Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
“You out of here already, Beau? What would your dad say about you leaving?” a classmate joked as he delivered a jab toward the politician’s son.
“Just forgot something in my car. I’ll be right behind you,” Beau called over his shoulder as he jogged away.
Once at his car, Beau locked the book in his trunk and jogged to the door. Maybe he could catch up with Maisie. Between the two of them, maybe they could figure out a way to return the book to its owner. She had to be worried sick. Beau scanned the parking lot before entering. No one was frantically running toward that spot.
“What are you going to do with it?” Maisie whispered at lunch.
“Do with what?” Colt asked as he sat down at their regular table.
“Shh! Keep your voice down,” Beau requested.
“Okay. What’s up?” Colt said, leaning forward.
“Beau found a book in the parking lot. I’m calling dibs to read it first,” Maisie said quietly, but with steel in her voice. “He’ll tell everyone about it when Harper gets here.”
“You’re going to read it?” Colt said in shock. “What’s it like, a physics manual? You don’t have time to read anything just for fun with all the classes you’re taking.”
“Ugh, physics. I knew I should have taken it,” Amber said, carefully tucking her cheerleading skirt underneath her as she joined them.
“It’s not a physics manual and yes, you should have taken it,” Maisie said, looking from Colt to Amber.
“I’m confused,” Amber admitted. “Look, here’s Harper. Explain it to all of us.”
When everyone was seated at the table, Beau leaned in to share the news. “I tripped over a book today on my way in. Not a textbook, but something well-read and slightly tattered. The title is Daddy with the dedication of: To my sweet Little girl.”
“Holy hell!” Colt swore, earning a swat on the arm from Amber.
“I get to read it first,” Maisie stated firmly. “Who wants to read it after me?”
“Maybe they’re not interested in reading it,” Beau suggested.
“Okay, you’re second. Next?” Maisie asked.
“Me. I’ll read as fast as I can,” Harper promised.
“You read at your pace and then I’ll read it,” Colt urged.
“I’m last? That’s so unfair,” Amber flounced in her place. “Okay. That’s fine. I have a few tests this week anyway.”
“You can go before me,” Harper suggested.
“No. This way, I get to see how all of you react,” Amber stated, looking around the group.
“And then we’ll discuss it,” Maisie added.
“Out loud?” Harper asked, blushing already.
“We’ll figure that out when we’ve all read it. This has to be only between us,” Beau stressed.
“Of course. Do you think it was the Little girl who lost it?” Amber asked. “She’d never be able to put an ad in the school paper or ask if it’s in the Lost and Found.”
Shrugs and concerned expressions followed. The most tender-hearted of the group, Harper had tears in her eyes. If it was what Beau thought it was, they’d never find the owner.
Sitting in Harper’s basement, the five huddled together over a cloth-wrapped object. Amber had smuggled it past Harper’s parents in her bookbag.
“Okay, I finished it. Do we talk about it now?” Amber asked, breaking the nervous silence.
“I can’t,” Harper confessed.
“Who figured out a lot about themselves?” Maisie asked and raised her hand. Beau followed her movement and the others slowly followed suit.
“Okay, Daddies and Littles exist. I’m going to read the book again and make notes in the margin in this green pen. You’ll always know green is mine,” Maisie informed them, scooping up the book.
“We can’t write in a book!” Harper protested.
“You can’t write in a library book or a textbook,” Amber pointed out. “This isn’t either. We’re not giving it back. I can pick out Beau’s elegant script, Maisie’s hurried scroll, Harper’s beautiful print, Colt’s mystery scrawl, and my own. We don’t need to put our names in there or use a hidden color code.”
"That’s even better,” Maisie agreed. “I can recognize everyone’s handwriting as well.” She took the book and tucked it into her already bulging backpack.
“Really, we can’t talk about it?” Colt asked.
“In the book, Colt. We’ll talk there,” Harper assured him, turning almost as red as her sweater.
“Got it, Angel.” Colt ran a comforting hand from Harper’s shoulder to her elbow before changing the subject. “Want me to check your math assignment?”
“Please. I think I got it, but Mr. Sanders goes so fast.” Harper eagerly dived into her bag for her book.
“Math,” Beau groaned. “Those trig problems were vicious.”
“Let me show you an easier way,” Maisie offered, and soon they were embroiled in calculations.
Beau noted Amber pulling out an essay she had due tomorrow, and the group settled into their comfortable pattern of supporting each other. Working together had been fun in the third grade. He loved how they encouraged each other to reach their individual highest level of achievement. I’m going to miss this after we finish high school.