Mrs. Jeter came in just then and placed a bowl of freshly popped popcorn on the coffee table. “Mommy!” Sharlee cried, throwing her arms around her. Then Derek heard her whisper to their mom, “Let’s go work on our surprise!” Sharlee shot a cunning glance at Derek.
“Ohhh, so it’s something you’re cooking up together!” Derek said. “Sharlee, you’d better watch out—I’m going to worm it out of you yet.” He reached over and tickled her. She hid behind their mom, giggling, then pulled their mother away into the kitchen.
Finally, thought Derek. Now he could watch the game in peace.
“Derek,” said his dad, lowering his newspaper and giving him a serious look.
“Huh?”
“I didn’t like how you were talking to your sister just now.”
“What’d I say?”
“It was your tone of voice, Son. I think you came pretty close to hurting Sharlee’s feelings.”
“She was fine!” Derek protested.
“This time. But maybe not next time. In any case, remember, it says in your contract—read it again—to always treat your family and all people with respect. I didn’t hear respect in your tone just then. I let it go, just to see if you’d stop on your own, and you did.”
Derek was silent. He knew his dad was right.
“I know you’re sorry about it, and I don’t expect to hear that tone from you again. Understand?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Now, if you want to talk about what’s making you so thin-skinned, I’m listening,” said Mr. Jeter.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” Derek said. “I don’t know why I got so annoyed. I’ve just been… I don’t know… tense lately.”
“Well, I guess it’s understandable. Finals coming up, playoffs coming up. Just remember—two more weeks, and all of that will be over. But your sister will be around a whole lot longer.”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Summer will be here before you know it. Meanwhile, try to find ways to relax and enjoy the moment.”
Derek knew his dad was right. His mom had told him pretty much the same thing.
So why was it so hard for him to actually do it?
Chapter Four EARTHQUAKE
Derek’s ribs felt better the next morning. After two hours of review for his tests and a break for lunch, he asked if he could be excused to go play ball.
“How’s that injury of yours?” asked his mom. “Sure you’re okay to play?”
“It’s fine,” Derek said, causing his mom to raise an eyebrow.
“In that case, you’re a fast healer,” she said. “Well, be careful out there. Don’t make it worse. No diving for balls, okay?”
“Mom,” Derek said, raising his own eyebrows in return. “I’ll be back for dinner.” He kissed her on the cheek and was out the door, headed for the Hill.
He thought he knew now what had really been on his mind the past two days. Not the upcoming playoff game on Wednesday. Not his finals bet with Gary. Those things were on his mind, sure. But what was really eating at him was Dave.
As Derek neared the field, he saw that once again Dave was missing in action.
The vague sense of unease that had been eating at him all weekend suddenly grew into a wave of outright foreboding. What could possibly be going on?
Derek tried to put his worries aside and have fun. The kids got a game started, and soon Derek started feeling a little more at ease. But maybe that relaxed feeling was just a mirage—because he booted the first grounder that came his way—something he rarely did.
The embarrassment of blowing an easy play made him shake off his worries and really concentrate on the moment. The game kept him busy until five thirty, when it was time to go home for dinner. As he was rounding the bend in the path at the corner of his building, he stopped short.
There, parked outside the Jeters’ townhouse, was the familiar black sedan, with Chase sitting behind the wheel. Standing on the sidewalk next to it was Dave—and from the glum look on his face, Derek knew right away that something major was wrong and he hadn’t been worried over nothing after all.
“Hi,” Derek said. Uh-oh. Here it comes, he thought.
“Sorry I didn’t make it on Friday,” said Dave, looking down at the ground.
“Or today.”
“Or today.” Dave heaved a big sigh. “Sorry.” He looked like he was about to cry. “It’s just—” Another big sigh, and Dave stared up at the clouds. “We’re moving.”
“Huh?”
“My mom and dad and I. We’re moving.”
Derek felt the ground suddenly shift beneath his feet. His stomach heaved. “What? When?”
“Soon as school’s over,” Dave said.
“Where?”
Dave brought his gaze down to look right at Derek. “You’re not going to believe it.”
“Try me,” said Derek.
“Hong Kong.”
“No way!”
“Way.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“Told you. Me neither—it’s crazy, right?”
“What happened? Why are you moving?”
“My mom’s job got transferred,” Dave explained. “She’s got a two-year posting at the firm’s Hong Kong office, and my dad’s going to start his own company to operate out of China.”
“This totally stinks!” Derek said. “Two years? And then what? You’re coming back here?”
Dave shrugged and shook his head. “Who knows? We’ve moved before, a bunch of times. But I really thought this time was going to be it. ‘The last move’—that’s what they said then.”
“Poor you,” Derek said. However hard this was for him, it was going to be a lot harder for Dave.
“I know. I’ve been so bummed out about it ever since they told me. That’s why I didn’t show up on Friday… or today. I’ve just been trying to deal with it… you know? It isn’t easy.”
“Man.” Derek shook his head. “A foreign country? All new kids? Who knows if they’ll even speak English!”
“Oh, they will,” Dave assured him. “My parents are putting me in an international school, with kids from all over. They teach in English, so it’s a good bet all the kids speak it.”
“Well,” said Derek. “At least there’s that.”
“Yeah, but it’s like, I’ve got to start all over again—again. Every time we move, I’ve got a new school
