion. She's been a dear friend for thirty years. Thank you always.

Love, Greg.

Chapter 1

Kittens

Chapter 2

First Day of School

Chapter 3

School Play

Chapter 4

Swim Class

Chapter 5

Picking up Frankie

Chapter 6

Susanne's Party

Chapter 7

I'm Not Doing It!

Chapter 8

Mt. St. Helens

Chapter 9

Lava Canyon

Chapter 10

Ape Cave / Trail of Two Forests

Chapter 11

First Game

Chapter 12

Chanticleer Point/Crown Point

Chapter 13

Waterfalls

Chapter 14

Cascade Locks, Beacon Rock, Bonneville Dam

Chapter 15

Bonneville Dam / Fish Hatchery

Chapter 16

Talent Show

Chapter 17

School Play

Chapter 18

Grandpa Bentley

Chapter 19

Basketball Finals

Chapter 20

School Play

Chapter 21

Cousins

Chapter 22

Family

About the Author

I want to thank my dear friend, Marianne Gordon, for encouraging me to write books (I call her Gooser, which is short for Mother Goose, from her initials). She said she loves the characters in my movie scripts and pushed me to write books. I would have never done it had it not been for her, and she was right; it has become my passion. She's been a dear friend for thirty years. Thank you always.

Love, Greg.

Chapter 1

Kittens

Be careful, boys. The roads have narrow shoulders when you leave our neighborhood, Donna, Graham's mother, says, looking around at all four boys beginning with her son Graham then continuing to Ali, Mason, and paying the most attention to the newest member of the group and their new next-door neighbor, Kadin. I'm counting on you, she says, smiling and pointing a finger at Kadin. The others have no common sense, as you've noticed the past couple of weeks. Please keep them out of trouble, she pleads with a serious look on her face, then adding a smile.

Mom, says a disgusted Graham, he doesn't even know where we are going.

Neither do I, proclaimed Ali raising his hands to shoulder height.

I do. Let's get going, announces Mason, Graham's best friend since kindergarten.

Shaking her head, Donna watches the boys mount their bicycles and head out of the cul-de-sac. Her younger four-year-old son, Jonah, is holding her hand and asks her, Mommy, where is Grammy going?

He and the others are all going to check on Grandma and Grandpa's house while they are visiting Aunt Kim and Uncle Gary in Arizona, she answers.

And my cousins too, he further asks.

Yes, your cousins Ricky and Clark too, she says with a smile turning around while switching hands with Jonah and leading him into the house.

It's a beautiful morning, although a little overcast, with the temperature in the mid-seventies already. The clouds are supposed to fade away sometime by early afternoon and raise the temperature to the upper eighties. On the road, the four boys are wearing bicycle helmets, Mason's adorned with flames, and are laughing while jumping curbs on their way out of the neighborhood until Kadin finally asks, So, where are we going?

Graham is taking care of someone's kitties while they are out of town, Mason answers, and we are helping him.

Does he need help feeding a couple of kittens? Kadin asks.

Not if they were normal house cats, Ali answers, but these are baby tigers.

What? You've got to be kidding? Kadin responds, startled.

Yes, he is. Graham laughs. There are four six-week-old house kitties, and they are so cute. They adopted the mommy cat from the animal shelter and knew she was going to have babies soon. But they had this little trip planned ahead of time and couldn't cancel it. So they asked if I would ride down here every morning for a week and take care of them. Mom will drive me back later for their evening feeding and cleaning.

How far are we going? Kadin asks.

Mase, you almost bit it that time, Graham blurts while watching Mason nearly crash his bike jumping a curb."

I've got it, Mason says with an attitude.

Just a couple miles…not far, Graham says, changing the subject back to Kadin's question. We'll be there in about twenty minutes.

Cool. I've never been in this part of West Linn, Kadin says.

Well, you'll soon know your way around this little town, Mason informs. It's just across Willamette Drive near Burnside Park. But there is no straight line there. West Linn is nothing but curvy and winding roads except, of course, Willamette Drive, which goes from I-205 into Lake Oswego. And it'll take forty minutes to get back home since it's pretty much uphill the whole way.

True, and very few of the streets have curbs or sidewalks, but guess what, Mom gave me money so we can stop at Dairy Queen for ice cream on the way home, Graham tells the other three with excitement.

Nice, Ali says. Very nice. I love your mom.

I'll tell her you said that, Graham teases.

She already knows, says Ali, laughing.

We all love your mom, Graham, Mason says, laughing with Ali.

The trio plus one coast most of the way to Willamette Drive since it is downhill most of the way and stops at a light at Failing Street. Traffic isn't too heavy as it is only ten o'clock on Saturday morning. When their streetlight turns green, Mason orders, Let's go, and pops a wheelie as he leads the others across the street using the crosswalk. He quickly glances at the passenger in a car as he rides past on just the rear wheel of his bike and gives a quick wave and a smile as he lets the front wheel back down. The passenger gives him a quick smile and waves back as the other three bicyclists ride past too.

Who was that? Ali asks once they've crossed the road and onto Failing Street.

Oooooh! That was Susanne Barker, answers Graham with a chuckle. Mason's got a girlfriend.

Shut up, Mason orders. I know her from school…you idiot!

I know. I'm just giving you the business, Graham says with another short chuckle while looking back at Kadin and Ali.

Mason has a girlfriend! yells Ali while Kadin adds to the chorus. Mason's got a girlfriend, a girlfriend, a girlfriend…!

Mason looks back and gives them a look of boredom and tells them all, If she was my girlfriend, I wouldn't be riding bikes with you jerks. I'd be riding in the car with Susanne and her mother.

Good point. Kadin laughs as he adds, And she is cute too, under his breath.

Kadin starts to laugh all by himself until the others ask what the heck is so funny. He sees Mason riding his shiny, newly painted metallic bike that Ali, Graham, and Graham's dad, Steve, helped him dismantle and paint a couple of weeks ago and thinks it's funny because, as he tells them, Mase is like the mother duck, and she's leading all the little ducklings in single file across the road.

The rest of the ride is quite uneventful, with not much going on in the neighborhoods. One older lady was out watering her flowers in her gardens. A teenage girl was telling her dog to get back here because her pooch wanted to chase the boys while barking a couple of short warnings. They ride past a car where a younger lady, presumably the mother, was trying to get a little boy of two or three years old into his car seat while he was fussing, but soon, Graham takes a sharp turn up a driveway and says, Here we are.

Wow! says Kadin as he follows the others up the driveway.

He takes a couple of steps back to get a better view. It's a beautiful white two-story house with a large wrap-around porch that went around the front and both sides. There were flower gardens all along the front of the house and along the driveway with two large trees, one on each side of the driveway, adorned with Petunias of many colors and bordered with round river rock.

Wow! he says again.

What? Graham asks.

Nice place, Ali agrees and asks. Who lives here?

My grandma and grandpa, Graham answers.

Really? Ali asks while turning to look at Graham. Kadin turns to Graham, too, but is speechless.

After stopping to look at Ali to see if he was serious, Graham responds with a smile, Of course, I'm sure. I've known them my whole life.

Mason gives a quick chortle that turns into a laugh, with Graham following suite.

Follow me, guys, orders Graham to the others. The kitties are in the back-porch area. Do you want to go in and see them?

Heck yeah, Kadin answers excitedly

Duh! follows Ali in a monotone voice.

Mason follows Graham around the back of the house as Graham pulls the key out of his pocket.

The kittens are in here, he says.

You guys can play with them if you want while I get the food. Oh, here's Mommy Kitty, he says to the boys and continues, Here, Boots… Here, Kitty, Graham says, calling the mother cat. He reaches down to pick her up and can hear her purr. Are you hungry? he asks her obviously not expecting an answer.

The other boys are sitting on the floor playing with the kittens as Graham pets Mommy Kitty. There are four kittens, all black and white in color. One has white front paws with black rear paws, and another has white rear paws and black front paws. The other two have either all-white or all-black paws. All four kittens want attention from the boys. Ali picks up two kittens while Mason and Kadin each have one.

Hey, guys. There's a ball of yarn tied to a string over there, Graham suggests.

The kittens love to chase the yarn and jump at it. They are so cute, aren't they?

The boys all agree while Kadin gets up to get the yarn and begins to dangle it above one of the kittens. Immediately, all the kitten begins to jump for it. With the excitement of the other three kittens joining in, Kadin begins to laugh. Graham turns to see the boys laughing at the playful kittens, and while holding the mother cat, he opens the cupboard and reaches for a bag of cat food. Then holding the cat in one hand and the bag of cat food in the other, he decides to let the mommy outside so she can get some fresh air and exercise.

You need a few minutes of freedom away from the ornery kids, Graham says lovingly.

Kadin opens the door for Graham, and Graham lowers her to the ground.

Well, don't just stand there, he tells her as he gives her a little nudge with the toe of his shoe.

Ali steps next to Graham and asks him about the large tree in the backyard, What kind of tree is that?

Mason answers within a split second, It's weeping willow, followed by, Follow me, boys. Let's go climb it.

Ali agrees, and they both head out the door.

I'll help ya, Graham, Kadin volunteers.

Okay, thanks. I'll tell you what. I'll clean the litter box for Mommy Cat and put new newspaper on the bottom of the box that the kitties sleep in if you want to put some cat food in the blue bowl and fill the red bowl with fresh water; the sink is in the laundry room there, he suggests as he points to a door. Mom will drive me here later today to make sure they have what they need for the night.

No problem, Kadin says. Boy, your grandparents have a nice place.

Graham answers while not looking up and says, They've lived here since dad was in grade school.

Really? That's a long time to live in one place, Kadin says, astonished.

Thirtysome years.

They continue with their cleanup and feeding as Ali and Mason are out climbing the tree. What a cool old tree. Wonder how old it is, Ali asks.

Don't know. Can't even guess, says Mason as he reaches for the next higher branch. Wow, I can see through the upper windows… I'm pretty high up here. Then turning around, he says, Wow, I can see the Willamette River from here.

Really, inquires Ali. I'm heading up there too. Be careful, Mase. The limbs are getting pretty small up there, Ali reminds him.

No doubt.

While waiting for Ali to climb higher, he looks around at one of the neighbor's house and sees that they have a couple of dogs playing in the backyard. He smiles and turns around to look at the other house on the opposite side of the house.

They must have kids, he says to himself.

They have a trampoline in the back and a little pool. The pool is only three to four feet deep from what he can see, but that's a lot bigger and deeper than the one that Graham's dad bought his little brother Jonah a month or so ago. He can see a couple of lawn chairs with towels hung over the backs to dry. From high in the tree he is, he can see Spiderman on one of the towels and a couple of white unicorns with rainbows on the other towel.

Must be a little boy and little girl living there, he says, still talking to himself.

What did you say? Ali asks as he reaches Mason's height.

Then the two boys spend a minute looking around the neighborhood. This would be a cool place for a tree fort, Mason tells Ali.

Yeah, it's a lot higher than your tree fort, but it doesn't have lights like yours does, Ali says to Mason, acknowledging that he is still cooler. Wonder what it's like when the wind starts to blow? Yikes! Ali questions with a shiver, thinking about how scary it would be way up there if the wind was really blowing.

I'll race you back down, Mason challenges Ali.

You don't have a chance. I can swing from this branch to this branch, Ali says as he does so, proving his point.

As Kadin and Graham walk out the door to the backyard, they get there just in time to hear Mason gamble that he can get back down quicker than Ali.

Graham announces to the tree climbers, Okay, guys. We're done here. As soon as I put Mommy back in the house, let's go to Dairy Queen for our cool treats.

He and Kadin look up at the tree as Ali begins to swing from one branch to a lower branch and see Mason miss a branch.

Graham and Kadin are wide-eyed with mouths open to form the words Oh…no, as they watch Mason in horror. Mason reaches for another branch, missing it too, and then tries for another branch. It seems like slow motion because although he misses the bigger branches, he seems to have got a handful of the wispy willow limbs in each hand as he slowly strips the limbs of their slender leaves. His body weight slowly bends the thinner limbs downward to earth, but then he runs out of limbs and accelerates until he hits the ground with a thud.

Mase! Graham yells shortly before the little leaves that he stripped from the limbs come floating down on top and around Mason. Are you okay?

Groaning, Mason tries to speak and eventually gives a squeaky, Don't know. Gimme a minute.

When have we heard this before? announces Ali, thinking about the bike trip they took when Mason's front tire hit a rut and threw him into the gravel along the road and dislocating his shoulder.

By this time, the other three boys are at his side, waiting for an answer, as Mason lifts his left hand and cradles it in his right hand.

I broke my arm was all he could muster in a hurtful tone.

Bloody hell, Mase. How do you know? Ali asks.

I heard it break, he says as he groans a little more.

Oh man, let's get him up, Kadin says.

No, let me lie here for a minute and catch my breath, Mason responds.

You won, announces Ali sounding happy.

Graham looks at Ali with as frown wondering what Mason had just won.

Without saying a word, Mason also gives Ali a look of amazement too.

You beat me down to the ground. He laughs. But I think you cheated.

Shut up! Mason tells Ali harshly.

Just saying, Ali responds with a chuckle.

Kadin, can you go in the house and call 911? The phone is on the wall in the kitchen, Graham asks.

No, blurts Mason. I'll be okay. Mom's home. Call her, and she'll come get me.

What's your mom's number?

I…don't…know, Mason hesitantly answers. I never call her.

Kadin, call my mom, and she'll call Mason's mom. My mom's number is…, Graham tells Kadin, with Kadin quickly repeating it out loud as he runs to the house so he won't forget it.

When Kadin get back to the boys, he tells Graham, I told your mom that someone got hurt, and she said she would be right here. She said she would call his mom.

And I ask, Who's mom?

Then she answers, Mason's, of course.

He looks at Ali and Graham and asks, How'd she know it was Mason?

It's always Mase, they answer in unison, looking at each other and shaking their heads.

Mason just sits back on the nice green grass and doesn't say a thing.

About fifteen minutes later, Mason's mom, Susan, as well as Graham's mom, Donna, show up with Donna leading the way. Ali sees them drive up the driveway, each in their own car, so he runs out front to let them know they are in the backyard.

Mason is sitting up now, and as Donna walks around to the backyard with Susan at her heals, Susan asks, What the heck did you do now? You can't even feed little kittens without getting hurt.

Then as she looks up at the tree, she just shakes her head.

Too tempting, huh?

With a smile, Mason says, Ali pushed me, pointing at Ali and trying to make a lame joke while putting the blame on someone other than himself.

Right! Susan says.

Ali knew Mase was kidding, so he didn't try to defend himself. When Donna and Susan both look at him, he just smiles.

Then suddenly, Ali says, I can fix it. Everyone is giving him funny looks until he explains. I learned from Harry Potter. I just pull my wand out, point it to Mason's arm, and say, ‘Repair-O.' It works for Hermione… That's how she fixed Harry's glasses too.

Turning her attention back to her son, Susan asks, Can you get up and walk to the car? Or do you need the boys to help you?

Ali's helped enough, and I don't want him to touch me again. He smiles and then, with a more serious tone, adds, No, I can do it…now that I've got my breath back. It knocked the wind out of me, Mom, he tells her.

Continuing with his Harry Potter theme, Ali adds, I've left my wand at home, but I can use one of these sticks that Mason broke off the tree, as he looks around and reaches for a twig on the ground.

Again, shaking her head at Ali, Susan looks back at Mason and says, Dumbass.

Me, Ali questions.

Both of you, she replies while looking at Mason and Ali with a smile. Then staring at Mason adds, It's always you. Wait until your dad finds out. He may ground you in the house for the next week until school starts just so you'll survive the rest of the summer.

Mom, Mason says with a chuckle, you've never called me a dumbass before!

Me either, says Ali.

Shut up, Alistair, says Graham, with Kadin laughing out loud, standing behind him.

Should have, many times, and I'm sure you'll be hearing it a lot more, she says, continuing to laugh along with the others. You too, she says, looking at Ali.

Well, Mrs. Caldwell, Mase thinks he broke his arm! Ali then tells Susan.

Jeez, you just stopped wearing that sling from when you dislocated your shoulder, Donna noted. I hope the hospital doesn't think you live in an abusive home.

With a big sigh, Susan pauses to think about what Donna says and shakes her head.

The other boys help Mason get up by lifting him under his good arm as Mason groans. Once standing, Mason cradles his bad arm again and takes small strides around the house to the car in the driveway.

Where's Jonah? Graham asks his mom.

He's with Kadin's mom, I mean, Elaine. We were sitting with her on the front porch talking, and I left him with her so I could run into the house, grab the car keys, and meet Susan. She didn't know where Grandma and Grandpa live, so I led the way."

Where are you taking him, hospital or urgent care? Donna asks Susan

They're an equal distance from here, so we're going to the hospital.

They all watch as Susan helps Mason buckle his seat belt and walks around the car to the driver's side.

Graham turns to his mom and asks, Should we put Mason's bike in the Yukon and take it back, or should we just leave it in Grandpa's garage for now?

May as well take it now, then we can drop it off at their house later today, she says, pointing to Susan and Mason in the car.

Okay, we'll meet you at home in half an hour or so, Graham says as he picks up Mason's bike to walk it to the car. Then you can take us to the hospital to see Mason, Graham suggests.

That's not necessary. He'll be home shortly, Donna tells him. You guys can see him when he gets home.

Naw, we want to go to the hospital, and we can bring Jonah too.

What? It's not a party, Donna tells him.

We know, says Ali with a smile. But Mase is our buddy. We need to support him in his time of need.

Oh, don't be so dramatic, Ali, Donna says with a chuckle. He's probably just going to have a cast put on, and he'll be home shortly. All right, guys, see ya at home. Then turning to Graham, she asks, Did you lock Grandma and Grandpas' house?

Yes, he says.

Since the Yukon didn't have room for all the bikes without the bike rack being attached, the boys had to ride their bikes home. They rush home as fast as they can, but as mentioned before, it's uphill all the way.

On the ride back home, Graham says, Dang it!

What? Ali asks.

We didn't get our Ice Cream, Kadin adds.

Yep, says Graham. I'll ask Mom if we can keep the money and go tomorrow.

At home, Donna sees the boys ride up to the house. She hits the garage door button on the remote control, and as the door rolls up, she tells the boys to put the bikes in the garage. Be sure to take Mason's bike out of the Yukon.

As the boys push their bikes into the garage, Donna tells them, I've changed my mind. Get in the car.

Graham has a query look on his face as he follows his mom's orders.

Yes! says a happy Graham, Kadin and Ali too?

Of course, Kadin and Ali too, she says.

Graham tells Ali and Kadin, Bring the bikes in here, guys.

Jonah, waiting by the garage door, questions Graham, What took you so long? using a scolding attitude.

Frowning at his brother as he runs back to the Yukon to get Mason's bike out, he tells Jonah, Shut up. It didn't take that long, and it's up hill all the way.

Once all the bikes are in the garage, Graham pushes the button for the garage door, and as it lowers, the three kids run out of the garage and to the Yukon. Donna has already buckled Jonah in his booster seat in the center of the second-row seat, and each of the other boys chooses a door to the Yukon.

They buckle themselves in as Donna explains, "I gave it some thought, and I changed my mind about going to the hospital. If Mason does need a cast as he thinks he does, Susan will be sitting in the emergency room for at least two hours waiting for the doctors, then X-rays, and then for someone to put the cast on, it could be even longer if the hospital is busy. We might not be waiting the whole time if it takes a while because I have things to do, but I would think being late on a Saturday morning, they shouldn't be too busy.

Cool. Thanks, Mom, says Graham, with the others in agreement.

Elaine already knows you're with us, Kadin. Ali, you can use my cell phone to call your mom and let her know what's going on. Your mom's cell phone number is in my contact list on my phone.

They arrive at the hospital, and as they walk into the emergency room waiting area, Donna warns everyone about being quiet.

There they are, Ali says, pointing to the right side of the waiting area.

Mason is sitting next to Susan, leaning against her with his eyes closed while Susan is looking at a magazine. Susan doesn't see the group until she looks up and sees them standing in front of her.

What are you guys doing here? she asks Donna.

The kids convinced me that you guys needed moral support.

Mason opens his eyes and sits up straight, finally smiling, Thanks, guys.

Moral support? Susan questions while scanning to look at Susan and the boys. "This is our home away from home.

Yeah, I heard the hospital is adding a ‘Mason Caldwell' wing to the south hall, Graham announces.

Shut up, Cracker, is all Mason can say.

Kadin gives a short chuckle as Ali says, What a grouch!

Just as Graham is about to ask if he has been looked at yet, a nurse announces, Mason Caldwell to window number three… Mason Caldwell to window number three.

Oh good, let's check in so they can do an X-ray and put on a cast, and we can get home before dinner, Susan says hopefully. While she helps Mason up, she tells Donna, I'll check him in, and I'll be right back. Mase doesn't need me with him in the X-ray room, and they will send him back out here while we wait for the results.

Sounds good, we'll be here.

At the window, Susan hands the woman the family insurance card and signs a bunch of papers as Mason sits in the chair next to her.

All right, Mason. Follow me, young man, says a nurse who just walked in from a rear door behind the woman gathering the information and entering it all into a computer. We'll get your X-ray and see what we've got. I see in your medical records that you dislocated your shoulder a few weeks ago? With a slight smile, she continues, What are you trying to do, young man, and how did you do it this time?

She can hear Mason start to tell her that he fell out of a tree as they pass through the door, and the door closes.

Susan goes back to the waiting room, where everyone else is waiting for her. What am I going to do with him? she asks Donna shaking her head.

Not much you can do other than lock him up in his room, answers Donna.

That won't work, says Ali shaking his head.

I guess he just needs to mature and become a little more coordinated and learn to make wiser decisions, Donna answers in a quiet voice.

I swear I didn't push him out of the tree, Ali says, standing next to Susan.

I know that, you silly goose, Susan says with a chuckle. She raises her right arm and put it around Ali's shoulders, pulling him toward her. He's just accident-prone, but he'll grow out of it soon, I'm sure of it.

You silly goose, you silly goose, Jonah repeats.

Chapter 2

First Day of School

Graham and Kadin walk to Mason's house, and together, they all meet Alistair at the bus stop.

Oooooh, snazzy cloths, Ali, says Mason. Are you trying to make us look like scum?

Don't have to try, responds Ali with a smile.

Yeah, yeah, says Kadin. I'm still wearing last year's shoes.

But you have new pants and a shirt, noticed Graham.

Yeah, Elaine took me to get some clothes this weekend, but my shoes are still good. Elaine and Tom are so nice to me, he finishes with a solemn look.

With a pat on the shoulder and nodding his head, Graham agrees, Yep, you really are lucky, dude. They are really cool.

Here it comes, Mason says, pointing down the street.

The bus stops, and all four boys hop on the bus. Good morning, gentlemen, says the bus driver as they walk up the few steps toward her. The driver is a middle-aged lady with short gray hair and a great smile. And your names are…?

The boys rattle their names off one by one before taking their seats, and Ali asks her, And what is your name?

Mrs. Griffith. But you can call me Debra.

Well, Debra Griffith, nice to meet you, says Graham. Looking back at the bus, he asks, Where is everyone else?

Well, since you're at the far end of my route, this is my first stop.

Cool, we can sit anywhere we want? Ali asks inquisitively to Debra.

Anywhere, she states, continuing with her smile. Then looking at Mason and his arm in the cast, she questions him with What did you do?

Mason points to Ali and says, He pushed me out of a tree.

Again all Ali does is smile.

Right, she says. Then with a whisper, she tells Mason, You need to find better friends.

I know.

The bus spends the next twenty to twenty-five minutes picking up other students along the bus route.

Once at the school, the bus driver stands up and announces to everyone.

"My name is Mrs. Griffith. I will be your regular bus driver for this route, so when you get out of school, I will have the bus waiting in this same spot. This is bus number 9…remember that. However, once in a while, when