Free House Party by Eric Walters Page A

not more than ten or fifteen pounds for sure.
    That wasn’t how she saw herself, though. As far as Jen was concerned, she was just plain fat. And worse, those extra pounds were the reason that things didn’t work out for her. She was positive she was only a few pounds away from boyfriends, popularity, fame and fortune.
    â€œSo, do you want some m ilk and cookies?” my mother asked.
    â€œA cookie, or
two
, would be great,” I said, giving Jen the evil eye. “But could you bring them up here so we could keep studying?”
    â€œI would never want to get in the way of studying,” she said, “but there was something I wanted to talk to you about as well.”
    I felt the hair on the back of my neck go up.
    â€œWhat do you want to talk about?” I asked, trying not to show my anxiety. I didn’t like these sorts of conversations. Six months ago, that had been the first line my parents had used when they told me that we were moving—leaving behind everybody and everything I’d ever known to come down here to live.
    â€œNothing serious. It can wait until after dinner.”
    I sat up on the edge of the bed. “It doesn’t have to wait. Let’s talk now.”
    â€œSure, if you want.”
    â€œI want.” That was another half-lie. I didn’t want to talk about anything really, but I’d rather talk about it now than later.Talking about it later left too much time for my imagination to play around.
    â€œYou know your father is going away on business this weekend, right?”
    â€œYeah,” I said, suspiciously. His business took him back to our old town at least once a month.
    â€œI was thinking that it would be good for me to go along with him. It’s easier to take care of the house closing details in person.”
    Our house had just sold two weeks ago. It had been on the market since we’d moved. In my heart—if not in my head—I figured that if we didn’t sell the house we’d eventually just move back home. Now it was gone, along with my last faint hopes.
    â€œSo that would mean you have to come with us,” she said.
    â€œThat would be great!” I exclaimed. I could visit with old friends and…no I couldn’t.
    â€œI can’t go,” I said. “I have a soccer game on Saturday morning and a math exam on Monday.”
    â€œYou could miss the game, and there’s no law that says you can’t study there,” my mother said.
    â€œFirst off, I really shouldn’t miss the game, and second, while there’s no law about me studying there, it wouldn’t do much good. I need Jen to help me. Without her, I’m dead.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Casey, but I really need to go and we can’t leave you on your own.”
    â€œShe could stay with me!” Jen said.
    I turned to my mom. “Could I?”
    â€œI don’t see why not,” my mom said. “Should you check with your mother?”
    Jen shook her head. “She’s always good about things like that.”
    â€œJust give her a call,” my mother said. “It will settle my mind to know that it’s all taken care of.”
    â€œNo problem. I’ll just tell her that Casey needs somebody to babysit her. I’ll take good care of her.”
    â€œYou, taking care of me?” I gasped.
    Jen had become my best friend since I’d moved here, but she was not the mostresponsible person in the world. She didn’t just need a babysitter. She practically needed a keeper. She was always suggesting something or other that could potentially get us in trouble.
    â€œYou know, I could just stay here by myself,” I suggested.
    â€œYou’re too young.”
    â€œI’m fifteen, not five,” I protested. “I’m old enough to be left alone at home.”
    â€œAlone, yes. Overnight, no,” my mother said.
    â€œI’d be fine.”
    â€œIt’s easy to say that,