Split

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

Dear Bump,

It was nine in the morning when I heard some voices in the Lunds’ yard. My heart skipped three beats and I ran to the patio door. It was Saturday, and I wasn’t sure if Johan would let me play chess with him, on account of my helping Boone wreck his brain.

In the yard, Lene pushed her Cabbage Patch Kid on the tire swing Johan had hooked to the only good sturdy tree in the back. Now it looked as though Lene was giving the doll a good sermon.

My eyes jumped from one corner of the yard to the next, but I didn’t see Boone. So then he was still at the hospital. I slid the door open. “Hello, Lene.”

“Hello, Derek.” She turned around and tilted her head, watching me like a hawk. Her eyes are blue as well, but darker than Nick’s, with a hint of violet in them. “You be the daddy, I’ll be the mommy.”

“No.” I swallowed the hard knot in my throat.

“Do you wanna see my special place?”

I nearly jumped back. “No.”

“Can I see your special place?”

“No—no w—way.”

She narrowed her eyes, shrugged and went back to pushing the fat-headed baby. Fidgeting, I sat on the steps and watched some ants carry a dead ladybug across the tiles. “Is your bro—brother okay?”

“Which one?”

“What d—do you mean whi—which one? The one that—that was in the ho—ospital yesterday.”

“They were both in the hospital yesterday.”

I sighed. “Boone.”

She plucked her doll out of the tire and hitched up her shirt. She tucked the doll inside it. “Oh, he’s fine. He’s sleeping. Do you wanna help me give birth?”

“Wh—what?” My cheeks burned. This girl.

“I plan on having a C-section.”

Boy, oh, boy, Lene sure read a lot of magazines. I got to my feet. I didn’t plan on spending my day with her. She scared me. “Well, tel—tell him I went for a bike ride.”

“Aren’t you gonna play checkers with my dad?”

I stopped. “You mean chess?” I stared at my bare feet. “Yes…if he still wa—wants to.”

“Why wouldn’t he?” She squatted down and started moaning. “Oh, I’m having contractions.”

“Is he in—inside?” I asked, trying not to pay any attention to her shallow panting and facial contortions.

Lene fell back and started twitching on the grass. “Come cut my stomach like they did Cesar’s mother before the baby dies!”

I shrunk back. “No way.”

She kept lolling her head from side to side, moaning louder and louder, getting dirt in her hair. “Hurry, Derek, save me! Save our baby!”

I looked around. There wasn’t anyone listening to her crazy ravings. I found a twig and dragged my feet up to her. In one quick motion, I pretended to s***h her belly open. “The—here.”

She screamed and made like she’d passed out.

I watched her for a minute, shrugged, and went inside to find Johan. He was in the living room. And Nick was there, too, fast asleep on the couch, lying on his side with his knees curled under him, and his rosy cheek resting against his open hand. The sunlight filtered through his yellow eyelashes.

My belly burned. My throat was dry and hot. I paused by the oak chest and waved shyly at Johan. “Hello.”

Johan looked up from his big book. “Sh.” He tossed his head to where Nick rested peacefully. “Nicolai didn’t get much sleep last night.” He eased himself out of the worn armchair and went to the kitchen. I followed. Inside the kitchen, he smiled and pulled a chair out for me. “Glad you came. Have you had breakfast?”

“Yes. I—I did,” I lied. “Thank you.”

“Okay then. I’ll get the board.”