Chapter One
On Saturday morning I wandered into the living room and saw Dad up on a ladder installing the ugly new ceiling lamp. It looked like a land mine.
"Todd? When do you start camp?" Dad asked.
"I just finished seventh grade yesterday," I told him.
The land mine was hanging crooked. My parents didn't order the light I liked, with the frosty glass shade flaring out like a lily.
"What about baseball camp?" Dad went on. "Aren't you registered?"
"Nope."
Dad twisted toward me dangerously. "What happened? You were supposed to sign up in P.E.!"
I steadied the ladder. "I don't even like baseball."
Dad frowned at the ceiling. "Then soccer," he growled, dropping a screw. "Find out when it starts."
I trapped the rolling screw and handed it up to him. "You bribed me to play soccer when I was eight. You gave me ten bucks."