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Chapter One

The Bus

When Nathan's father told him the news, his voice seemed lost in the quiet of the schoolroom—as though it didn't belong, Nathan thought.

Nathan couldn't remember his father, Henry, having ever visited the school before. Not for parents' evenings, or school plays. Not even when he and Nathan's mom were still married. That's why when Nathan saw Henry's car arrive at the school gates, he knew something terrible had happened. By the time his teacher, Miss Feather, called Nathan into the school office, Henry was already waiting for him, his face as gray and crumpled as his tie.

"Nathan, it's your mother," Henry began. "She's been in an accident."

Henry waited for Nathan to say something, but Nathan was silent. He couldn't speak. His mouth was dry, and he felt a numbing ache against his forehead, as though a cold fist were pressing down on him.

"She was hit by a bus," Henry continued. "The driver didn't see her until it was too late."

Nathan hesitated. "But she's okay?"

"No, Nathan. No. I'm afraid she's not."

The fist pressed down harder, and Nathan felt hot tears prick his eyes. It had been only a few hours since he'd last seen her. As he was leaving for school, she'd kissed him once on the cheek; then she'd pulled on her coat—the green one Henry had bought her for her birthday. She was leaving too, and so they walked out of the house together. The last thing his mom had said to him was not to come home too late because they had plans for the evening.

"But we're going out tonight," Nathan told Henry, remembering. "We're going to see a movie. We'd planned it," he added, trying to make Henry understand—Henry knew how much Nathan's mom loved the movies.

Miss Feather was standing with Nathan. When he began to cry, she took hold of his hand, trying to comfort him, but Nathan didn't want her holding his hand. He didn't want her, and he didn't want Henry. He wanted his mother.

"We're going to the movies—tonight!" he told them.

"Nathan. Your mom's dead, son," Henry said, grabbing Nathan's arm. "Do you understand? She's gone."

"No—she's not! She can't be!"

He couldn't believe she was dead. He didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to think that he'd never see her again. Never hug her, or—

"It's a mistake," he said. "It has to be a mistake."

"I'm afraid it's no mistake, Nathan. She's dead. I'm . . . I'm sorry."

Nathan shook his head. But no matter how much he wanted to believe Henry was wrong, the look on Miss Feather's face told him everything he had said was true: Nathan would never see his mother again. He'd never have the chance to say good-bye, to tell her he loved her. Because she was gone.

She was gone forever.

And at that moment Nathan realized that nothing in his life would ever be the same again. . . .

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Excerpted from Counter Clockwise by Jason Cockcroft
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.