The Edge of the Mountain

By Mandisa Emily Malindi

Have you ever received mysterious pieces of paper or been stalked by a rat? Or worse, had two of your friends fall off a boat and die? No? Okay just checking...

Brandon has a pretty normal life, that is until he comes across a mountain; not just any mountain but one that will change his life forever. From finding strange notes to believing that his father, who has been dead for ten years, could be trying to communicate with him, he is in for a wild ride. He then meets a secretive Chinese man who could be the cause of many things and discovers a dark secret between this man and his deceased family. Things get even stranger when this mysterious figure tells Brandon to go to the mountain... To see his dead father.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mandisa Emily Malindi
• Release date: Aug 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005187033

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

I’m Brandon, I’m 12 years old, and I live on the Mediterranean Beach with a boring, workaholic mother who doesn’t know me or even notice me. My best friends – Zak and Eddy – are the only ones there for me, but let’s get to the point of this story. The only reason I’m writing this is because I want you to know that over the years I’ve been struggling, waiting for someone to help me. However, no one is ever there or ever going to be there, and even though there are times when I need my mother (just kidding!) and my friends, there is always a spot left open. That spot is for a father, a father who will be there for me, someone who will always tell me to follow my gut feeling. For now, I’m going to tell you the most amazing, yet at the same time confusing, story of all time …

CHAPTER 1

So I’m getting ready to head over to Zak’s place when my mom asks where I’m going? Damn, I forgot to keep the noise down. She doesn’t like me going to Zak or Eddy’s place, and after all the chaos that happened in the past, I don’t think she’ll ever like Zak or Eddy again. Let me tell you about the things that happened when she still liked them.

Last Christmas, Zak bumped into the Christmas tree which fell over into the fireplace, which set the tree alight and almost burnt the house down. Then for my mom’s birthday, as a surprise for her, we hid the cake behind the curtains. However, when we opened the curtains, surprise, surprise … Eddy had already eaten half the cake. Lastly, for New Year’s Eve my mom cooked a special meal for us, and while it was still in the microwave oven, Eddy, Zak and I thought it would be a good idea to put a metal fork in the microwave. You know exactly what happened after that? It was also the last time my mom allowed them in the house.

Mom! I said causally, I didn’t see you there.

Mom looked me up and down. I said where are you going? she said in a serious tone. And why are you wearing those clothes?

I forgot. It is 9pm, and by now most people are in their pj’s. I’m … uh … just going out for some milk.

The way she looks at me makes me feel like I’m saying a speech in front of the entire world.

It’s way too late for that. Go tomorrow, she says.

Dang it. Thinking quickly, I come up with a plan. Mom, I need to get it now. It’s due tomorrow for school.

She thinks about it for a while before saying, Fine, but don’t take too long and bring back some coffee, would you?

While she heads to her desk piled high with papers and files, I make a beeline for the door, on the way stuffing my pockets with some cash for the coffee. I look at my watch. It’s really late, and when I open the door Zak and Eddy are waiting outside.

Let me describe Zak and Eddy for you. Zak is tall and skinny with black straight hair and blue eyes, and being Mexican he’s a caramel colour. He also more or less talks like a Mexican. Then there’s Eddy who is very short and chubby, has brown silky smooth hair all the way down to his eyes which are dark brown – and he loves food.

Dude, why you so late? Guessing it was your mom again, eh?

Yep. Sorry guys, I said high-fiving them both.

We normally take turns hanging out at each other’s houses – well except for mine, obviously. Our excuse to Zak’s mom is that we have to catch up with homework – and we know that isn’t ever going to happen! Like seriously, who cares about schoolwork?

Zak’s mom has a black bob and wears too much make-up, and is the kind of person you wouldn’t look twice at. In fact, looking at her you would think, This woman’s life is just sad. Dude, she is like Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants, but only more miserable.

At Zak’s house we obviously don’t do homework, but instead play video games and stuff. Suddenly I realise it is almost 10pm, so I jump up, throw my controller on the table and put on my jacket.

CHAPTER 2

Dude, what’s up? Where you going?

By then I am already out of the door. Running back home, I stop and buy Mom’s coffee, nearly spilling it on me as I run up the steps on to the porch. Through the window I see Mom sitting at her desk, grinning at me.

Uh … I’ve got your coffee, I say trying to sound positive, all the