Contents ( 42)
- The Art of Breathing
- Part One: How We Became Who We Are
- Prologue: Or, Where the Kid Hears the Word of the Day
- 1. Where Tyson Learns to Breathe
- 2. Where Tyson Makes a Phone Call
- 3. Where Tyson Graduates and Bear Freaks Out
- 4. Where Tyson Says Good-Bye
- 5. Where Tyson Gets the Mail
- Part Two: Coming Home
- 6. Where Tyson Comes Home
- 7. Where Tyson Gives a History Lesson
- 8. Where Tyson Attends the Most Awkward Party Ever
- 9. Where Tyson Plans Attends a Protest
- 10. Where Tyson Gets Arrested
- 11. Where Tyson Gets His Ass Handed to Him
- 12. Where Tyson Writes Bad Poetry and Gawks at Frat Boys
- 13. Where Tyson Decides to Man the Fuck Up
- 14. Where Tyson Asks Some Questions
- 15. Where Tyson Remembers Theresa Jean Paquinn
- 16. Where Tyson Learns the Benefit of Therapy
- 17. Where Tyson Meets the Man Who Becomes Helena Handbasket
- 18. Where Tyson Gets Screwed at His Own Birthday Party (And Not in a Good Way)
- Part Three: Just Breathe
- 19. Where Tyson Goes to Helena Handbasket’s Sex Dungeon
- 20. Where Tyson Beholds the Awesome Wonder That Is Paul Auster
- 21. Where Tyson Receives Advice from the Six Sages
- 22. Where Tyson Makes a Phone Call
- 23. Where Tyson Hears the Inevitable
- 24. Where Tyson Meets His Match
- 25. Where Tyson Says Hello, Where Tyson Says Good-bye
- 26. Where Tyson Touches upon the Inevitable
- 27. Where Tyson Faces the Music
- 28. Where Tyson Breathes
- 29. Tyson And Dominic
- 30. The Art Of Breathing
- Epilogue: Or, Bear’s Perspective, As It Were (Yeah, He’s Gonna Freak)
- Author’s Note
- Excerpt
- Prologue: Or, Where Bear Answers the Door
- More from TJ Klune
- Readers love the Bear, Otter, and the Kid Chronicles by TJ Klune
- By TJ Klune
“Hiding behind the Gross Tree Bush Thing,” Creed says helpfully.
“Why do you guys have names for everything?” Corey asks as Bear continues to stroke the plastic. “Green Monstrosity. Gross Tree Bush Thing. I bet Bear and Otter have names for their penises too.”
“I’m already in therapy,” I remind him. “That can’t possibly help the situation.”
“Having a good birthday, Tyson?” Dominic asks me as if we didn’t just spend the most awkward lunch of our lives together and as if he hasn’t just spent the last hour being the object of Corey’s affections.
“Superb,” I say. “Illuminating. Eye-opening.”
“You okay, Ty?” Corey asks. “You sound a little… uptight.” He inches a step closer toward Dom. Their arms are touching. He wouldn’t be able to do that if he didn’t have arms! I think savagely.
So, it whispers. We’ve pretty much given up on the whole “seeing them as friends and nothing more” thing, then? I’m impressed. It lasted… what? A week? Two weeks? That’s quite the willpower you have their, Kid. Something to be so very, very proud of.
Shut it.
“I’m fine,” I say, though it sounds like I’m either about to explode or lay an egg. Possibly both.
“Good,” Corey says, obviously pleased about something. “I’m sure we’ll have plenty to talk about on our trip, then. You and me in a car for two whole days? My, what could possibly happen?”
“Texas Chain Saw Massacre comes to mind,” I say. “Or possibly Thelma & Louise.”
He grins. “I think we’re on the same page, dear heart.” He winks at me, and I muse on how dull a spoon can be and still be able to gouge out an eye.
“Texas Chain Saw Massacre?” Bear echoes incredulously. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Good job, Kid,” Otter says. “If you ever wanted to not go on a road trip with your friend, that was the way to do it.”
“Oh shit,” I groan.
“This is not going to go well,” Creed agrees.
“Bear?” Anna says. “Maybe you should just take a breath before you pass out.”