I’m reading from Chapter 34, Hello, Universe, this is toward the end of the book. And Chet, the bully, has just been bitten by a snake.
I must admit it was a little disappointing to find out that the snake wasn’t poisonous. Not that I’d want Chet’s throat to swell up or anything, I would never wish something like that on anyone, but an arm infected with poison and a scary trip to the emergency room would have been nice.
But then Chet would have a big dramatic story to tell, so maybe it was for the best. I could picture it now. I went to the emergency room and almost died and it was a close call for a while there, the doctor said I was lucky that I killed that cougar when I did. Good thing I had enough strength to demolish it and throw it down that well.
Then again he’d probably tell that story anyway. After Chet walks off, I pick up the pillowcase like it’s a dirty sock. I went crazy about the idea of holding something that Chet … After Chet walks off, I pick up the pillow case like it’s a dirty sock. I wasn’t crazy about the idea of holding something that touched Chet’s sweat, but I’d already littered the woods with my mother’s old bowls. The least I could do was throw the atrocious object away.
I didn’t want some squirrel family to find it or Sacred. The thought of Sacred cuddling up with something and Chet’s pillow case just didn’t sit well with me. When I glanced back at Gen and Kaori, they seemed confused, like they didn’t know who I am all of a sudden.
We should go into business together Kaori says. What, I ask? I couldn’t have heard that right. We should go into business together Kaori says again. I know about the spiritual world and you know about the natural world. It’s the perfect partnership. That’s probably why fate brought us together as friends. Friends. Something about the way she says it makes me feel like I found something. I know it sounds corny but in that moment with that one word I already feel like a different person. Is that possible?
Or it could have just been a coincidence I say. There are no coincidences Gen and Kaori say at the same time. For some reason that makes us all laugh, I don’t care that I’m holding Chet’s disgusting pillow case anymore. Once we stop laughing Kaori’s face turns serious. But first she begins you have to tell us the truth about something.
She and Gen glance at each other. Gen is still holding the bag so I reach for it. Is your name really Rene? I stand up straight, as straight as I can and put my bag on my shoulder, no, I reply my name is Valencia, Valencia Summerset, just like a battle cry.
