Sia by Josh Grayson
Publication date: November 20th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publication date: November 20th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Le Expert:
While I wait for my driver, I sit on a
step outside the school. I watch the kids go by. No one stops to say hello to
me, and I'm starting to understand why. Then I see Kyle trudging out of the
school, shaking his thick brown hair back from his brow. I decide to go talk to
him. But he changes direction when he sees me approaching.
“Wait! Kyle? Is that your name? Kyle?”
He stops, but doesn't turn around.
Undaunted, I run up from behind.
“Listen, I just wanted to apologize for Duke in the cafeteria today.”
“Why? Can’t he take care of that
himself?”
“I guess he can, but I don’t think
manners are his strong point.”
Kyle squints at me, trying to read my
expression, so I keep my eyes wide open. If he's looking for dishonesty or
cruelty, I'm determined he won't find any there.
“I don’t get it,” he says skeptically.
“Why would you apologize to me?”
I shrug. “Because it was wrong of him to
be like that.”
“If you're gonna apologize on behalf of
Duke, you should apologize to Ben, not me.”
“Um…okay, I will.”
After a moment of quiet, Kyle says,
“Okay. Thanks.” He sniffs and looks at the ground, obviously uncomfortable. “As
long as we’re apologizing, I guess I owe you one, too.” He runs his fingers
through his hair. “I’m sorry about yelling at you at the soup kitchen. That was
you, right?”
I nod.
“So I guess it was my yelling that made
you run into the street, wasn’t it?”
I nod again.
“Well, I’m really sorry. About all that.
I had no idea.”
“Of course you didn't. Don’t worry about
it.” I look down the street, past Kyle, but I can't see John and the car yet. I
glance down at my nails, still torn and ratty from living homeless. “What were
you doing there, anyway?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I volunteer there
sometimes.”
“Oh.”
“My parents own a bakery nearby. I work
there almost every afternoon. When we have day-old bread and stuff, I take it
over to them.”
“You…Oh!” I suddenly recall the slice of
bread I'd enjoyed just before Kyle yelled at me that day. Soft, homemade, and
unforgetable. It brings a smile to my face. “Well, I know from personal
experience that they really appreciate that. It’s very generous of you and your
family.”
“It’s the least we can do.” He
hesitates. “So you’d been eating there?”
“Yup. All week. With my friend Carol.”
“Carol? That older lady? I know her.
She’s sweet. Helps a lot of the kids out. I guess she’s kind of a teacher for
lost souls, huh?”
“You could say that,” I agree,
remembering my wise friend fondly.
A dark car pulls up to the curb.
I smile with apology. “Sorry, but I have
to go. That’s John, here to pick me up. So are we okay?”
“We?”
“Yeah. You and me.”
After a second, he returns my smile and
holds out a hand. “Sure.”
I step closer so I can shake it, and
while I'm there I purposefully inhale the smell Amber had so detested. She's
right. He smells like bread. Banana bread, I think. And cinnamon. Not
unpleasant at all.
Josh Grayson was born in
Mexico, raised in Massachusetts, and now lives in Martinsville, Virginia. It
was his move to the South that stirred his imagination and gave him the courage
to start writing. During his free time, Josh enjoys reading, jogging, swimming,
and watching YouTube videos.
Josh currently works as a
medical driver, shuttling people all over Virginia and North Carolina. He has
also worked as a machinist, film sales rep, administrative assistant, and
telemarketer (he apologizes if he called you).
Sia is his debut YA novel.
So what do y'all think??
Best,
Jackie
I'm really excited to start reading this one (I'm also doing the blitz later this week)! I love the excerpt you chose :-)
ReplyDeleteSame here! It sounds so different and utterly cool :D I'll be sure to stop you your stop...that was an odd sentence..Huh. Lol
DeleteHappy reading!
Jackie