Chapters (31)
- The Long and Winding Road
- Table of Contents
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Prologue: Or, Where Bear Answers the Door
- PAST
- 1. Where Bear Makes the Wrong Assumption
- 2. Where Bear Finds Out
- 3. Where Bear Makes a Decision
- 4. Where Bear Learns the Art of Breathing
- 5. Where Bear Has Bro-Time with Creed
- PRESENT
- 6. Where Bear Attends the Most Awkward Homecoming Ever
- 7. Where Bear Tells Tyson Everything
- 8. Where Bear Makes a Promise
- 9. Where Bear Goes to Lamaze Class
- 10. Where Bear Gets Advice About His Sex Life
- 11. Where Bear and Otter Role-Play at a Hotel Bar
- 12. Where Bear Faces the Reality of Married Life
- 13. Where Bear Sees Everything Change
- FUTURE
- 14. The Long and Winding Road
- Epilogue: Or, Otter’s Perspective, As It Were
- Coda
- No. Absolutely not. No way.
- More from TJ Klune
- Readers love the Bear, Otter, and the Kid Chronicles by TJ Klune
- About the Author
- By TJ Klune
- Visit Dreamspinner Press
- Copyright
“I was trying to make a sandwich!” I heard JJ holler in the background. “I couldn’t find a knife, so I used my hands!”
“How is it in your hair?”
“My head itched, Dad. But look! Look. It’s chunky peanut butter, right? I guess now I’m nuts!”
There was a beat of silence, and then Creed burst out laughing. “Dude! Holy shit, I love you. Fuuuuck, you are the coolest kid in the world. And don’t tell your mom I said fuck or shit. And don’t tell her about the peanut butter.”
“What’ll you give me if I don’t?”
“A dollar.”
“Two dollars.”
“Deal. Now go into the bathroom. I’ll be there in a minute. And if you touch anything on your way there, I am going to tell that monster in your closet that it’s open season on little boys tonight, you hear me?”
JJ screamed.
“Kids are so stupid,” Creed said fondly. “He looks like he just crawled out of someone’s asshole. God, I love him so much.”
“I don’t know if you’re the best parent, or the worst.”
“Eh. As long as he doesn’t grow up to be evil, I’m cool. Don’t tell Anna I said that.”
“What’ll you give me if I don’t?”
“A dollar.”
I snorted. “I’m not cheap like your son—and wow, I wish that hadn’t come out like that.”
“Gross, dude,” Creed said. “Stop calling my child a cheap trick. That’s fucked-up.”
“Shut up.”
“You’re going to get through this, you know?”
I sighed. “You think?”
“Yeah. If there’s anyone that can do it, it’s you, Bear. You—man, I know I don’t say this often enough, but you’re the strongest person I know, okay? Like, I don’t know that anyone could have done what you did. You’re aces in my book, dude. I love you. And if you tell anyone I got all gay with you on the phone… well. That’s fine. I’m secure in my masculinity. In fact, you can tell anyone you want. Because I’m sensitive.”
“I love you too.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. You’ve got this, okay? You and Otter. Hell, consider it practice for when you finally stop being a little bitch and get my brother pregnant.”
I sputtered a long time after that.
IT TOOK him a long time—well over a year—before he came to us and apologized, eyes pointed toward his feet, hand twisting in his pocket. “I just—I’m going to get better. I’m going to be better.”
I cried a little.
He made fun of me, telling me I was getting soft in my old age, and if I worried any more, I’d lose more hair than I already had, and man, didn’t it look like my hairline was receding even more?