Dave at Night: Part 4

By GAIL CARSON LEVINE, Illustrator MARK ELLIOT

Papa was in the front room, lying on the couch where Gideon and I slept at night. He wasn't bleeding, but he didn't look right. He looked like Papa in a photograph, not like Papa. His face was too white, with gray shadows under his eyes and on his cheeks.

"Papa!"

He didn't move. Ida stood at the window, looking out. She didn't turn when I came in. Mrs Stern from across the hall stood next to her, patting her back.

"I hit a home run, Papa. We won the game." I nudged his shoulder. His arm swung off the edge of the couch. His fingers dangled a few inches above the floor.

I knew he was dead then, but I said to Gideon, "Did Papa break his arm?" And then I said to Papa, "I'll make you laugh so it won't hurt."But I couldn't think of anything funny. Then I remembered an old joke. "What did the caterpillar say to the boa constrictor?"

"Dave ..." Gideon said.

Mrs Stern left Ida and started toward me. She was going to hug me and I didn't want her to.

"No. Listen. Papa wants to heart it. The caterpillar said, I don't want to be around when you turn into a butterfly."'I laughed. "Do you get it, Papa?" I leaned down and said right into his, "Isn't it funny? Don't you get it?"

From where she stood, Ida said, "Don't you get it? He's dead."

Publisher: HarperCollins, $14.95
Age group: 8-12 years