Free Pyro by Monique Polak Page A

don’t want to have to look at her. “How many gardens did you weed today, Franklin?”
    â€œEleven. I think.”
    â€œGood for you. That’s quite a business you’ve got going. I’m proud of you, honey.”
    â€œDon’t call me honey.”
    â€œWhy ever not, hon—?” She stops herself. “I’m thinking of making meat sauce with sausage.” She knows it’s my favorite. She’s waiting for me to say something, but I don’t.
    â€œYour cousin Jeff is in town.”
    â€œHe is?” I haven’t seen Jeff since Christmas.
    â€œI invited him for supper. He’ll be here in half an hour. Want to rest till then?” She leans across the bed. Even though I’m facing away from her, I can feel her stretching out her arms. “How ’bout a little massage, honey?”
    Honey? “Don’t touch me!” I growl.
    â€œFine,” Mom says. “You go ahead and rest up. I’m going to get that sauce started.”
    â€œMom?”
    â€œYes, Franklin?” Her voice sounds suddenly hopeful.
    â€œI wish you wouldn’t wear so much of that perfume. It really stinks up the place.”

Chapter Two
    Mom and Dad sit at opposite ends of the dining-room table. Jeff and I are in between, facing each other. When I was a kid, there was nothing I liked more than hanging out with my big cousin. Jeff is like the big brother I never had. Thinking back on it, he probably thought I was a pain in the butt, following him and his pals around. But if he minded, Jeff never said so.
    I took it hard when Jeff moved to Toronto for university. He was back in Montreal last summer, but this summer he’s working in Toronto. He’s only home for the weekend.
    â€œNo one makes a better spaghetti sauce than you, Aunt Moira,” Jeff tells Mom when he asks for a second helping.
    Mom beams.
    â€œAnyone hear me on the radio today?” Dad wants to know. “How’d I sound?”
    â€œI didn’t know you were going to be on the radio, Ted,” Mom tells him.
    â€œI mentioned it this morning.” Dad doesn’t seem to get that it’s a bad sign that his own wife didn’t bother listening to the interview.
    â€œI heard you,” I say to my spaghetti. “You sounded kinda nervous.”
    â€œI am nervous. We need to catch whoever is starting these fires.” Dad pounds his fist on the table. “Otherwise, I might not get re-elected.”
    â€œOf course you’ll be re-elected, Ted. Everyone thinks you’re a wonderful mayor.” Mom smiles at Dad across the table. Her smile seems forced.
    Dad wipes his face with his hands as he gets up from the table. “Speaking of getting re-elected, I’d better get a move on. I don’t want to be late for the town council meeting. Sorry not to have more time to catch up, Jeff.”
    â€œWell, then I guess I’ll go for my walk,” Mom says.
    Honey must be burning up waiting for her phone call.
    About five seconds after Dad leaves, Mom is out the door too. I see her from the dining-room window. She’s already on her cell.
    I’m glad I’ve got Jeff to distract me. And apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Jeff serves himself a double scoop. Maybe he doesn’t get enough to eat in Toronto.
    Jeff rests his elbows on the table. “So what’s up, little cuz?” Jeff has always called me that. At just under five feet, I am little for a fourteen-year-old. I’m sensitive about my height, but I’ve never minded Jeff calling me “little cuz.”
    â€œSame old same old. How’s it going in TO?”
    â€œIt’s good. Lots of opportunities in my field.” Jeff works in film production. He wants to be a producer. From what he’s told me, his job is mostly picking up takeout food and coffee for people on the set. “Listen, Franklin, I want to ask you something.” Jeff sounds serious. I hope his question