Текст книги "Sunset Rising"

Автор книги: S. McEachern

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 22 страниц)

I tried to remember how I felt four years ago when we met again. I remembered thinking how handsome he was, how tall and strong. A lot of other girls wanted him too, but he picked me and that made me feel special. I liked being out in public with him—socializing with our friends. But I couldn’t remember even one time that I responded to Reyes physically the way I was responding to Jack. Whenever Reyes had tried to make love to me, the only feeling he stirred in me was fear. If I was to be honest with myself, I hated the way his hands groped at me, pressuring me to do something I didn’t want to do. Yet with Jack… just thinking about him made me ache.

Deep down, I knew the only reason I had stayed with Reyes was because we both needed a partner in order to qualify for an apartment. That was the main reason everyone in the Pit eventually married. If I had not accidentally married Jack, then I would have married Reyes after the next Cull. Maybe in time I would have come to enjoy his touch.

It took a long time to fall asleep, but just before I did, I heard Jack softly snoring in the other room. He was my last thought.

Chapter Eighteen

Reluctantly, I brushed away the mists of sleep. I felt a glimmer of happiness that morning, and I think it was because I had a nice dream. I’d like to go back to that happy place and forget my reality. Forget the chaos that had become my life. But I had to go to work. I rolled out of bed, put my pants on, and went into the living room. Jack was still sitting in the chair looking exhausted.

“I’d ask how you slept, but…” I trailed off. He probably didn’t need me telling him he looked like hell.

“I probably look worse than I feel. I managed to get quite a bit of sleep last night,” he said. I was pretty sure he was lying.

“You have to take the bed tonight.” If he allowed himself to get too tired, he would start making mistakes in his work and get himself beaten.

Despite the dark circles under his eyes, he did look more handsome than usual this morning. I didn’t want to stare, but his eyes were closing and he seemed to be going back to sleep. Then I figured it out. He didn’t have the coal in his hair. It was back to its natural light sandy color. His facial hair was thicker too, and it gave him a rugged look. The t-shirt he was wearing was dirty and torn from working in the mines, and where it had ripped, the skin on his hard, muscled torso peeked out. He didn’t look anything like the Jack Kenner I first met upstairs in the Dome. He still had the darker skin of the average bourge. My mother told me they were darker because of the special lighting they had in the Dome. But any resemblance to other bourge stopped there. He was more handsome, if that was possible.

I continued my inspection, my eyes following the curves of his muscular arms and back up to his face. I liked the way his black eyelashes framed his blue eyes… blue eyes that were staring straight back at me. I almost jumped when I realized he’d caught me looking at him.

“I was just looking at your hair… I need to darken it.” I felt a tell-tale blush creep across my face. He smirked as he closed his eyes again. “And you’ll need to get a razor soon. You’re beard is coming in blonde and using coal on it will look obvious.”

“How do I get a razor?”

“We need to make enough credits to buy one for you.”

“How long will that take?”

“Probably longer than we have down here.”

I retrieved the coal from the cupboard and rubbed it through the strands of his hair, thinking how surreal this act was. If anyone had told me a week ago that I would be living with Jack Kenner and sharing my secret for dark hair, I would have laughed. Yet here I was enjoying the feeling of his soft, wavy hair between my fingers.

He had fallen back to sleep, for which I was grateful. Maybe when he woke up he would think he had been dreaming when he caught me checking him out. I let him sleep while I darkened my own hair and put my vest back on.

“Jack, time to wake up.” I shook his shoulder gently.

He woke up with a start at my touch. I remembered that the first time I had to wake him he’d gone for my throat. This time I stood behind him just in case. He took a few seconds to orient himself.

“Did you see where I put my hat?” he asked groggily.

I picked it up from the table and handed it to him. He got up and followed me out of the apartment.

“I don’t suppose you have any caffeinated or energy drinks down here?” Jack asked me on the way to breakfast.

“We have water and occasionally hot tea.” I had never heard of an energy drink. Maybe it was like the protein shake he had given me up in the Dome. I remembered it helped combat the effects of the wine.

“Then I’ll pray for tea,” he said, rubbing his eyes.

I saw the look of surprise on Jack’s face when I didn’t head down to the sixth level common room, but he didn’t question me. The only person down there to see now was Reyes, and he had made it clear he didn’t want to see me anymore.

We joined the queue to receive our rations. Jack asked for tea but got water. I spotted an empty table for two and headed toward it. I was happy not to have to share a table with anyone else. Jack sat down and scanned the room, stopping to look at someone in particular.

“She looks familiar,” he said with a puzzled look on his face.

I followed the direction of his gaze. “That’s Crystal. I work with her in laundry.”

She was sitting with two people I assumed were her parents. She cast a glance in our direction, and I could tell she recognized me. Then she saw Jack. I was sure I saw a look of surprise on her face before she dropped her gaze.

“How do you know her?”

“I don’t know. She just seems really familiar.” Jack turned his attention to his breakfast. “Oh, stew again. What a surprise.”

He took a mouthful and I could tell he was forcing it down. I opened my container and did the same.

I was concerned about Crystal. If she’d recognized Jack, we could be in a lot of trouble. I remembered Di didn’t seem to think she was trustworthy.

“I’m sorry things didn’t work out so well with Reyes,” Jack said. I wasn’t sure if he was just trying to make conversation or if he really cared.

“I’ll get over it.”

“To be honest, I’m surprised at how well you’re taking it.”

I watched Crystal get up and leave with her parents. “Are you done?” I asked, trying to eyeball his container. It looked empty.

“In a hurry?”

“I think I better get a head start on work today. The laundry room is backed up because of the lockdowns, and I don’t want to have to work late again tonight.” I lied– what I really wanted to do was get to work early again and have a conversation with Crystal.

“Guess I’ll get a head start on chiselling out some coal.” He stood up, and I followed. We walked down the hall together to the stairs. “Be careful,” he said and kissed the top of my head. It was the second time he had done that, and I liked it. I hoped it was becoming a habit.

I watched him until he was gone from sight and then scrambled up the stairs as quickly as I could. Traffic wasn’t too heavy yet so it didn’t take me long to climb the two levels to the laundry room. As I hoped, Crystal was there waiting for the laundry room to open.

“Good morning,” I said cheerfully.

She gave me a nervous smile and then turned to stare at the closed doors. “Supervisor Madi isn’t here yet?”

“No,” she said almost under her breath. She turned her attention back to the doors.

“So how long have you been working in laundry?”

“A couple of years.”

“Do you like it?”

“It’s a job.”

A deep bruise on her forearm peeked out just below her t-shirt sleeve. She saw where I was looking and tried to pull the shirt down over it. It reminded me of the bruises Reyes left on my arms when he grabbed me the other day.

“That looks like it hurts.”

“Mind your own business,” she snapped.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” I wondered why she was so touchy about it.

Supervisor Madi came up behind us, cutting off any more conversation. Crystal turned her back to me, making it clear she was here to work, not socialize.

“Scan in,” Madi said as she unlocked the doors.

Crystal got to the scanner first then almost ran to her workstation. I waved my hand over the scanner and went in search of the laundry carts. I took the first one and went to my usual station to start sorting the clothes.

Di greeted me with a smile. “Well, you’re in bright and early again today. Morning, Crystal,” she called over her shoulder. Crystal mumbled something in response. “Looks like you have things in hand,” Di said when she saw my sorting job.

“I could always use an expert opinion, though,” I said, hoping she would check over my work.

“Let’s see.” She rummaged through the clothes, a look of satisfaction on her face. “Not bad. I’d put this in with this pile, though. And that should be hand washed.” She pulled a dark grey shirt out and placed it in another pile, and then put a dress off on its own. “Good job.” She left to select a cart for herself.

I gathered up one pile of clothes and took it to a machine. Lots of people were arriving to work, and the laundry room was getting busy already. I knew once the machines and irons were going full tilt, the room would become unbearably hot again. I added the detergent to the machine and pressed the button. I repeated my steps with the next two piles until my entire cart of clothes was in the washing machines. The only item of clothing left to do was the dress. Crystal did the hand washing, and I was glad for an excuse to talk to her again.

I went over to her. “Di told me this should be hand washed.”

“Just put it there.” She motioned to the empty counter next to the sink.

“I was hoping you could show me how to wash it myself.” That would allow me more time to talk with her.

“That’s my job. You don’t need to know how to do it.”

“I know, but if Supervisor Madi ever asked me to do it, then I sure would appreciate knowing how to do it properly.”

She gave me a sidelong glance. She knew as well as I did that if I was ever assigned a job to do and did it poorly, Madi would beat me.

“Just this once. So pay attention,” she said. “Feel the temperature of the water.” I stuck my hand in the sink. The water was freezing cold. “Colors will run in warm, so it has to be cold. Then you use this kind of detergent.” She pulled out a small bottle and poured a very little bit into the cold water. “Make a few suds like this. Then put the dress in the water and start squeezing it gently.”

“Can I try?” She stood aside and let me wash the dress. Within seconds my hands ached from the freezing water. “How do you do this all day long?”

She shrugged. “You get used to it. So I’ve never seen you in our common room before.”

“I’m new on the fourth level. I just got married, and my husband and I were assigned an apartment there.” It wasn’t a complete lie.

“Was that your husband with you this morning?” She eyed me to see my reaction.

“Yes. Handsome, isn’t he?” I was almost certain she knew something.

“I didn’t notice.” I could tell by her expression she was closing me out again.

“Di tells me you like to sing.”

“Like to sing? Di should mind her own business.” Crystal shot a sneering look over at Di. “The dress is done. Wring it out and hang it.”

I wondered what I had said to make her angry.

Madi was bearing down on us. “What are you doing over here, Jones?” I heard her say “Jones,” and she was looking at me. Then I remembered I was Jones. Autumn Jones.

“I asked Crystal to show me how to hand wash. I thought if I knew how then I could help out if she ever got too busy.”

Madi kept coming at me, raised her hand, and struck me across the head. Stars appeared in my vision and for a moment I thought I was going to black out, but then the stars faded and I could see Madi’s angry face again.

“You think you can run this place better than me?”

I shook my head. Di had warned me about Madi, but I had no idea she was this quick to anger.

“I knew I didn’t like you any more than I liked her,” Madi said, jerking her thumb toward Crystal. “Get back to your station and do your own work unless I tell you otherwise! Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Every fibre of my being wanted to lash back at her, but I knew it was a fight I couldn’t win. I dropped the dress back in the water and returned to my station.

“Crystal, you know better!” Madi yelled. I heard her strike Crystal, and I cringed. “Do your own damn work!”

I watched Madi go back to her desk and plop down into her chair. I felt awful about getting Crystal into trouble. Judging by the bruise on her arm, it looked like she had enough trouble lately.

“I told you before, you mind yourself around Madi,” Di whispered to me from her station. “I’ve seen that woman thrash a worker to death.”

I knew now that Di wasn’t exaggerating. I should have listened to her before. I put my head down, determined to stick to my own work. From then on, I wouldn’t even risk asking Di for help. If I messed up, then at least I would only implicate myself. My head pounded from the force of her blow.

I managed to finish two full carts of laundry before our lunch was brought in. Madi gave us only fifteen minutes to eat today, probably because of my stupid move with Crystal, but I was grateful to have even that short time to drink some water. Di graciously shared her ration with me again, too. The room was unbearably hot.

The lunch break was over almost before it began. I returned to work and managed to do two more carts of laundry before the bong bongs rang out. I still had clothes to fold. I glanced in Crystal’s direction to see if she was done, but she had a few things to finish up, too. Since I owed her an apology, I slowed my pace to match hers, so we would be done at the same time. I scanned out right behind her.

“I’m so sorry about today, Crystal,” I said as we left the laundry room. She ignored me and continued down the stairs. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”

She stopped and looked at me. “What happened today isn’t your fault. Madi will find any excuse to beat a worker. She likes it.”

She continued down the stairs, and I followed behind her.

“I’m still sorry I provoked her.” We reached the fourth floor, and she turned in the same direction as my apartment. “You live this way too?”

She nodded. “Hey, isn’t that your husband?” she asked, pointing in the direction of my apartment.

My heart leaped into my throat when I saw Jack sitting on the ground holding his head in his hands, flanked by Raine and Mica. I broke into a run.

“What happened?” I picked up Jack’s head and looked into his eyes. It looked like he was trying to focus on me. “Ja—Ben, can you hear me?” I hoped I corrected my mistake before Crystal heard me. She stopped to regard us for a moment, a hint of concern on her face, but continued on her way down the hall.

Mica laughed. “Your boy here thought it would be fun to take on a few guards.”

“Yeah, Ben decided to clock one of the guards in the head, and that’s when all hell broke loose. Three guards came at him all at once, and he flattened all three in less than a minute. Then two more came at him, and he just about had them put down when another guard came up behind him. That guard butted him in the back of the head with his rifle.”

I probed the back of his head for any bumps. I found a big one. “What were you thinking?”

“I never saw anyone fight like that,” Raine said, smiling at Jack. “Maybe I’ll let him teach me some moves if he still wants to. That is, if he doesn’t die of a brain haemorrhage tonight.”

“There’s a bunch of other guys interested too. That was the coolest thing I ever saw,” Mica said.

“Can you help me get him inside?” I waved my hand over the scanner and opened the door. Jack was able to stand up on his own, but Raine and Mica stayed on either side of him just in case he fell over. He didn’t look beaten up, just that huge bump on the back of his head. He made his way into the bedroom and flopped down on the bed.

“You better see about getting some ice for him,” Raine said before he left.

“Reyes didn’t come with you?” I wasn’t sure why I asked because I didn’t even care. It just seemed strange to have Raine and Mica around without Reyes.

“Reyes was impressed by your boy, too. He just didn’t want to admit it. Give him some time,” Raine said.

I nodded. “Thanks for bringing him.”

I was grateful they didn’t just leave Jack down there on his own. I returned to the bedroom to see how bad his injury was.

“Jack, can you hear me?” I took his face in both my hands and tried to force him to look at me.

“I’m fine. Just a little out of focus.” He shook his head as if that would clear his vision.

“No, you’re not fine. What were you thinking? You don’t hit the guards back!”

“I’m just so fed up.” His voice sounded tired. “But I guess on the bright side, I’m still alive and a bunch of guys are interested in joining your rebellion.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear them? They want me to teach them how to fight.”

“You didn’t deliberately pick a fight to impress Reyes and his friends, did you?”

“It wasn’t the reason I started the fight, but once I got going I realized I had their attention. I counted all the guards, but it’s really dark down there, and I missed one.”

“You could’ve been killed. What you did was dangerous.”

“Did you think starting a rebellion wasn’t going to be dangerous? I teach a couple of guys a few moves and the most they’ll get out of it is what I got today or probably worse. If you want things to change down here, you need to teach an army how to fight. And if I’m not willing to take the risk of fighting back, don’t expect them to listen to anything you want me to tell them. You have to lead by example, and now I have their attention.”

The last time Jack had spoken to me like that was in his apartment before the wedding, back when he was about to become the president-in-waiting. He was using the same authoritative, matter-of-fact tone. I didn’t like this Jack, even though I knew he was right. And what he was proposing—raising an army—was a far bigger plan than anything I ever had in mind. I just wanted the violence to stop. I wanted every person down there capable of fighting back every time a guard or supervisor raised his hand to strike. I wanted to empower them.

“I have to get some ice.” I turned to leave.

“Sunny,” Jack said softly. I stopped at the bedroom door. “I’m sorry. That was harsh.”

“No. It was right,” I said, and left the apartment.

Chapter Nineteen

I decided to go down to the sixth level to get the ice because I was more at home there. I knew the people working behind the counter would give it to me with no questions asked, although I really didn’t want to run into Reyes. He would probably start another argument, and I didn’t need that tonight.

I was beginning to understand now what Jack had been trying to tell me all along. Arming a few people with the skills to defend themselves was only going to get them killed. Jack’s injury was proof enough that the guards weren’t going to put up with an insolent urchin. But I didn’t see how we could raise an army and stay hidden from Holt as well.

Most people had eaten by then, and the line-up for food was short. I looked around to see if Summer was there. She wasn’t. Reyes was there, though, so I kept my head down.

“I need some ice,” I said when it was my turn. Ice wasn’t a usual commodity in the Pit, but it was available for emergencies.

“What do you need it for?” asked the woman behind the counter.

“My husband may have a concussion. I need ice for the swelling.” I hoped I looked pathetic enough for her to take pity on me.

She narrowed her eyes, studying me. “Your husband the one that laid six guards on their backs in the mine today?”

I nodded.

“Then I’ll come personally to have a look at him for you.”

“It’s okay. I just need the ice. He seems fine.” Alarms were going off inside my head. If anyone examined Jack closely they would probably recognize him. He wasn’t hurt badly enough to take that chance. She ignored me and started rummaging through her things behind the counter to put a bag together.

“You two eat yet?”

“Really, all I want is the ice.”

She continued as if I’d never spoken, placing two containers of food into her bag. “I have almost fifteen years of medical training behind me so I can tell you if it’s a concussion or not.” She came around from behind the counter and headed for the door. I had to run to catch up to her. “Might be I can’t do anything for him, but at least I should be able to tell if it’s serious or not. Which way?” she asked when we reached the hall.

“My husband’s really uncomfortable around strangers. Please, if you could just give me some ice.” I realized I should never have sought out help. I was putting us in too much danger of being caught.

“I know who you are,” the woman said in a voice so low only I would hear. “And I know who the man is you’re trying to protect. Now I don’t have much of a soft spot for the bourge, but when I hear a man kicked the snot out of six guards because they were pickin’ on a little kid, well I don’t mind helping out at all.”

All I could do was stare at her in shock. My first instinct was to deny everything she said, but by the look on her face, my denials would fall on deaf ears.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“You think you grew up in the Pit without anyone ever noticing you? It’s hard not to notice a girl of your height who likes to put coal in her hair. That hat you wear isn’t hiding anything.” She laughed.

I started climbing the stairs. “Does everyone know?” All this time I thought we had everyone fooled.

“Anyone who knew you before probably knows you now, too. Not to mention just about everyone down here watched your wedding. You’re a famous couple.”

I left the stairs at the second level and went in the direction of our apartment. I still wasn’t sure about this. I didn’t have to go to our apartment and give our location away. I could still mislead her. But Jack did need the ice, and it seemed like this was the only way to get it for him. I guessed she could’ve turned us in any time but she hadn’t, so I decided to take the risk, went to our apartment, and let her in.

She nodded toward the bedroom.

“Is he in there?”

“Yes.” I followed behind her.

Jack must have heard her voice because he was trying to stand when we went into the bedroom. He leaned against the wall to steady himself.

“Woozy, are you?” the woman asked.

“Who is this?”

“Just sit back down on the bed before you fall over and hurt yourself,” the woman said in a tone not to be argued with. Jack shot me a questioning look, but all I could do was shrug. He sat back down. “My name’s Dawn Reed. I already told your wife I have fifteen years of medical training. I’m not educated like the doctors you have upstairs, but I’ve managed to keep a few people alive in my day.” Jack was still staring at me, and his eyes widened at her admission.

“I’m sure my wife exaggerated my condition. She worries about me like that. I’m fine,” he said brushing her hands away from him.

Dawn persisted, though, intent on feeling his head for any wounds. She found the bump on his head. “Oh, that’s a good one. You’ll definitely need some ice on it to take down the swelling.” She rummaged through her bag and came up with a small flashlight. “Let’s take a look at your eyes.” She bent his head back. He tried to jerk away, but it was too late. “Wow, those eyes are bluer in person than they are on television. How have you been hiding them down here?”

“She knows, Jack,” I said.

“And you brought her here anyway?”

“She can turn us in whether she knows where we’re living or not.”

“She’s right,” Dawn said. “A lot of people have figured out who you are. But no one is going to turn you in. Sunny is a hero down here, and as long as you’re with her, you’re safe, too… I think.”

“You’re saying the minute I’m not with her…”

“No one down here likes a bourge, and you’re high up on the food chain. I mean, you were pretty close to becoming president yourself, weren’t you?” She said it like it was a bad thing. “But if she says you’re okay, then we’ll let you stay down here. And it didn’t hurt that you helped that kid today in the mines either. No one’s ever taken on the guards before. Well, at least not six at once.”

“So, you’re not going to turn me in?”

“Isn’t that what I’ve been saying? Now let me have a look at those gorgeous blue eyes of yours. Don’t get to see those too often in the Pit!” But Jack didn’t offer his eyes up for inspection.

“Jack, it can’t hurt. Just let her have a look,” I said. I was rewarded with an angry glare, but he finally submitted.

Dawn held open one of his eyelids and flashed the light at it a few times. She repeated the process with his other eye. “When you stood up earlier, were you dizzy or just off balance?”

“Dizzy.”

“Any ringing in your ears?”

“No.”

“Bad taste in your mouth?”

“No.”

“Can you touch your right index finger to your nose?” she asked. He did it. “Can you touch your left index finger to your nose?” He did but made it obvious he felt like an idiot.

Dawn took a pin out of her bag and began to prick down his left arm. Jack kept jerking his arm away from her, and she seemed satisfied with his reaction. Then she tried his right arm. She began to take his pulse. “Is your vision okay?”

“It is now.”

“But it was blurry earlier?”

“I had a little trouble focusing.”

“His heart rate is okay,” she said. “With dizziness and blurred vision he might have a mild concussion, but I don’t think it’s anything too serious. He’s got all the feeling in his arms.” She pulled out a bag of ice and handed it to me. “Put this over the bump on his head, and keep it there as long as he can stand it. The cold will bring the swelling down. I don’t want him going to sleep right away, but if he makes it through the next few hours without any vomiting or delirium of any kind then let him sleep. He vomits or acts crazy, you come get me.”

Dawn wrote down her apartment number on the sixth level. Then she remembered the containers of food she brought for us and put them on the table.

“Thank you,” I said awkwardly. “Thank you for everything—for the advice and for keeping our secret.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to her. I felt vulnerable with this stranger who knew our identities. All I could do was hope she was trustworthy. I walked her to the door and watched her leave.

I threw my hat on the table and took off my heavy vest once she was gone. I filled two glasses with water and then decided to use some of our water ration for washing. Jack wouldn’t be able to get to the bath tonight, and I knew how much he liked to be clean. I filled a basin with water and quickly washed myself. When I went back into the bedroom, Jack was already asleep.

“Wake up,” I said, coming to sit on the bed. I laid the bag of ice on the back of his head.

“That’s cold! I’m tired and my head is pounding. I just want to sleep.”

“I brought you some water and a towel. I’ll give you a few minutes to wash up then I’ll come back and sit with you.”

I went back out into the living room until he called out that he was done. When I returned to the bedroom, he was lying face down on the bed with his shirt off and already asleep.

“You heard her,” I said loudly. “You have to stay awake for a few hours.” I pushed him farther onto the bed to make room for myself, put one of the pillows against the wall, and leaned back on it. Jack propped himself up on his elbows and gave me an inquisitive look.

“What? If I’m going to be here keeping you awake, I’m going to be comfortable.” I held the glass out to him. “Water?”

He drained the glass and passed it back. I opened one of the containers of food and took a bite. “It’s still warm. Do you want some?”

He wrinkled his nose at the smell. “Is it still grey?”

“Yes it is.”

“Maybe later.” He laid his head back down, and I put the ice on it.

“So you didn’t tell me there was a kid involved today. What happened?”

“I’ll tell you as soon as you tell me how you got that bruise on the side of your head,” he said without looking up at me.

I touched my head and realized there was a tender spot just above my eye. Madi must have been wearing a ring. I didn’t feel comfortable talking about it with Jack. He beat up six guards in order to help a kid, and I just stood by and watched Crystal get hit. Knowing that I was the reason Madi had struck her didn’t help my guilt or humiliation.

“My supervisor is a bit of a hot head.” I hoped to leave it at that.

“Then keep your head down at your job, and don’t do anything to provoke her.”

“Supervisors like her don’t need to be provoked. She was born mean. Now it’s your turn. What happened?”

“A guard started pushing a twelve-year-old kid around because he wasn’t doing something right, and I told him to back off. Another guard came over and started pushing me around. That’s when I lost my temper. I mean, what the hell is a twelve-year-old kid doing working in the mines? He should be in school.”

“Down here, you’re an adult at twelve and have to find a job. Freeloaders aren’t tolerated. Those are the rules you bourge force on us. We have no choice.”

“I understand why the witch doctor lumped me in with them, but I would hope by now you would know better.”

I knew that Jack had a good heart, but he was still a bourge. He was used to being in charge. He hated our food and missed having hot showers every day. Although I admired him for wanting to help us in the Pit, it didn’t make him one of us. But I would never say any of this to him. I could only imagine what it must be like to be hunted by your own people and barely tolerated by mine.

“So tell me what it was like growing up as Jack Kenner,” I said.

“I just want to go to sleep, Sunny.” I could tell his head was hurting him a lot.

“Put your head in my lap.”

He hesitated a moment, then laid his head in my lap. I held the ice against his bump and used my other hand to run through his hair, gently massaging his scalp and the back of his neck. My mother had always done this for me whenever I had a headache.

“That feels nice,” he said. He wrapped an arm around the top of my legs and snuggled his head into me. I thought that felt nice, too.