Read 52 - How I Learned to Fly for Free Online Page B

down my backpack. Poured myself a tall glass
of orange juice. For strength.
    Then I phoned Mia.
    No answer. She wasn’t home yet.
    I’ll give her ten more minutes, I thought, heading into my bedroom. Then I’ll
call again.
    I sat down at my desk and started sketching my newest superhero—ME! I drew
myself soaring high over the Hollywood Hills. Sailing way above the big
HOLLYWOOD sign.
    Maybe I should tell Mom and Dad I can fly, I thought as I sketched. That way
I won’t have to hide. That way I can fly whenever I want.
    No. No way! I decided. They’ll think it’s way too dangerous. They’ll probably
think I’m weird, that there is something wrong with me. And they won’t
let me do it. I definitely cannot tell them. I have to keep this a secret.
    I held my drawing up and studied it. It needed one last thing. Then it would
be perfect. A superhero cape. As I sketched in the cape, I thought about Wilson.
    Wilson—and the sick look on his face when he realized that our competition
was over for all time.
    When he realized that he could never win against me again—ever!
    When he saw me flying!
    I jumped up from my desk and phoned Mia.
    Still no answer.
    I wandered over to my bedroom window and peered outside.
    Hey! There she was! In front of Wilson’s house. With Wilson.
    Wilson was skating down his driveway on his fancy, new in-line skates. At the
end of the driveway, he had set up a small ramp—and he was rolling full-speed
straight for it.
    He flew up the ramp—and soared into the air. “Yahoo!” he shouted, shooting
his fists up as he swooped down for a perfect landing.
    Mia applauded.
    Ha! You think that’s flying, Wilson? I thought. Your days of showing off are
over. Watch this!
    I opened my window as high as I could.
    I marched across my room—through the bedroom doorway and out into the hall.
    I inhaled deeply—and took a running start.
    I charged through my bedroom.
    I leaped out my bedroom window.
    I spread my arms wide.
    And fell like a rock.

 
 
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    “Oooof!”
    I landed on my back in the soft hedges below my window.
    The fall knocked the breath out of me. I lay there dazed for about a minute,
my chest aching, struggling to breathe.
    I moved my arms and legs. They seemed to be okay. Nothing broken.
    What went wrong? Can I still fly? I wondered.
    Maybe the secret recipe lasts for only one flight.
    Or maybe I have to take off from the ground. That could be it. Maybe I’m not
supposed to leap into flight.
    “Jack! Are you okay?” Mia ran over to me. “What happened? Did you fall out of the window?”
    “Nobody falls out a bedroom window—nobody, but Jack!” Wilson hooted. “How
klutzy do you have to be to fall out a window?”
    “I did not fall out my bedroom window,” I protested. I didn’t know what else
to say.
    “Yes, you did, Jack. We saw you. We saw the whole thing.” Wilson snickered.
He turned to Mia with a smirk on his face. “Bet Jack was practicing Twister
again.”
    I climbed to my feet. I stared down as I brushed myself off. Stared down so I
wouldn’t have to look at either one of them.
    “Jack, come with me.” Wilson tugged my arm. “I want to show you something.
Something really important. It could save your life one day. It’s called a
door.”
    Mia giggled.
    I knocked Wilson’s hand away.
    I could feel the blood rushing to my face.
    Okay, Wilson. That’s it! I’ve had enough of you—you and your bragging and
your stupid jokes.
    I took a deep breath.
    “I want to show you both something,” I announced.
    I placed my feet close together.
    I lifted my arms and pointed them in the air.
    I hope this works, I prayed. I hope I don’t look like a total jerk.
    I raised myself up on my toes.
    Here goes…

 
 
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    I bent my knees.
    I took a deep breath. I shut my eyes.
    Prepared to take off…
    “Jack? Jack? Where are you?” a voice called.
    “Huh?” I opened my eyes. I lowered my arms slowly.
    “Jack?” It was Mom. Home early from work.