Part 13 (2/2)

- Osprey ran into the kitchen, flying a green Converse sneaker on her leash like a kite. The sneaker bounced on its heel on the floor and hit Ms. Cyns leg. Two mugs slipped from her hands.

- The sound of ceramic shattering.

The smell of coffee splattering against the cupboard.

The crash rattled something in the back of Zavions brain.

All of a sudden, Zavion couldnt breathe.

He was underwater.

He gasped.

”Im sorry-”

Zavion didnt know if he said those words out loud or not.

- ”Lordy, child-” Was Ms. Cyn talking to Zavion or Osprey?

Zavion snapped back. He waited for her to add You scared the living pee out of me, but she didnt this time.

”Coffee down,” said Enzo.

”Thatll keep the snakes away,” said Tavius.

”Hush, you,” said Ms. Cyn. She wiped coffee off the cupboard.

Zavion picked up pieces of the broken mugs.

”Osprey,” said Enzo, ”you need to be more careful.”

”Watch out, Osprey,” said Skeet, ”hes going all father-figure on you.”

”I am her father,” said Enzo. He hugged Osprey, who squirmed in his arms.

”Poor kid,” said Tavius.

Osprey broke free from Enzo and ran around the kitchen table.

”Poor father,” said Zavion.

The clowns laughed.

Zavion had told a joke that made them laugh.

Enzo stood up. ”Let me help, Ms. Cyn,” he said. Osprey ran a lap around him.

”Youve got your hands full,” she said.

Zavion straightened up, his own hands full of shards of ceramic mug. ”I can take Osprey for a walk,” he said.

He wasnt sure why he offered.

Osprey stopped running. ”We can take Green for a walk,” she said.

”Green?” asked Tavius.

”My dog,” she said, pointing to the sneaker.

”Cute pup,” said Skeet.

Enzo blinked his eyes a few times fast. Tavius and Skeet immediately threw their arms around him. Zavion remembered that their real dog, Crow, had died in the hurricane. He felt a wave of sadness for Enzo.

”I used to babysit at home,” offered Zavion again.

”Go on,” said Ms. Cyn. She rinsed her dish towel in the sink. ”Get on out of here so I can clean up.”

”You?” said Tavius.

”Clean?” said Skeet.

”The kitchen?” said Enzo, grinning. To Zavion, he said, ”Thank you.”

- Osprey stopped at the corner.

For someone with such short legs, she was fast.

”This way,” said Zavion. It had occurred to him as they began their walk that he could investigate the bird lady while they were at it. He was pretty sure he knew the way to her house.

”Nope,” said Osprey. She turned in the opposite direction and began skipping down the block. ”Sorry, Zavion,” she sang over her shoulder. ”Green is dragging me this way.”

Zavion jogged down the block after her. ”Hey! Hold up-”

But Osprey only sped up. ”Green!” she yelled. ”You know how dogs are-” Her voice was hard to hear now. She was so far ahead of him.

Zavion caught up to her and grabbed the leash. ”Whoa,” he said, playing along. ”Cmon now, Green. Ease up.”

Osprey giggled and stopped running. Then she flopped onto the sidewalk. ”Greens tired. He needs to rest.”

Zavion was tired too. He sat down next to Osprey.

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