Sticks

by Joan Bauer

  Arlen’s parents finish the floor of his tree house and put up two of the sides. It’s got a ways to go before it’s finished. Arlen and I climb up there anyway while Mangler paws the tree and squeals. Arlen says it’s a lesson to everyone living in this plastic age, that wood has power.

  Francine starts talking to her father again and convinces him to let her have a dove for her act. Francine calls the dove Lester, which she feels was the deciding factor. Francine says that Lester will make her famous as soon as he learns to fly out of her magic hat without pooping in midair.

  Buck isn’t around much. I saw him by Vinnie’s Variety last week, but when he saw me he looked away. I’m practicing pool twice a day except on Sunday because Poppy says even a world champion needs a day of rest. I’m setting my sights to play in the Northeast Youth Pool Open in Atlantic City in December. Joseph says he’ll drive me there in the Peterbilt.

  I can see why he and Dad were such good friends.

  Joseph and Camille are becoming friends too. He tells her he can teach her pool, how to drive a truck, or how to make real Mexican enchiladas. Camille starts with a truck-driving lesson, but after that they both decide enchiladas are safer.

  Joseph brings up buckets of barbecue from Texas (the best I’ve ever tasted) when Mom graduates from college. He and Mom understand each other more now, although it still really gets her when he talks “cowboy.” Mom knows she can count on him; she says that’s the biggest gift in friendship. We have a big party in Vernon’s to celebrate Mom’s graduation. Poppy hires Francine to do her magic act for the entertainment. Francine almost has a heart attack getting ready.

  “Do you think I should wear my Easter dress or my stirrup pants and my sparkly tank top?”

  Arlen and I look at each other.

  “Do you think I should start with Lester coming out of the hat or work up to it and start with my flying scarves trick that I do to ‘The Sound of Music’?”

  “Well . . .”

  “Your grandmother is a saint, Mickey. Do you know that?”

  It’s like the whole town comes to the party. Poppy, Camille, Serena, and I blow up a hundred balloons and hang them everywhere with ribbon. Francine starts with Lester; he flies out of her hat straight up to the ceiling fan and only comes down when she threatens to turn it on, but otherwise her show goes fine, even her card tricks. Everyone says it’s only a matter of time before she plays Vegas. Francine walks through the rest of the party in her stirrup pants and sparkly tank top with a smile so happy it makes her braces glow.

  Poppy and Big Earl sing songs from olden days while Big Earl plays his guitar. Mr. Kopchnik dances with Mrs. Cassetti. Camille kisses Brad Lunder by the Coke machine near the storage closet and Arlen gets a picture of it. Mom cries and says that having the party in the pool hall is perfect because she’s learned so much living above it.

  I know what she means. Every time I walk into Vernon’s now I feel courage pumping through me. That’s the thing about pool. Some people see numbered balls on a table and just learn the rules. But when the game’s in your blood, you learn what’s inside of you.

  Click here for more titles by this author

  Books by

  JOAN BAUER

  Backwater

  Best Foot Forward

  Hope Was Here

  Rules of the Road

  Squashed

  Stand Tall

  Sticks

  Thwonk