52 - How I Learned to Fly (7 page)

I called Ethan and Ray to see if they wanted to play—but they couldn’t. They both had homework to do.

Tiptoeing through the hall, I left the house through the back door. I stood
in the backyard and gazed up at the stars. It was a perfect night. Warm. Not a
cloud in the sky.

A perfect night for a short flight over Malibu.

I glanced around—to make sure no one was watching. Then I soared up into
the night sky.

Over the rooftops. Over the trees. Over the beach.

I took a deep breath. The ocean air smelled so fresh, so sweet up here.

A light breeze blew through my hair.

So peaceful. So quiet.

So free. Soaring high. Gazing out. Surrounded by nothing but twinkling stars.

I picked up speed. The wind rushed at my face. My T-shirt rippled against my
chest.

The stars streamed by. The ocean rolled darkly beneath me.

I gazed down at the Malibu Hills. Then headed toward Los Angeles. I flew over
the city. The lights below sparkled for miles.

I flew faster. Barrel-rolled to the left. Then to the right. Then headed into
a loop, flying upside down.

Awesome!

Totally awesome!

I’m so lucky! I can sail! Glide! Soar!

“I can FLYYYY!” I whooped, spinning in the air.

I glided for a while on my back, gazing up at the stars. Trying to identify
the constellations. Then I spun around and peered down—into total darkness.

No porch lights. No street lamps. No headlights from cars.

No houses. No buildings.

Total darkness.

A wave of panic swept over me. How did this happen? Where is the city? Where
am I?

“How long have I been flying?” I groaned. “How far have I flown?”

I didn’t know.

I swooped down, searching for a dim light somewhere. But all I saw was
darkness. Complete darkness.

I turned around—heading back home, I hoped.

Swooping lower. Searching for a familiar sight.

Finally I spotted a string of lights. A freeway! But
which
freeway? I
couldn’t tell!

My heart pounded in my chest. Cold beads of sweat prickled my forehead.

I’m lost, I realized, shivering in cold dread.

I am miles and miles from home.

Totally lost.

I landed in the tall grass on the side of the freeway.

I started to walk. Searching for a sign to tell me where I was.

I walked and walked.

The night was quiet, except for the cars that roared by—and the creepy
rustling sounds that escaped from the roadside bushes.

I stared into the bushes. Saw them move.

My heart began to beat faster.

I broke into a jog.

Cars and trucks whirred by me.

A sharp cluttering noise rang out from the dense thicket beside the highway.
I could see dark eyes glowing in the bushes.

“Hey—!”

A furry creature scuttled across my path.

A raccoon? A skunk?

I started to run.

Up ahead I finally spotted a highway sign.

I ran harder—panting now. Clouds of dirt rose up under my pounding
sneakers.

I could see the white letters on the sign—but I still couldn’t make out
what it said. As I ran toward it, a car pulled alongside me—and stopped.

I spun around—and gasped.

A police cruiser.

Yes! I thought happily. The police! They’ll help me get back home.

“Do you need help?” One of the officers stepped out of the squad car. He
tipped his cap back and stared into my eyes.

“Yes. I do. I’m kind of lost,” I told him breathlessly. “Can you take me home—to Malibu?”

“What is your name?” he asked.

“Jack.”

“Well, Jack. You’re pretty far from Malibu. How did you get here?” he asked.

I didn’t answer. What could I say? I
flew
here? They’d take me back
all right. And lock me up—with all the other crazy people in Los Angeles.

“Jack. Did someone drive you here?”

I shook my head no.

“Well, did you just drop out of the sky?” He sounded as if he was losing his
patience.

I shrugged my shoulders lamely.

“Get in the car, Jack,” the officer nodded toward the car door. “We’ll find
your parents for you.”

Oh, no! I suddenly changed my mind. I can’t let them take me back, I decided, shaking in panic. What will I tell Mom and Dad?
How will I explain to them how I got here?

I edged away.

The officer reached out to me. “Get in, Jack. We’ll help you.”

“Uh… no thanks,” I told him.

I raised both arms over my head.

And took off.

Gazing down—I saw the other officer leap out of the car.

The two of them stood side by side, gaping up at me with their mouths open
wide.

I followed the lights of the highway. I didn’t know what else to do. Finally
the buildings of Los Angeles came back into view. I let out a long sigh of
relief. Then I turned in midair and flew home to Malibu.

I landed quietly behind the garage. I smoothed out my hair. Straightened my
T-shirt. I took a deep breath and sneaked into the house.

I could hear my parents in the living room, talking. I stopped in the kitchen
and listened.

Were they talking about me?

Did they notice I was gone?

“I don’t know where else to look,” I heard Dad say. “I’ve searched
everywhere!”

My heart began to pound.

What am I going to tell them?

I held my breath and listened some more.

“I know! I know!” Mom exclaimed. “We have to stay calm. You’ll find a new
client soon. Someone with real talent. I just know it.”

I breathed a long sigh of relief.

They didn’t notice.

Next time, I have to be more careful, I promised myself. Much more careful.

Mia is right. Flying can be really dangerous. Especially if you don’t know
where you’re flying!

I tiptoed to my room and closed the door.

The phone rang.

“Are you ready for the big race tomorrow?” It was Wilson.

“Huh? What race?” I asked.

“I told Mr. Grossman that we’re going to put on a race for the whole school
tomorrow,” Wilson declared.

“What kind of race?” I asked him.

“A race they’ll never forget!”

“Are you crazy?” I yanked Wilson aside in gym class the next morning. “We
can’t
race!” I screamed.

“Aw. Come on. Be a good sport.” Wilson grinned. “You’re just steamed because
you know you’re going to lose.”

On the other side of the gym, I could hear Mr. Grossman announcing the race
to the class. “A special race,” I heard him say. “Wilson promises we’re all in
for a big surprise!”

I ran my hand through my hair.

“Wilson, don’t you see what you’ve done?” My voice grew high. “When everyone
finds out that we can fly, our lives will be ruined!”

Wilson shrugged, then bent down to tie his sneaker. “I don’t know what you’re
so worried about. This is going to be way cool!”

I glanced around the gym. The empty gym. The entire class had emptied
outside, waiting for the race to begin.

“Ready, boys?” Mr. Grossman popped his head in the doorway.

“Ready!” Wilson called back.

Wilson tugged me through the halls. The empty halls.

“Come on, Jack. The whole school is out there!”

The whole school. Out there.

Every kid in Malibu Middle School was going to watch us fly. This was a total
disaster.

If we went ahead with this, I knew that my life would never be the same
again.

We stepped onto the playground. I squinted in the bright sunlight. Squinted
at the crowd of kids, huddled along the running track—waiting for the race to
start.

Someone tugged on my T-shirt sleeve.

It was Mia. “Jack, why are you doing this?” she asked, her eyes wide with
fear. “Wilson told me you’re going to fly.”

“I—I don’t want to,” I stammered. “But I can’t do anything about it. I have
no choice.”

Mia shielded her eyes with her hand and glanced over at Wilson. Her ruby-red
heart ring sparkled in the sun.

We both watched Wilson as he stretched out at the starting line. “I’m so
worried about the two of you,” she said, her eyes locked on Wilson.

I gazed into the crowd.

Kids shifted restlessly from one foot to the other. Watching. Waiting.

I wanted to run away.

Run home and hide.

“Hey, Jack!” Ray called out from the crowd. “Go for it! You can beat him!”
Ethan stood next to him, pumping his fist in the air.

“Wilson is ready.” Mr. Grossman jogged over to me. “How about you, Jack?”

The kids began to chant. “Race! Race! Race!”

My temples were throbbing.

My T-shirt felt wet against my skin—drenched with sweat.

What was I going to do?

I had to race.

I knew I had no choice.

I had to race—and I had to win.

I stepped up to Wilson. “Ready, Jackie?” He grinned his horrible Wilson grin.

I nodded.

Mr. Grossman raised the starting flag. “On your marks. Get set. GO!”

Wilson and I took off.

We shot into the air.

With my arms straight out in front of me, I blasted ahead. I soared higher,
higher—and zoomed to the other end of the playground, leaving Wilson far
behind.

Yes!

I was winning!

Finally!

I was finally beating him!

I turned in midair, dipped, and headed back to the other end of the playground. I glanced behind me. Wilson was soaring
fast. Catching up.

He sailed alongside me. “See you, Jackie!” he smirked. Then he flew ahead.

Oh, no, you don’t, Wilson. Not again.

I held my body straight as an arrow—and jetted forward.

We flew side by side now. I could see the muscles in his face straining as he
tried to pick up speed.

But he couldn’t. He couldn’t pull ahead of me.

The other end of the playground was coming up fast. With my eyes trained to
the finish line, I soared with all my strength.

We reached the line at the same time. I dropped to the ground. “A tie!” I
cried out breathlessly. “It’s a tie!”

Wilson hadn’t won!

“Hey, Wilson? Wilson?” I searched the school grounds.

Then I glanced up.

There he was, hovering over my head. “Lap number two!” he cried. And took
off.

I sprinted into the air.

Too late.

Wilson finished the second lap—and won the race.

“Nice going, Jackie,” Wilson clapped me on the shoulder. “I knew I could
count on you—to lose!” he hooted.

“That wasn’t fair—” I started.

“Hey—what’s
their
problem?” he interrupted me, pointing to the crowd
of kids.

The quiet crowd.

No cheers.

No clapping.

They stared at us in stunned silence.

I turned to Mr. Grossman. His jaw hung open. He gaped at us—speechless.

I slowly walked over to Ray and Ethan, staring into their unsmiling faces.
“So, guys. What did you think?”

“Why didn’t you tell us you could fly?” Ray’s face broke out into a wide
grin.

“I—I wanted to surprise you!” I said, relieved.

“Awesome! Totally awesome!” Ethan shouted. “Can you teach us how?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t,” I apologized. I told them the whole story—about how I
found the book and lost it—as we headed back into school.

“Our basketball team will win every game now!” Ray exclaimed. “Forget about
slam dunks! You’ll be the first player ever to do a fly-dunk!”

Ray and Ethan were really excited about my flying.

But, later, as I walked to my classroom, I could feel the stares from the
other kids. Hear their whispers. Everyone was talking about me. Some shrank back
as I approached.

They were afraid of me!

That afternoon, I walked through the halls with my head down. I couldn’t
stand all the whispers, all the stares.

“Jack!” The school nurse darted from her office and snatched me out of the
hall. “There are some people here who want to meet you.”

Two men and two women stood stiffly in the nurse’s office. One man and one
woman were dressed in business suits. The other two wore khaki pants and
T-shirts. They smiled warmly at me.

“These people are scientists from the university,” the nurse started to
explain. “They’ve heard about your… uh… special talent. And they want to
examine you and Wilson.”

I took a step back.

One of the men moved toward me. “If you really can fly, think of how useful
you can be to our government—perhaps as a secret weapon against our enemies.”

I swallowed hard.

The woman in the khaki pants stuck out her hand. “Come with us, Jack.” She
shot a nervous glance at the others. “Nothing bad will happen to you.”

The others peered at me over their eyeglasses. They nodded eagerly in
agreement.

“We just want to look you over. You know. Do a few experiments on you. In our
lab.”

“NO! I don’t want to be a lab specimen. I don’t want to be a secret weapon!”
I shouted at them.

Startled by my cries, the scientists leaped back—and I bolted from the
room.

“Jack, come back!” the school nurse called after me.

I raced frantically through the halls. Smashing into kids. Shoving them out
of my way.

“Jack, we won’t hurt you!” I heard one of the scientists call.

With my head down, I charged ahead, zigzagging through the crowded halls.
Elbowing the kids who got in my way.

“Hey, watch it!” Angry voices trailed me as I burst through the school doors
and jumped down the steps.

I ran all the way home. I didn’t stop. I didn’t glance back. I ran hard—even though my lungs felt as if they were about to burst.

I opened my front door with a bang. Then slammed it shut and leaned against it, gasping for breath.