Free Point of No Return by Paul McCusker Page B

been for just a fuse. “What if the gazebo catches on fire?” Jimmy whispered to Tony.
    Tony looked as if the idea hadn’t occurred to him. He shrugged.
    Suddenly— Pop! —then another Pop! —then Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! as the string of firecrackers sparked and exploded like a gangster’s machine gun. From behind various trees, the kids pointed and laughed.
    â€œThat’s better than the Fourth of July!” Tony shouted.
    The firecrackers were still banging away when the rocket hissed loudly and took off. But the trajectory was all wrong. Instead of shooting toward the field, it spun and spiraled upward into the roof of the gazebo. Jimmy watched in wonder.
    Kaboom! The blast echoed throughout the park. Smoke poured out the top of the gazebo.
    â€œIt’s on fire!” Jimmy gasped. “It’s on fire!”
    â€œGet out of here!” Tony yelled and raced into the woods. The rest of the kids followed. Jimmy stood mesmerized where he was, not sure of what to do as smoke blew from the gazebo. “Jimmy! Run!” Tony screamed from a distance.
    It was enough. Jimmy panicked and ran home.

    â€œOh, God, I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry,” Jimmy puffed as he ran. He didn’t know which direction Tony and the other kids went, nor did he care. He shouldn’t have gone to the gazebo, he knew. He shouldn’t have let them light firecrackers. The gazebo’s going to burn down, and it’s all my fault.
    What should he do? Tell his parents? Call the fire department? He didn’t know. What was the Christian thing to do? “God, help me. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry….”
    By the time he reached his front door, he knew he had to tell his parents. They could call the fire department. But Jimmy figured the gazebo would be burned down by that time. And then he’d be an arsonist and go to jail.
    He burst through the front door on the verge of tears. In the living room, several heads turned in his direction. He stopped dead in his tracks. His mom and dad, Donna, Dave, and Jacob were sitting with very serious expressions on their faces.
    They already know! Jimmy thought.
    â€œJimmy!” his dad said. “Where’ve you been? We’ve been looking for you.”
    As an automatic response, Jimmy nearly said he’d stayed late at school to do his homework. Then he realized he didn’t have his books with him—he had left them at the gazebo, where they were either ashes or evidence for the fire chief. That was the end. His life was over. He began to sob.
    Mary rushed to Jimmy and wrapped her arms around him. “Aw, that’s all right, Jimmy. It’ll be okay.” His ear pressed against her, he heard her say to the others, “I guess he got the message at school.”
    Jimmy looked up at her through misty eyes. “Message?” He was confused.
    â€œAbout your grandmother,” she said and stroked his hair. “She’s taken a turn for the worse. We have to leave right away.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
    Wednesday Evening
    T HINGS WERE HAPPENING too fast for Jimmy’s mind to cope. Suddenly he had to jump from the gazebo to his grandmother.
    â€œI need you to pack,” his mom told him. Then she glanced around and asked, “Where are your schoolbooks?”
    â€œI left them—”
    â€œYou’re going to need them,” she interrupted. “Your teacher told me what homework you can do while we’re gone.”
    â€œI’ll drive you back to school,” his dad said.
    Jimmy opened his mouth to tell them his books weren’t at school. They were at the burned-down gazebo. But Dave spoke first.
    â€œI know you have a lot of things to do,” Dave said. He and Jacob stood up. “How about if we take him to get his books? That’ll be one less thing for you to worry about. Besides, I’d like to talk to him before you go.”
    â€œIf