Page 153 of Switch!
Trixie starts to shake her head. Then she sighs. “Remember when Gismonda said it was good you were in Patrick’s body because she didn’t want to see Jessie die?”
“Vaguely.”
“She said it,” Trixie insists. “I remember because it sounded true to me.”
“And you think it has something to do with what we’re planning?”
“I don’t know. This is the most dangerous thing we’ve ever done. Then again, she could have been referring to an event we already missed. Like if you had stayed with Jesse instead of switching into Patrick, there might have been a disaster that we already avoided.”
Gismonda didn’t give us much to go on. Then again, it isn’t my life on the line. “I guess we should let Jesse decide.”
The payphone rings, causing us both to jump.
“What should I do?” Trixie asks.
“Answer it!”
She grabs the phone. “Hello?”
I move closer so we can share the receiver.
“Mom?” Caleb says after a pause.
“How good to hear from you,” she says, altering her voice again. “Uncle Rick stopped by. He’s worried about how you’re doing in there.”
“I got in another fight,” Caleb mutters. “I can’t take this much longer.”
“Just be good and I’m sure you’ll be out before you know it. Don’t you think? Speaking of which, your uncle and I got to talking while he was here. Do you remember the second day of kindergarten? Mine, not yours.”
An extra-long pause. I’m worried he won’t get the coded reference to my past. He doesn’t sound entirely certain when replying. “When I tried to run away?”
There’s more to the memory than that. I didn’t enjoy my first day of school. I wanted to be at home with my mom, and maybe even my dad. I didn’t understand that they needed to leave for work. So when my mom dropped me off at school the next day, I snuck out again and made a break for it. Once I was wandering down the sidewalk, I realized how big and scary the world can be and turned back, but I never forgot the intoxicating and yet terrifying sensation of being free.
“You were convinced that it wouldn’t be okay,” Trixie continues, “but it was. Do you see what I mean?”
“I think so,” Caleb says. “Funny you should mention that. I almost ran away before all of this happened. I packed a bag full of clothes and everything. It’s probably still sitting in my closet.”
“I’ll check and see. Try not to worry so much. I know you. You’ll probably be lying in bed tonight, unable to get any sleep. How late do they let you stay up?”
“We’re on lockdown from ten until six the next morning.”
“At least you have privacy then. No roommate, right?”
“That’s true.”
“Good. You’ll be in my thoughts tonight, sweetheart. If you want, pretend that I’ll be there with you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Caleb says, sounding appropriately embarrassed.
“You know what I like about our family? We always understand each other. Don’t we?”
“We do,” Caleb says. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Just be good. No more fighting. You’ll feel better by the time you go to bed. I love you, sweet baby child.”
“Yeah,” Caleb grunts. “Same to you.”
“Bye bye.” Trixie hangs up. Then she looks at me.
