Scumble by Ingrid Law

those?” I heard Rocket say.
    â€œIf you’d be so kind,” Autry answered, his voice quick and tight as he shepherded kids and old people farther away from the mounting wreckage.
    â€œHappy belated birthday, Ledge,” Rocket growled as he moved past me toward the garden, picking his way carefully toward the fallen electrical lines.
    â€œRocket!” Fe called out, making him turn. “Avoid the worst! Put safety first!”
    â€œNo worries, little cousin!” he called back with a smile lit by the fitful flashes coming from the downed lines. “Just don’t try this at home!” As Rocket’s gaze fell across me, his smile vanished. The look that replaced it was sharp enough to make me suck in my breath.
    Rocket moved into the garden, stopping at the place where the cables twitched and seized among the radishes, igniting the air with lethal-looking volts.
    My mouth went dry as I watched my cousin pick up the fallen electrical lines like they were as harmless as a pair of green garden hoses. Pulling the two cables together in one hand, he clamped his other hand down over the sparking ends and held on tight. Electric currents shot up his arm and danced around his neck and chest.
    After draining the cables, Rocket moved back in my direction. Lit up and crackling, he came to a halt ten feet away, at what I hoped was a good, safe distance between an electric man and a demolitions boy. His shoulders rose and fell with every breath. The air around him seethed and shimmered.
    I tried to swallow. But couldn’t. My heart thumped so hard I thought it might explode. Instead, with a crack like thunder, the last beams of the barn’s roof fell in at once. Creaking and groaning, the walls followed, sending shards of wood flying in every direction.
    There was a sudden cry and all heads turned.
    â€œYou’re hurt!” Mellie’s voice was soft as she tenderly touched Fish’s cheek. In the pale wash of blue light coming from Rocket, everyone could see the drops of blood that marred the front of Mellie’s wedding dress. My cousin wasn’t badly hurt, but his cheek was bleeding, gouged by something sharp and airborne—a nail or a splintered piece of wood. I knew Fish’s injury could have been much worse and was glad I was already on my knees. It made saying a prayer of thanks that much easier.
    Bitsy pushed her wet nose under my mom’s arm, trying to give me big, sloppy, reassuring dog kisses. The savvy monster inside me had worn itself out. The barn was like a straw hat sat on by an elephant; it couldn’t get any flatter. The awful prickling sensation was beginning to ebb. My hands no longer itched.
    â€œWhy’s it always my face?” Fish asked as Mellie pressed a kerchief to his cheek. A mizzling smatter of raindrops licked the gravel around us, triggered by the pain in Fish’s cheek. But he could scumble his savvy, no problem, and the paltry rainfall ended as quick as it began.
    As soon as Rocket saw that Fish and Mellie were all right, he charged toward me, stomping so close I could feel every hair on my head and arms stand up.
    â€œYou’ve got to be more careful, Ledger!” Rocket shouted. “You’d better learn that quick!”
    â€œBack off, son.” My dad was on his feet, stepping between me and Rocket.
    I opened my mouth to say something.
    Anything.
    Sorry, maybe.
    But before I could form a single word, a siren chirped in the distance and Rocket turned sharply. There was a collective gasp from the assembled crowd. No one could mistake the sight or sound of the sheriff’s vehicle rumbling down the gravel road toward us.
    Rocket took off in a blur, headed for the hills. Of all the things that would be difficult to explain to the sheriff, Rocket’s bright blue glow just might top the list. But as the truck drew nearer I couldn’t help notice the dark gap where the driver’s door should’ve been, and I knew