Sasquatch in the Paint by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Authors: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Tags: middle grade
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which main character would be killed off next. Brian told Theo to call him when he got back from L.A., and Theo said he would.
Theo went to bed, but he couldnât fall asleep. Too much had happened, and images from the day just kept flying through his mind like a deck of cards tossed up in the air. He flipped on the light, wide-awake. He knew he should study science facts for the upcoming Aca-lympics competition. Since heâd started playing basketball, heâd fallen behind in his preparation. Instead, he propped open his laptop and started reading about basketball. Strategies, basic skills, plays. He watched game highlights on YouTube. Especially Dr. J (Crazy Girl was right about him, he was awesome). Maybe, if he studied basketball enough, heâd get better at it. Like math.
Suddenly Theo heard something strange. His dad was talking on the phone. He looked at the clock. Almost midnight. His dad was never on the phone this late. Theoâs stomach clenched. Was there some sort of police emergency? Was his dad going to be called out to someplace dangerous?
Theo slid quietly out of bed, crept to the bedroom door, opened it a crack, and listened. His dad sounded frustrated and upset.
ââ¦I tried. Itâs just not working out.⦠No, Iâm not going to say that. I donât care.⦠This is stupid, a bad idea. Iâm sorry I let you talk me into it.â¦â
Then his voice got lower and Theo couldnât make out what he was saying. But he could hear typing on a keyboard. His dad was talking on the phone while using a computer. Two things he hated to do separately, let alone at the same time.
Theo went back to bed, but he couldnât sleep. What was his dad so upset about?
A few minutes later, his dad shuffled down the hallway to his bedroom.
Theo waited half an hour. His dad usually fell asleep quickly. But he was a light sleeper, had been since Theoâs mother died. It was as if he thought he had to be always ready to jump up in case of an emergency. Like he blamed himself for not protecting Mom, even though he hadnât been there when the car crash happened. Even if he had, how could he have stopped a drunk driver from running a red light?
Theo poked his head out into the hall. Listened. His dad snored.
He tiptoed past his fatherâs door and down the stairs. He stepped over the two stairs that creaked and slipped into his dadâs study. The computer was asleep, but not off, so it quickly popped open to the desktop photo of ten-year-old Theo running with his mother into the waves at Newport Beach. Theo lingered on the photo a moment before typing in his dadâs password: Angelatheo3. Theo had figured that out a couple years ago after only ten minutes. His momâs name, Theoâs name, and the three of them as a family.
Theo hesitated. Who was this kid suddenly breaking into his fatherâs computer? What was happening to him? Growing a few inches couldnât explain all this. What kind of crazy thing might he do next? He was actually kind of scared to find out.
But that didnât stop him.
Theo checked his dadâs history. He clicked on the most recent site: Why Wait Mate.
A dating site!
The screen filled with a profile page of his dad: Marcus Rollins. There was a photo of him, taken with the computer camera, looking stiff and nervous. Like a wanted poster. He was looking for a woman who liked to stay active, loved children, and appreciated conversation. Favorite music: Anything Motown, especially Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Also, songs by Joni Mitchell.
Joni Mitchell? Who was that? How could it be that Theo didnât know that about his dad but strangers would?
About Family: Just me and my son, Theo, 13 going on 25. Heâs smart, funny, loving. I couldnât have wished for a more perfect son.
Theoâs face burned with shame. A perfect criminal.
âTheo?â His dadâs sleepy voice echoed from upstairs. âYou
Theo went to bed, but he couldnât fall asleep. Too much had happened, and images from the day just kept flying through his mind like a deck of cards tossed up in the air. He flipped on the light, wide-awake. He knew he should study science facts for the upcoming Aca-lympics competition. Since heâd started playing basketball, heâd fallen behind in his preparation. Instead, he propped open his laptop and started reading about basketball. Strategies, basic skills, plays. He watched game highlights on YouTube. Especially Dr. J (Crazy Girl was right about him, he was awesome). Maybe, if he studied basketball enough, heâd get better at it. Like math.
Suddenly Theo heard something strange. His dad was talking on the phone. He looked at the clock. Almost midnight. His dad was never on the phone this late. Theoâs stomach clenched. Was there some sort of police emergency? Was his dad going to be called out to someplace dangerous?
Theo slid quietly out of bed, crept to the bedroom door, opened it a crack, and listened. His dad sounded frustrated and upset.
ââ¦I tried. Itâs just not working out.⦠No, Iâm not going to say that. I donât care.⦠This is stupid, a bad idea. Iâm sorry I let you talk me into it.â¦â
Then his voice got lower and Theo couldnât make out what he was saying. But he could hear typing on a keyboard. His dad was talking on the phone while using a computer. Two things he hated to do separately, let alone at the same time.
Theo went back to bed, but he couldnât sleep. What was his dad so upset about?
A few minutes later, his dad shuffled down the hallway to his bedroom.
Theo waited half an hour. His dad usually fell asleep quickly. But he was a light sleeper, had been since Theoâs mother died. It was as if he thought he had to be always ready to jump up in case of an emergency. Like he blamed himself for not protecting Mom, even though he hadnât been there when the car crash happened. Even if he had, how could he have stopped a drunk driver from running a red light?
Theo poked his head out into the hall. Listened. His dad snored.
He tiptoed past his fatherâs door and down the stairs. He stepped over the two stairs that creaked and slipped into his dadâs study. The computer was asleep, but not off, so it quickly popped open to the desktop photo of ten-year-old Theo running with his mother into the waves at Newport Beach. Theo lingered on the photo a moment before typing in his dadâs password: Angelatheo3. Theo had figured that out a couple years ago after only ten minutes. His momâs name, Theoâs name, and the three of them as a family.
Theo hesitated. Who was this kid suddenly breaking into his fatherâs computer? What was happening to him? Growing a few inches couldnât explain all this. What kind of crazy thing might he do next? He was actually kind of scared to find out.
But that didnât stop him.
Theo checked his dadâs history. He clicked on the most recent site: Why Wait Mate.
A dating site!
The screen filled with a profile page of his dad: Marcus Rollins. There was a photo of him, taken with the computer camera, looking stiff and nervous. Like a wanted poster. He was looking for a woman who liked to stay active, loved children, and appreciated conversation. Favorite music: Anything Motown, especially Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Also, songs by Joni Mitchell.
Joni Mitchell? Who was that? How could it be that Theo didnât know that about his dad but strangers would?
About Family: Just me and my son, Theo, 13 going on 25. Heâs smart, funny, loving. I couldnât have wished for a more perfect son.
Theoâs face burned with shame. A perfect criminal.
âTheo?â His dadâs sleepy voice echoed from upstairs. âYou
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