Darkness Before Dawn by Sharon M. Draper

activities at school. He’d travel all over Europe for army events, but there was no time for me.”
    After the movie, Jonathan talked about it like some kind of movie critic on TV. He argued about the choices the characters had to make, and brought out details that I had never even noticed. I was fascinated, but Tyrone and Gerald looked at Jonathan like they looked at our history teacher—they just hoped he’d shut up soon. They promised they would take Jalani and Rhonda to see
Monster Man Six
during Christmas vacation.
    Jonathan dropped off Jalani and Rhonda, then Tyrone and Gerald. Finally it was just me and Jonathan—alone in the car.
    â€œDid you enjoy it?” he asked me as the music played softly from the back speakers.
    â€œI really did,” I admitted. “You know so much, or at least you’ve got thoughts on so much that it seems like you’re really smart.”
    â€œAh,” he said smiling, “you have discovered my secret.”
    I smiled back. “It works,” I said quietly. “Don’t knock it.” I paused, then continued. “Tell me about your mother. How did she like army life?”
    Jonathan drove silently through the frosty night. Then he said, with great emotion, “My mother was very lonely, and eventually very bitter about living the army life. She became irritable, short-tempered, and just plain mean. Since my dad wasn’t there to yell at most of the time, she took her frustrations out on me. I was never good enough or smart enough or fast enough to please her. I loved her, but it seemed like I couldn’t make her love me.” He was silent again. “I’ve said too much,” he said finally.
    â€œI’m glad you told me,” I said quietly. I was impressed with his honest show of emotion. “Have you and your mom kinda smoothed things out now that you are . . . grown?”
    â€œI haven’t seen my mother since I was thirteen, when she and Dad got divorced. She left without saying goodbye.” He sighed. “Dad eventually left the military and married a pleasantly plump and sinfully rich woman who spent the rest of my teenage years trying to build up my self-esteem by giving me money to spend and telling me how good-looking I was! So I guess I can’t complain.”
    I smiled and glanced over at Jonathan, who had relaxed a bit. “She’s right, you know,” I said shyly. I can’t believe I said that to him!
    Jonathan said nothing, but hummed a soft tune as he drove me home. We pulled into my driveway a full half hour before Daddy had told me to be back. My father had strung Christmas lights outside and they looked cheerful and festive against the darkness. I noticed that the light was still on in my parents’ bedroom.
    â€œVery pretty,” Jonathan said to the darkness.
    â€œDaddy’s decorations?” I asked.
    â€œSure, those, too, but I was talking about you.” He looked directly at my face, his golden eyes fastened on my brown ones. I couldn’t take it. I dropped my head and blushed. I felt fluttery inside, confused and uncomfortable. I hadn’t let myself feel that way since me and Andy had been really happy and tight together, which was months before his death. Jonathan’s cologne and the closeness of him in the car was more than I wanted to think about right now.
    I grabbed the door handle. “Thanks, Jonathan. I had fun. I really did. I better get inside now before my father comes out here with a grenade,” I joked.
    He laughed and got out of the car, and walked me carefully to the door. I fumbled for my keys, not sure what was supposed to happen next.
    Jonathan smiled at me in the dim glow of the porch light. He had to know how confused and shaky I felt. He touched my cheek gently with his finger, and said simply,“Good night, Keisha.” With that, he turned and walked back to his car. I just stood there for a moment, stunned at his