Page 2 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Well, doesn’t he at least know ‘hi?’ Everyone knows ‘hi.’ That’s the easiest thing you could say.”

“I think he does know ‘hi,’ Danny, but could you imagine how he must feel right now?”

“I don’t know.” I watch my foot as I move it around in circles, kicking my toes into the floor.

“Why don’t we all sit on the couch,” she says.

Melissa holds the boy by his arm and points to the living room. He walks past her. She helps him sit on the couch and puts his crutches against the wall. Her gray curls fall over her face, so she uses a scrunchie to tie them back.

“I have so many questions, Melissa,” I say.

“Like?”

“Where’s he from? What happened to him?”

“He’s from Scotland. I don’t know what happened to him.”

“How’d he get all the way to Long Island?”

Melissa stares at the boy like she’s confused. “I don’t know that either.”

“Where’s his family? Are they coming back for him?”

“The police found him all alone last night.”

This is really, really,reallyweird.

“What’s his name?”

“Peter.”

“I want to help him,” I say, just like a superhero.

“You’re a good boy, Danny.” Melissa rubs my back. I smile because I know I am. “Why don’t you introduce him to the other kids? Bring them out here so they can talk to him.”

“He won’t understand what they’re saying, though.”

“He’ll understand friendship. Everyone does, trust me.”

I guess that’s true.

Melissa walks out of the room. I’m here all alone with Peter.

Chapter One

Melissa

“INEVER HAD CHILDRENof my own, but I wouldn’t trade what I do have for the world. You kids—” A new coughing fit interrupts me. I push the oxygen tubes farther into my nostrils and wheeze. “Can you hand me that water bottle, Peter?”

He lets go of my hand and turns to the side table. He picks up the bottle and untwists the cap. I take it from him.

“I’m proud of you.”

He looks back, wide-eyed. “Really?”

“Yes, really. You’ve become a very responsible young man. Helping out around the house, working and taking care of me... The list goes on. I couldn’t—”

“I want to take Danny.” He doesn’t look directly at me when he says it. Instead, he looks just past me. I think he’s afraid of my answer, whether it’s yes or no. I can’t say I’m very surprised. Through the years, those two have become close—almost inseparable—but still... A child? Can Peter handle a teenager? When I took in my first foster child, I was forty-six. He’s only twenty-one.

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