Free Promise by Judy Young

half-full package of cookies. He crammed them into Kaden’s backpack and then followed Kaden along the shortcut through the woods from the back of the junk cabin to the fire tower road.
    â€œWhat were you talking about, going to a tower?” Yo-Yo asked.
    â€œYou’ll see. It’s a secret and you can’t tell anyone about it,” Kaden said.
    They were quiet until they turned onto the tower road.
    â€œYou never told me what’s in Cabin Five,” Yo-Yo said.
    Kaden had wondered how to start and was glad Yo-Yojust stumbled into it.
    â€œIt’s my dad’s cabin,” he said.
    â€œBut I thought . . . ,” Yo-Yo started, then stopped.
    â€œThat’s okay; it’s no big secret my dad’s been in prison,” Kaden said. “Cabin Five was his cabin when he was a kid.”
    â€œYour dad lived here when he was a kid, too?” Yo-Yo asked.
    â€œJust in the summer. My grandpa was the president of a big company in Chapston City but he loved to fish. So he always took the summer off and came up here to fish. At first Grandpa, Gram, and Dad all lived in the big cabin and rented the four little cabins to other fishermen. But when Dad turned ten, he got to move into Cabin Five by himself.”
    â€œI bet you miss your grandpa,” Yo-Yo said.
    â€œI never knew him. He died in a car wreck just before my dad started high school. After that Gram never came out here again, at least not until after I was born.”
    â€œSo you’ve lived out here your entire life?” Yo-Yo asked.
    â€œNo, not until I was three. I lived with Gram in Chapston City. Dad was there at first but I vaguely remember him. Can’t hardly picture what he looks like. He came and went, and then one day he never came back at all. I didn’t know it then, but that’s when he went to prison. After that Gram sold everything and we moved out here.”
    â€œWhat about your mom?” Yo-Yo said.
    Kaden wasn’t expecting this question. “She died when I was a baby and my dad just showed up at Gram’s doorstep holding me. That’s how I came to live with Gram. I’ve wondered about her but don’t think my dad told Gram much about my mom. The only thing I’ve heard is her name was Katie. That’s how I got my name. The first syllable is from her name, the second comes from Dennis, my dad’s name.”
    â€œAt least you don’t have to explain your name every time you meet someone,” Yo-Yo stated.
    â€œYeah, that must be a pain,” Kaden agreed.
    â€œYou get used to it,” Yo-Yo said.
    They walked along for a little while longer.
    â€œSo, if your grandpa had a big company . . . ,” Yo-Yo started, then hesitated. He kicked at a rock, but said nothing more.
    â€œIf he had a big company what?” Kaden said, not wanting Yo-Yo to stop with the questions. He was actually relieved to have a chance to talk about what was never discussed.
    â€œIf he had a big company, what happened to all his money? How come you can’t afford a phone or TV?”
    Kaden laughed. “Grandpa left Gram plenty of money. Everyone knows she could buy anything she wants. She just doesn’t want to. She chooses to live like she does. And I guessI’m stuck with living like she does, too.”
    â€œWow. I don’t think I could handle that.”
    â€œIt’s not so bad. I have just about everything I need.”
    â€œExcept a phone and a TV,” Yo-Yo said.
    â€œAnd a bunch of other stuff,” Kaden said, laughing. They walked on for a little while, laughing and listing all sorts of things that Kaden could need.
    â€œSo, is there any stuff in Cabin Five from when your dad was a kid?” Yo-Yo asked.
    â€œI don’t know. I’ve never been in there,” Kaden said. “It’s always locked. I’ve tried to look through the window but there’s only a little crack between the curtains and I can’t see