Free Domino by Ellen Miles

CHAPTER ONE
    Michael Battelli squinted into the brightness. Drifts of white snow covered every sidewalk, every branch of every tree, every car parked along the street, every roof of every building. The sky was blue now, after the storm, and the winter sun was shining. The whole world was bright and white. Michael could barely see, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him. “Come on!” he yelled to his sister, Mia, and her friend Carmen. “We have to hurry.”
    The wind was calm. The snow was fresh. It was a perfect day for sledding.
    The Battellis’ brownstone apartment was only two blocks from Kellogg Park, where there were baseball diamonds, playgrounds, and horsebackriding paths. But today, Michael cared only about its long, steep sledding hills. If they got there late, the park would be too crowded.
    “Can’t you guys go any faster?” Michael glanced over his shoulder. Mia was just a few steps behind him, but Carmen was further back. What was taking so long? Michael had offered to watch the girls while Dad finished shoveling the front steps at home. At the time it had seemed like a good way to get out of helping. Now he wasn’t so sure. Sometimes being a big brother was such a pain. He wanted to be flying down a hill on his sled, but now he had to babysit.
    At least Mia was pretty cool for a little sister. She was smart and funny and kind of obsessed with cats … in a good way. Their family had even started fostering cats — taking care of each kitty until they could find it a forever home — because of her. Someday Michael and Mia might even get a cat or kitten of their own, but so far their parents didn’t think the family was ready for that.
    Michael pushed back the cuff of his jacket and looked at his watch. His best friend Jackson was on the hill waiting for him, and they were missing prime sledding time.
    “Give her a second,” Mia said when she joined Michael. “Carmen’s not used to keeping up with a speedy big brother.”
    Michael raised his eyebrows. “Who says
you
keep up?”
    Mia scowled and fake-punched his arm.
    “You need a break?” Michael asked when Carmen caught up. She was a slowpoke, but she was okay. Carmen was in his guitar class at the rec center. She could play pretty well for her age.
    “No, I’m fine.”
    “We’re almost there. The best hills are on the other side of this drift.” Michael motioned with his glove.
    “I know,” Carmen said, setting off again.
    Michael rolled his eyes. Why were third graders such know-it-alls?
    He kicked his boots into the crunchy layer on top of the snow and climbed up the slope. In just a couple of steps, he passed Mia and Carmen. When he reached the crest of the hill, he recognized a red ski cap. “Jackson!” Michael yelled. Jackson was in the same fifth-grade class as Michael, but more importantly, they were on the same after-school basketball team at the rec center. Michael led the team in assists, and Jackson was their best shooter.
    Jackson turned around. He grinned and pumped his fist when he saw Michael. “Dude, it’s about time.”
    “I had to wait for Mia and her friend.” Michael motioned to the girls, who were struggling up the back side of the hill.
    “No problem. Let’s go over to the steep side and race. There’s no way you can beat me. My sled’s wicked fast.”
    “Nah.” Michael shook his head. “I have to stayon the baby hill with these two till my dad finishes shoveling and gets here.”
    Jackson snorted. “Excuses, excuses. You’re just afraid I’ll beat you.” He shook his head. “What’s the big deal? Not wearing your lucky striped socks? Can’t you do
anything
without them?”
    Michael sighed. Jackson always had to bring up those socks. Just because Michael wore them for every basketball game — and whenever he wanted a little extra luck — didn’t mean he had to have them on all the time. He wished he’d never mentioned the stupid socks to Jackson.
    “Push me, Michael!” Mia and Carmen had