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  “What’s with the band uniform?” Kaden asked.

  “Part of the program. Did Gram tell you anything about what’s going on?”

  “No, how ’bout your mom? Did she say anything?”

  “No, but I got inside information.”

  “Really? How?” Kaden asked.

  “I had to go with Mom to the school board meeting last night to model new band uniform possibilities.”

  “You’re kidding,” Kaden said.

  “No. It was so embarrassing. I don’t mind wearing a band uniform when you’re playing in a band, but modeling? Give me a break.”

  “So, what’s the inside scoop?”

  But before Yo-Yo had a chance to say anything, the earsplitting squeal of a microphone got everyone’s attention. All talking stopped.

  “Students, will you please stand for the raising of the flag,” Mr. Price’s voice came over the loud speakers.

  “That’s my cue,” Yo-Yo said. “Gotta run.” Yo-Yo hurried to stand beside the flagpole.

  As the flag was raised, Yo-Yo put the bugle to his mouth and started playing reveille. Kaden was impressed. A few notes were slightly off-key but nothing like the elephant blasts he made on his trumpet. Then Mr. Price invited Gram to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Gram stood straight and solemn as she spoke through the microphone. When finished, the elementary teachers got the younger students seated in the grass as Mr. Price started speaking again.

  “Good morning, students and teachers,” he said, “and a big Promise Elementary and Middle School welcome to all the townsfolk. It’s great to see you are interested in the education of our youngest citizens. I hope you will remain so when we ask to pass a bond next election.”

  “Enough with the campaigning!” someone yelled. “We’re just here to see the sign.” The crowd chuckled.

  Mr. Price was not rattled. “We’ll get to that, Clarence, just be patient. First, I have an announcement. Mrs. McCrory has brought it to our attention we could make better use of the students’ time here at Promise Middle School. She has graciously helped us design a new program and will be funding it, too. The faculty and I met this week to work out the details and the board approved it last night. We’ve named the program C.A.R.E., which stands for Citizenship and Responsibility for Everyone.”

  “Some of us didn’t care for it,” Luke’s father called out from the crowd.

  Mr. Price ignored Mr. Woodhead and continued. “As Mrs. McCrory pointed out, students should have responsibilities as citizens of our school community. C.A.R.E. will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays after lunch instead of study hall. So, students, homework assigned on those days will be done at home. Band will continue as it is, after lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those not in band will go to study hall those two days as usual. Those students in band will no longer have study hall at all.”

  Audible complaints rose from the students. Kaden glanced at Gram, worried she might grab the microphone and ask them what part of the word “homework” they didn’t understand. Much to Kaden’s relief, Gram stayed put but the straight line of her lips turned down as she glared at the noisy students.

  “Quiet down, students,” Mr. Price instructed sternly. “During C.A.R.E., each middle-school grade level will be assigned one of three duties for the week. The duties will rotate each week to a different grade. One duty will be the School Beautification Duty. After lunch, students will stay in the cafeteria to empty trash, sweep the floor, and help wipe and fold the tables. Then they will go outside to pick up trash, rake leaves, and, especially, work on the beautification of the inner courtyard.”

  “What if it’s raining?” Luke called out.

  “If the weather is bad, you can help with inside chores,” Mr. Price answered without hesitation. “Another duty will be Elementary Duty. Students will be assigned to each of the elementary classrooms to help that teacher in any way she sees fit. The third duty will be Library Duty. Students will help Ms. Ales check in and shelve books. The school board, as well as the faculty and I, wish to thank Mrs. McCrory for her insight and financial support in helping our students be a more responsible group of young citizens.”

  The audience politely applauded. The corners of Gram’s mouth raised a little so it returned to a straight line, and she gave one nod.

  When the applause ended, Clarence yelled out again, “What about the sign?”

  “Okay, Clarence,” Mr. Price said. “As most of you know, our school sign was accidentally destroyed.”

  “How?” Clarence interrupted.

  Mr. Price chuckled and glanced at Doris. “You want to tell them?”

  Doris turned beet red. “Everyone’s going to know sooner or later,” she said. “I hit the sign practicing for the State School Bus Safety Days Competition.”

  The crowd roared.

  “Okay, folks, quiet down,” Mr. Price said. “Accidents happen, but you all know our children are in the safest of hands when they step onto a Promise school bus.”

  “Let’s see the new sign!” Clarence interrupted again.

  “All right, Clarence. You ready, Emmett?” Mr. Price asked.

  Emmett nodded and picked up one corner of the tarp. Mr. Price picked up the other, and together, they lifted the tarp up and over the sign. The crowd loved it. Even Gram smiled as Mr. Price read the sign aloud.

  “Promise Elementary and Middle School, where a Promise is stronger than a Thredt.”

  When the ceremony was over, Kaden and Yo-Yo joined the flow of students streaming through the front doors.

  “There’s something I need to tell you about but I don’t want to here,” Kaden said. “Do you think you can come to the cabins tomorrow? We’ll go to the tower.”

  “Probably. I’ll go ask Mom.”

  Yo-Yo turned right to head toward the music room. Kaden turned left. He was almost at Ms. Ales’s room when Luke and Elana came up behind him.

  “Since when did your grandma know what’s best for everybody?” Luke said over Kaden’s shoulder. Kaden ignored him and kept on walking but Luke darted around in front of him and blocked his way.

  “Are you going to answer my question or just sneak away like a thief?” Luke said, giving Kaden a hard shove. Kaden stumbled backward, knocking into Elana. Elana’s books flew out of her hands and skidded in all directions.

  “You need to watch where you’re going,” Luke sneered, but then turned to Elana and in a sweet, overly concerned voice asked, “Are you okay?”

  Kaden started to pick up one of Elana’s books but Luke kicked his hand away and put his foot down on top of the book.

  “Did Elana ask for your help?” Luke said.

  Kaden stood back up, leaving the book on the floor under Luke’s foot. Mumbling “sorry” to Elana, Kaden tried to dart around Luke but Luke was faster. He slammed Kaden into the lockers and pinned him there.

  “I’m not lifting a finger for your grandma’s C.A.R.E. program. And you and your little punk friend better not rat me out or you’ll regret it,” Luke snarled into Kaden’s face. “That’s a promise.”

  Yo-Yo had come up and now stood behind Luke but out of his reach. “Sounds like a threat to me,” he said. Luke let go of Kaden and turned toward Yo-Yo.

  “What happened to your cute little band uniform?” Luke taunted.

  “Come on, Luke,” Elana interjected. “Let’s just go eat breakfast.”

  But Luke didn’t let up. “He looked just like a little munchkin, didn’t he, Elana?”

  “Actually, I thought so, too,” Yo-Yo spoke up as if he didn’t realize it wasn’t a big joke. “Those uniforms are probably older than The Wizard of Oz. But that’s the last anyone will see of them. The band’s getting new ones.” Yo-Yo nonchalantly leaned over and picked up one of Elana’s books and handed it to her.

  “Really?” Elana said, taking the book. “What do they look like?”

  “Who cares,” Luke stated. “Come on, Elana.” Luke walked down the hall toward the cafeteria. Elana conti
nued talking with Yo-Yo while Kaden picked up the rest of her books. But when Luke got to the back hallway, he called out, “I told you to come on, Elana.”

  Elana hesitated, then turned to Yo-Yo. “I’d better go or he’ll get even madder.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  FRIENDSHIP ROCK

  C.A.R.E. started that afternoon, and after lunch all the sixth graders gathered around the library checkout counter.

  “There’s not much to do, just those books to stack,” Ms. Ales stated, pointing toward a half-empty book cart behind the counter. “So if a couple of you volunteer to put them away, I guess the rest of you can spend your time quietly talking, reading, or looking for a book to check out.”

  A couple of girls raised their hands to volunteer. Kaden did, too.

  Luke made a point to push up next to Kaden.

  “Only girls volunteer,” Luke said, “and cowards. You’re afraid of your own grandma, aren’t you?” Luke gave Kaden a sharp jab in the ribs with his elbow, then headed toward the back of the room.

  Not afraid, Kaden thought, rubbing his ribs. Just smart. He knew Gram would ask what they did in C.A.R.E. She wouldn’t be too pleased if he said they just talked. He wouldn’t be lying if he said he stacked books. He would just fail to mention only two other kids stacked them, too. As Kaden headed toward the book cart, Ms. Ales spoke up again.

  “On second thought,” she said, “I think everyone should participate in C.A.R.E. So, each of you take two or three books and put them in the proper places. Remember fiction is in alphabetical order by last name and nonfiction is filed by the Dewey decimal system. Then you can do as you please.”

  Everyone but Luke took some books. As they were placing the books on the shelves, Coach Dosser and the seventh graders came in carrying rakes and black plastic trash bags. They walked through the library and exited into the courtyard for School Beautification Duty.

  “I wonder what will be left for us to do out there next week,” Kaden said to Yo-Yo as he put his last book on the shelf. “The courtyard isn’t that big.”

  “I don’t know,” Yo-Yo said, “but come on. I’ve been waiting for a chance to give you this all day.” Yo-Yo headed toward a table. He pulled a plastic bag out of his backpack and dumped out the contents.

  “What’s all this stuff for?” Kaden asked, sitting down beside Yo-Yo and picking up a rock with a line all the way around it. There was an old portable CD player with a set of earbuds plugged into it, a dozen or so CDs in their plastic cases, a package of AAA batteries, a thin board about twelve inches long and three inches wide, a throwaway camera, a cell phone, a ziplock bag filled with sunflower seeds, a tiny blue LED flashlight, and a round plastic container of baby wipes.

  “That’s a friendship rock and the rest is a survival kit,” Yo-Yo said. Then he whispered, “For the tower.”

  “Baby wipes?”

  “They’re antibacterial in case of random crow poop. Or,” Yo-Yo said, raising his T-shirt to show a rash across his stomach caked with dried-up pink lotion, “to fend off attacks of poison ivy.”

  Kaden grinned. “What about all the other stuff?”

  “First,” Yo-Yo said, “the tower needs a name.” He picked up the thin board and turned it over. Dark black letters spelling UDANAX were burned into the other side. Before Yo-Yo could explain, Luke sauntered up with Elana tagging close beside. Kaden heard Elana whisper, “Come on, Luke, just leave them alone,” but Luke ignored her. Standing behind them, Luke reached between Kaden and Yo-Yo and picked up the CD player.

  “Rob an antique store lately?” Luke laughed, letting the earbuds dangle from their cords in front of Kaden’s face.

  Kaden slumped in his seat, staring down at the table, his fist tightening onto the rock in his hand. His face turned beet red but he was silent. Still holding the CD player, Luke grabbed the small flashlight.

  “Looks like part of a burglar’s equipment to me,” he said. “Is this so you can see what you’re stealing?” Luke turned the light on and leaned over to shine it in Kaden’s face. Again Kaden said nothing. He just turned his head away so the light wasn’t in his eyes.

  Luke pocketed the flashlight and reached for the baby wipes. But before he could say another word, Yo-Yo forcefully pushed his chair backward, hitting Luke hard in the shin.

  “Hey, watch what you’re doing, punk,” Luke said, but Yo-Yo was quick. As Luke leaned forward to rub his shin, Yo-Yo jumped up and grabbed the CD player from him.

  “That happens to be my mom’s,” he told Luke. “And before you call someone a thief, there’s something in your pocket that doesn’t belong to you. I’d like it back.” Yo-Yo stepped right up to Luke, his hands on his hips. He was as face-to-face with Luke as he could get, considering Luke was a whole head taller.

  “What are you going to do, teacher’s brat? Go crying to your mommy?” Luke said, also putting his hands on his hips. “Besides, who’s to say it isn’t mine?”

  “Elana is,” Yo-Yo said. Luke looked at Elana.

  “I gave it to Yo-Yo yesterday,” she said quietly. “His mom brought him in after school for a Jumbo Lightning Moo-Cream.”

  “That’s right,” Yo-Yo said. “Prepayment for trying on band uniforms for the school board.”

  “Big deal. I have one of those flashlights, too,” Luke said. “In fact, just about every kid in town does. You should know that, Elana. No way to tell this one isn’t mine.”

  “All the other flashlights are purple,” Elana said. “That was the only blue one.”

  “It’s unique, like me,” Yo-Yo said, grinning.

  Elana giggled. Luke ignored Yo-Yo and glared at Elana. “Why’d you give him a special flashlight?”

  “It wasn’t anything special. I just pulled a flashlight out of the box, and it was blue,” Elana said. “Must have gotten in there by mistake at the factory.”

  “Well, your mistake is you gave it to that little punk,” Luke said, then turned to Yo-Yo. “And your mistake was ever coming to this school. If I see you in Pillie’s again, it will be an even bigger mistake.”

  “From what I hear, you’re banned. You’ll only see me from the outside looking in,” Yo-Yo said. He put his hand out. “Now, my flashlight, please.”

  “You still can’t prove it’s not mine,” Luke said.

  “Oh, stop it, Luke. Just give it back to him,” Elana said.

  “So, you want to be friends with these babies?” Luke said. “Look, they even bring their baby wipes to school.” Luke gave the container a shove. It turned over and rolled off the table.

  “All I said was give it back to him,” Elana said. Yo-Yo still had his hand out.

  Luke glared at Elana a while longer, then pulled the flashlight out of his pocket. He slapped it down in Yo-Yo’s outstretched hand and stomped off. Irritated at Luke, Elana huffed off in the opposite direction.

  “I tell you, she’s not too bad if you can get her away from Luke,” Yo-Yo said, watching her leave. “We’re getting her turned around, just have to be patient.”

  Kaden said nothing but continued staring straight down at the table, head still bowed. Every muscle in his face was tense and taut. Yo-Yo stopped talking and began stuffing everything back into the plastic bag.

  “Hey, snap out of it. You just have to learn to stick up for yourself,” Yo-Yo finally said to Kaden. “Luke is mostly all bark and he barks the most in front of Elana. You saw what he does. If you stand up to him, he puts his tail between his legs and runs. Just like a dog. That’s what you have to think, he’s just like a dog.”

  Yo-Yo started barking, then howling and acting like he was chasing his tail. Kaden finally had to grin.

  “A big, mean dog,” Kaden said as he picked up the baby wipes and handed them to Yo-Yo.

  “No, a tall, skinny, mean dog,” Yo-Yo said, grinning back.

  The bell rang, ending C.A.R.E. for the day. Yo-Yo handed the plastic bag to Kaden.

  “Thanks,” Kaden said.

  “No big deal. I’ll tell you what
the rest of the stuff is for tomorrow.”

  Kaden rolled the friendship rock around in his hand. “I wasn’t saying thanks for the stuff,” he said. “I was saying it for, well, you know, for sticking up for me.”

  “I’m not afraid of dogs,” Yo-Yo said. “You just have to act bigger, look meaner, and bark louder.”

  Saturday, September 10

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  UNEXPECTED VISIT

  It was hot for the second weekend of September. Not a breath of air, even above all the trees. Kaden and Yo-Yo dumped the stuff from the survival kit on the tower floor in front of them. Kaden hadn’t brought up what he wanted to talk about and Yo-Yo hadn’t pried.

  “The sign,” Yo-Yo said, picking up the thin board that said UDANAX. “Every hideout needs a name. Have you figured it out yet?”

  “Don’t have a clue,” Kaden said.

  “It’s Xanadu spelled backward,” Yo-Yo reported.

  “Still clueless,” Kaden said.

  “I read about Xanadu the night I learned about zoysia grass. When I grabbed the encyclopedia. Remember?”

  “How could I forget?” Kaden said. “You jumped off the couch so fast to grab the book, Gram and I thought you were having some sort of conniption fit. So, what’s Xanadu?”

  “I’m surprised you don’t know. Xanadu was an underground kingdom in a poem called ‘Kubla Khan.’ I didn’t know about Kubla the crow when I read about Xanadu that night, but I picked the name for the sign in Kubla’s honor.”

  As if he understood what Yo-Yo said, Kubla hopped down from his perch on the window frame and landed grasping the top edge of the board. He peered over at the dark letters as if reading them. Both boys laughed.

  “I think he likes it,” Kaden said. “But why spell it backward? And what about the ‘X’? Shouldn’t it be a ‘Z’?”

  “Xanadu is spelled with an ‘X’; it just sounds like a ‘Z.’ And this place isn’t exactly underground. It’s the total opposite. So if Xanadu is the name for an underground kingdom, the opposite, Udanax, should be for an aboveground kingdom.”