If Angels Fall

SIXTY

Zach forced himself to quit bawling like some sort of candy-ass wuss. Jeff and Gordie wouldlaugh at him, but it hurt. Everything was coming apart. His folks were reallysplitting. The kids at school were right. When your folks split and move out,they never get back together, no matter what they tell you.

Right after the big blowup with Dad, Mom went to herroom, and slammed the door. He heard her crying, wailing like he had neverheard before. It scared him. Her sobbing tore at his heart.

He didn’t know what to do. But he had to do something,had to grow up and do something.

He opened his school backpack and was shoving stuff init. He had made a decision. He was going to Gordie’s. He’d stay with his pal.He’d get away.

He stuffed his CD player, Batman comics, Swiss armyknife, penlight, Walkman, some underwear, and balled up some pants, socks,shirts, and a jacket into his pack. He dropped to his knees and carefully slidout the envelop he kept hidden under the big drawer in his room. It containedhis life savings: $117.14.

Zach hoisted the bag on his back, slipped out of thehouse, and trotted off, growing angrier and more determined with each step hetook along Fulton.

Mom and Dad were breaking a promise.

This is how you measured a person’s worth, by thenumber of promises they broke.

It just wasn’t fair.

He headed toward Center. He knew the way to BART. He’dtake it to San Francisco and then take a cab to Gordie’s house. They could callJeff and catch up on stuff, talk about old times. Maybe he could move in withGordie. Maybe there was some way he and Gordie could become brothers. Maybesign some court papers or something. Gordie’s mother and father never fought.Gordie’s dad was an accountant and was always home.

It was kind of nice being on his own. Before he got onBART, he’d stop at that hobby store along the way and buy that monster-sizedmodel of the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. He could take it with him to Gordie’sand he could help him put it together. That would be cool!

He was on his own now. They didn’t need him around inBerkeley anymore. Zach sniffed as he waited for the light to change at anintersection. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed a white van a few carlengths away. Funny.

Looks like the same doof that was hangin’ out near hisgrandma’s place earlier. So what? Zach shrugged off his curiosity.