Read The Dragon Guard for Free Online

something, it’s that I . . . can’t decide.” Jason stabbed at a green bean, a little harder than he intended. The fork went squeaking shrilly across his plate. McIntire looked at him briefly, bushy eyebrow waggling up and down, but he said nothing. Jason shoved the captured green bean in his mouth and chewed vigorously, hoping he wouldn’t be asked anything else, at least till he chewed and swallowed.
    Alicia watched him, too, her fine blonde hair framing her face, and finally she said, “Must be an awfully tough string bean.”
    His face warmed. Time for the sprint! “I’m thinking of photography,” he finally managed. He wasn’t, but the words just sorta fell out of his mouth. He stared at his plate in slight amazement. Where had that come from?
    McIntire cleared his throat. “A nice hobby. Not that many can make a living at it . . .”
    â€œHe could be a cameraman. Cinematographer. Or even go into digital effects,” Alicia said, with a great deal of satisfaction on her face and her expression. Her forte in film work was directing, but she was always complaining she couldn’t find anyone to set up the shots the way she wanted them. Jason was never sure if it was because Alicia was so particular or young or just hard to understand. He’d never quite understood her.
    Joanna frowned slightly, saying, “Digital?” in a vaguely unsure voice.
    â€œComputerized photography, Mom, or close enough. They use it in all kinds of special effects, like movies, commercials, and so on.”
    â€œOh, my. That sounds as if it could be very promising. Combined with a good business mind and sense, of course.” His stepmother beamed at him then, as she refolded her napkin over her lap.
    â€œI was just looking at it like a hobby. Something fun, you know. To break up the day.” Jason pushed a few more green beans around. His appetite seemed to have fled although he could almost guarantee it would return with a growl when he went back upstairs if he didn’t eat now. Even if he did eat, he’d be back in the kitchen around ten for a snack before bedtime. Something to do with having the constitution of a fast growing weed.
    â€œSounds like you’re into something interesting and fun. A boy needs a bit of fun now and then, along with the hard work.” McIntire gave a deep noise of approval.
    Jason felt almost trapped. “It’s not a done deal,” he said. “I might not have room in the right time period. It might fill early. I might not like it.”
    â€œWorrywart.” Alicia cleared her plate, standing up. “There’re other classes, too. Don’t be a typical freshman, running around campus with that ‘Bambi caught in the headlights stare’ on your face.”
    â€œAlicia!”
    She flipped her lanky blonde hair, as she turned to her mother. “Well, Mom, honestly, you ought to see them! It’s pathetic.”
    â€œI won’t be pathetic,” Jason vowed. “Trust me.” His words came out strongly, not at all affected by the strange quaver that sometimes hit his voice now and then.
    Joanna looked at him a long moment, then smiled gently. “I think you’ll do quite well.” She stood, with a relieved expression, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
    Jason excused himself, cleared his place, and fled to the sanctity of his attic room. Was raising him really that big a problem? He had never even thought of getting into things some of the other guys did, but Magick now . . . that would be bad enough. He couldn’t ever tell her. He wondered as he trudged up his attic stairs if he could have told his real mother. Or his father. His father he still had memories of, though they were getting fuzzy. From what he remembered of his dad, someone tall, with strong arms and big hands, and a bigger laugh . . . he thought he could have. He hoped he could have.
    Jason dropped