Far From Xanadu
Chapter One
After my dad's suicide, the town council decided to remove the
bottom portion of the ladder from the Coalton water tower. Like that
was going to keep me down. We pooled our savings, me and Jamie, and
bought a thirty-two-foot extension ladder at Hank's Hardware. In the
long prairie grass around the tower, we could keep it hidden so no
one would ever know.
Who were we kidding? This was Coalton. Everyone knew everything.
The sky was already pinking up and I was going to miss the whole
show if I didn't hurry. I dragged the extension over and clanged it
against the remaining rungs, then clambered up to the landing. The
sun was peeking over the horizon as the gate screeked open to the
walkaround. It was chilly. I could see my breath. I'd pulled a pair
of Dad's sweats on over my boxers, but now wished I'd dug out a
flannel shirt from the laundry. His ribbed undershirt was flimsy.
I sat on the metal platform and dangled my feet over the rim.
Resting my forehead against the railing, I thought, Oh man. The
colors - rose and amber, indigo, orange-streaked clouds. Dad said
angels p ... read full excerpt from: Far from Xanadu ebook
