Page 23 of The Boy Who Cried Bear
Max is walking back to his spot when he sees something in the forest. Something brown, walking on two legs.
He freezes, as if the creature could spot him. Then he peers out, shading his eyes against the sun.
Is that his bear-man? He can’t tell from here. It’s definitely walking on two legs, though, which bears don’t do. It’s brown, like a grizzly, but it could just be someone in a brown jacket with the hood up. He can’t see whether there are ears.
It’s not Sheriff Eric or Detective Casey. Sheriff Eric’s coat today was black, and Casey’s was blue. It’s not Deputy Will or Kenny on patrol either—Max spotted them walking the other way. Kendra must be back from patrol if Gunnar needed to help her. The brown figure is deeper in the woods.
Max takes one last look and then barrels through the loft. He’s down the stairs so fast he almost trips. Once outside, he pauses. There’s a spot where he could sneak into the forest without being seen. He wants a better look. He also knows he shouldn’t do that on his own.
He considers for a second. Then he walks as fast as he can without calling attention to himself. Last time he saw Carson, he was holed up in their room, where he spends most of his day on their Switch. The game console is supposed to be both of theirs, but they’re only allowed to recharge the batteries once a day, and Carson always uses it up.
As Max walks to their place, he checks his watch. He used to have a knockoff smartwatch, but they can’t charge those here, so it’s a regular one with hands that take him a moment to figure out the time. Nearly five thirty, when Mom will get off work and come home. He has to move fast.
There are a few types of residences in Haven’s Rock. Some of the staff live in lofts over businesses. A few have their own place, like Sheriff Eric and Detective Casey. The residents—and some of the staff—live in what Mom says reminds her of college dorms.
The people who come to Haven’s Rock by themselves get a little bedroom of their own, and they share the living area and kitchen and bathrooms with everyone in their building. For the families, like Max’s, there’s a building with apartments. Theirs is really tiny, like everything else, but it has two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living area with a kitchenette, a dining table, and a sofa.
He finds Carson exactly where he expects him. In their room, playing a game on the Switch.
“Carson?” he says.
His brother ignores him.
Max counts to three. “Carson?”
“Wait.”
Max glances toward the door. “It’s important.”
“You’re ten. Nothing’s important when you’re ten.”
Max’s teeth clench. “Well, this is. I think I see it again.”
“See what?”
“The bear-man.”
Carson slaps the Switch onto the bed. “For fuck’s sake, not this again.”
Max doesn’t tell him not to say “fuck.” Carson is always giving Max crap for doing things that he thinks are cool, but then he does the same.
“There’s no Bigfoot in the forest, Max,” he says.
“I never called it a Bigfoot. I don’t know what it is. I’m not even sure that’s what’s out there right now, but it’s close to town, and I want to take a look. I need you to come with me.”
“No.”
“Then I should tell someone. Deputy Will or Yolanda or—”
“No.” Carson swings his legs over the side of the bed. “You are not telling anyone. You’ve embarrassed yourself enough.”
Max unclenches his jaw and barely manages to get the words out. “I have not embarrassed myself. Even if what I saw was a bear—which I don’t think it was—everyone needed to know it’s out there. They appreciate the warning.”
Carson rolls his dark eyes. “Because they told you that. Because Mom won’t stop telling you that. There’s no Bigfoot, and there’s no bear. There’s just a scared little kid seeing bogeymen because his daddy got shot. You want to talk to someone? Talk to your therapist, the bartender chick.”
“Her name is Isabel.”
“Whatever.” Carson picks up the Switch and thumps onto his back. “You tell anyone else, and I’ll say there wasn’t a bear the first time either.”
