8

Chapter 5

"Okay," I said. "I'll go to my room."

I turned and stomped up the stairs to my room. I slammed the door and sat on my bed.

"We're leaving," Mom called after me.

"Why?" I yelled.

"Because I said we're leaving," Dad yelled back.

"No! I want to stay!"

"We have to go," said Mom.

"I don't want to go!"

"Aaron," Dad said, "we have to leave. Now, please, go get your backpack."

I ran downstairs and grabbed my backpack. I slung it over my shoulder and ran out the door.

"We're leaving."

"Okay," I said. "Bye."

"Bye," said Mom.

"Bye," said Aaron.

Dad just stood there watching us leave.

"Bye, Dad."

"Bye, Mom."

"Bye, Aaron."

"Bye."

We walked in silence for a few blocks.

"Is Dad going to take us to school today?" Aaron asked.

"I guess so," I said. "I mean, if he wants to."

"I don't want to go to school."

"Me neither," said Aaron.

"Can we go swimming today?"

"Probably not," I said.

"Why not?"

"Because we just got here and I have homework to do."

"Oh," said Aaron.

"You want to go swimming?"

"No," he said.

"Do you want to go to school?"

"No."

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to go to my room."

"Okay," I said. "Let's go."

We walked in silence down the sidewalk.

"Can we stop for ice cream?" Aaron asked.

"I don't know," I said. "Let's see."

We walked around the corner and stopped in front of the ice cream parlor.

"Want to go in?" I asked.

Aaron nodded.

"Why don't you wait for me outside," I said.

Aaron shrugged and walked outside. I watched him walk down the sidewalk toward the parlor. Then I went inside.