Free JACK KNIFED by Christopher Greyson Page A

over to the cashier. “Just these.”
    “Did your girlfriend like the notebook?” The lady smiled toward Replacement.
    “What? No, she’s not…” Jack winced when Replacement pinched him.
    “He’s such a kidder.” Her arm slid around Jack’s waist, and she gave him a hard hug. “Thanks, sweetie. I loved my notebook.”
    “Sure…buttercup. Let’s go.” Jack pinched her cheek.
    He smirked and headed for the door as Replacement grabbed the bag and hurried to catch up.
    “Buttercup?” she whispered. “Come on. You suck at being undercover.”
    “Don’t start the whole undercover thing again.”
    “What do you mean? I did great undercover.”
    “We’re not undercover.” Jack’s voice got louder as they walked out of the building and toward the car.
    “Are we telling people what we’re doing?” Replacement looked perplexed.
    “No.”
    “Ha!” She pointed a finger in his face. “Then we’re undercover.”
    “No, we’re just not…” Jack pulled open his door and leaned on the roof of the car as Replacement walked to her side. “Fine. But we’re not doing the boyfriend-girlfriend thing.”
    “That’s our cover. You can’t be undercover unless you have a cover, and that’s our cover.”
    “We can pick another one.” Jack frowned.
    “No, we can’t. What? What would we pick? We’re really a traveling circus team?” Replacement pantomimed juggling.
    “No.” Jack tried not to, but he smiled at her joke as they got into the car. “The best covers have truth to them; we say that you’re my sister.”
    “I’m not your sister.”
    “You’re my foster sister.” Jack’s grin had vanished.
    “Jack.” Replacement shut her door, wrapped her arms around herself and leaned away from him. “You didn’t live at Aunt Haddie’s when I came to live there. You were already out.”
    “Yeah? But I consider Michelle and Chandler my brother and sister.”
    “That’s different. You lived with them. You didn’t live with me.”
    “So, you’re saying that you don’t consider me…like a big brother?”
    Replacement made a face as if she ate a bug. “No.”
    Jack put the car in drive and pulled out.
    Well, thanks a lot, kid.
    Jack pushed his tape of Johnny Cash into the cassette deck and turned up the volume. The Impala roared as he sped onto the main road back to town, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” blaring over the speakers.
    Great. Just great. I take her in, and what? That’s how she thinks of me? I’m not like a big brother? Chandler is, and I’m not?
    Jack could picture Chandler’s reaction to his jealousy. His large friend would have tried to calm Jack down but would have been laughing at the same time.
    Why is it I feel like I can just call him? If I drive over, then Chandler will still be there? Death sucks.
     

Traveling Circus
    Jack pulled over at the general store in the center of town. It was the largest building on the block, and employees were bringing in the miscellaneous items they’d set out for display earlier in the day. As he turned the car off, he watched a family walk down the sidewalk.
    A young boy tugged at his father’s arm. The man had his other arm around his pregnant wife, who smiled and waved to a car that passed.
    This would have been my hometown. It’s like Mayberry. I would have grown up here. No motels. What…
    The leather on the steering wheel creaked as his grip tightened and Jack shut his eyes. He wanted to smash something. He flung open his door and jumped out of the car. He made so much noise the father turned to look at him. The man’s smile quickly disappeared, and he pulled his wife and son closer as he kept them moving.
    Jack slammed the car door shut and headed for the store. He was at the entrance when he realized Replacement wasn’t with him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw her lean against the car. She had her arms crossed and was scowling.
    He kept going. He pulled the glass door open and a little bell rang overhead. Row upon row