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The Big Splitby H.A. Levigne
Click here for reading level. This book is part of the Bayview High series. To read a sample chapter of The Big Split, click here. Enjoy! Other Tea Leaf Press books by H.A. Levigne: Dear Liz High Stakes Muscle Bound New Girl Striking Distance The Big SplitZack heard the back door swing open and then slam shut. He pulled his head out of the deep freeze and pushed his sandy blond hair out of his eyes. That must be Mom, he thought. Good. He had been trying to fit two big bags of ice into the freezer for the past half-hour. Of course, they wouldn't fit.Zack walked to the kitchen doorway, flexing his numb fingers. His mother was crouching in front of the fridge. Her head was stuck halfway inside. Zack watched for a moment as she stacked cans of soda. Bags of groceries lay on the floor all around her. "Zack! Did you get the ice?" she asked without looking at him. "Yeah, but it won't fit in the stupid freezer," Zack said. "Come and see for yourself." His mother followed him back to the freezer. She looked around. Frozen food lay all over the floor. Zack had pulled it out of the freezer to make room for the ice. A large tub of chocolate ice cream was beginning to melt. With a sigh, Mrs. Brown began to put things back. "Zack, can you get the hot dogs and buns ready for the barbecue? People are going to be here any minute," Mrs. Brown said. "All right," said Zack. It was his little sister Shellie's sixth birthday. They were having a party for her. His mother had even hired a clown for the afternoon. Zack's mom handed him a few cans of frozen lemonade. Somehow, she fit the rest of the food back into the freezer. "There! Bring that lemonade with you." Mrs. Brown turned and walked back to the kitchen. Zack followed her. "Where's Dad?" he asked, putting the lemonade in the sink to thaw. He pulled out a stool and sat down at the counter. A tray of frosted cupcakes for the party sat nearby. Mrs. Brown bent down to finish putting the rest of the food in the fridge. Zack sneaked a cupcake off the tray while her back was turned. "He had to go into the office for a few hours. Oh, that reminds me. I'd better call and remind him to pick up the cake on the way home. Put that cupcake back, please," Mrs. Brown said without turning around. Zack frowned and put it back. "He had to work today? Couldn't he at least take the day off for Shellie's party?" "He's closing a sale on a house," Mrs. Brown replied as she dialed Mr. Brown's cell phone. "He should be home soon." Zack's father was a real estate agent. Lately, he had been working pretty long hours. He was hardly ever home in time for dinner these days. He seemed to be at work all the time. Zack couldn't remember the last time they had gone to a ball game. Even though he was seventeen, he still liked to hang out with his dad now and then. They always had a good time. Zack would not admit it to anyone, but he kind of missed spending time with his dad. Mrs. Brown's face became more and more annoyed as she waited for Mr. Brown to pick up his cell phone. Finally, she said, "Andrew, it's Denise. Where are you?" She was silent for a moment as she listened to Zack's dad. Zack watched the expression on his mother's face grow angrier. "Are you telling me you won't be here at all?" she asked in disbelief. "Andrew, what am I supposed to tell Shellie?" Zack frowned. He knew what that meant. His mother was going to expect him to stay and help with the party. He couldn't think of a worse way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Brown hung up the phone and turned to Zack. "I need you to stick around and help me with the party," she said. Her face was red and angry. She yanked packages of plastic cups and paper plates from the cupboards. "Aw, Mom, I don't want to hang around a bunch of little kids all day. I was going to go out with Heidi," Zack complained. His girlfriend, Heidi, was off work that afternoon. She had to work almost every Sunday. She was free today, though. And now I'm not, Zack thought bitterly. Thanks a lot, Dad. The doorbell rang loudly. "Darn! I still have to finish making a salad," Mrs. Brown said with a glance at the clock. "Zack, go and answer the door for me please." "I thought you wanted me to get the hot dogs and buns ready," Zack muttered. I'm definitely not staying all day, he thought. He stopped at the doorway and turned around. "What about the cake?" he asked his mother. Mrs. Brown stopped in her tracks. She looked horrified. "Oh, no! Your father was supposed to bring it!" She looked at her watch. "I don't have time to go and get one." Her eyes fell on Zack. "No way," he said, shaking his head. "I'll stay and help, but I'm not going to pick up some stupid pink cake." He pointed at the tray of cupcakes. "Why don't you just stick a candle in one of those?" Mrs. Brown glanced at the cupcakes. She frowned. Then she nodded. "Yes, I suppose they'll do." She was still banging cupboard doors when Zack walked out. |
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