Free The Winner's Game by Kevin Alan Milne Page B

You can go down to the beach, but not down to the water.”
    Cade lets out a long, disappointed, groan. “Why not?”
    â€œI can answer that in three syllables,” he replies. “Un-der-tow. The Oregon coast is powerful, and I’m not sure what time the tide is coming in today. You get caught by a sneaker wave and the undertow here will suck you right out to sea before you know it.”
    â€œSo we can’t ever go swimming?” asks Bree, sounding as disappointed as Cade. “We’ve played in the water here before.”
    â€œI didn’t say ‘never.’ All I’m saying is that I don’t want you in the water when your mom or I aren’t there to watch. It’s too dangerous.”
    â€œBut Ann is a varsity swimmer,” Cade argues.
    My heart starts pounding when he says it, because I, for one, have no interest in getting near the ocean. It’s cold, and wet, and…well I’m not a huge fan of water these days. I haven’t mentioned this to anyone, but I’m lucky to get up the nerve to step into the shower, and soaking in the bath is completely out of the question, because what is a bathtub, really, but a miniature swimming pool. The last time I got in a swimming pool, I barely made it out.
    Dad shakes his head. “And she, above all, is in no shape to face those currents. Got it?”
    I secretly breathe out a huge sigh of relief.
    â€œGood,” he continues after we all nod, “then the only other rule is…?” He leaves it hanging there, waiting for one of us to finish the thought.
    â€œNo fighting,” mutters Bree.
    â€œBingo! Ann doesn’t need chaos, so I expect you two to be on your best behavior while we’re gone. Don’t do anything that’s going to get your sister worked up. Understood?”
    Cade answers with a simple, “Yes.”
    â€œBree?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œFantastic. We should be back by noon. Feel free to make yourself some breakfast. There’s plenty of cereal. Eggs, too, if you’re in the mood to cook. If we’re not back by twelve thirty, there are sandwich makings in the fridge.” He says a final good-bye, and then goes to meet Mom in the car.
    â€œUggh,” groans Bree after he is gone. “Now I can’t go back to sleep.”
    â€œTell me about it. Couldn’t they have just left a note?”
    â€œI’ve got to pee,” Cade deadpans.
    Ew. Little brothers are disgusting.
    Fifteen minutes later everyone is dressed and downstairs eating scrambled eggs. After breakfast we turn on the television, but to our everlasting dismay, the dumb thing only picks up four channels, and even those are marred by static. The last time we visited Great-grandma’s house, back when her health first started going south, she at least had the basic cable channels. Perhaps Aunt Bev had them turned off, since Grandma now lives full-time in the care facility. Out of boredom, Bree and Cade seem willing to put up with the fuzziness, but I’m itching to do something more exciting. I sit there for a while, but eventually I announce I’m going for a walk. “There are some cool shops up the road that I want to check out. I’ll be back in a bit.”
    â€œYou can’t go by yourself,” Bree protests, playing the part of the responsible one, which I find highly unusual. “What if…you know, something happens.”
    I put my hands on my hips and force a scowl. “You mean what if my heart stops ticking? It’s not like I’m running a marathon.”
    â€œBut aren’t you supposed to just take it easy?”
    â€œEasy, yes, but not do nothing. I’m not on bed rest. And if you’re so worried about me, then come along. With or without you, though, I’m not staying inside for the next three months watching reruns of Tom and Jerry , especially not through all that static.”
    Bree’s shoulders slump