Ed Sutter's 3-Book Box Set by Ed Sutter

Author:Ed Sutter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Published: 2015-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

NEW ACQUAINTANCES

“Hey, anybody home?” I called as I came through the door from the carport. Our house was an older one and not too far from downtown Chandler. We were also only about two miles from Chandler High, which I’d be attending for one more year.

My sister, Colleen, came out of her bedroom and replied, “What? I couldn’t hear you. You’ll have to yell a little louder.” She said this all at the top of her voice. I gathered that she thought I was too loud.

I cupped my hands around my mouth like a megaphone and called, “Can you hear me now?”

She did the same thing, and replied, “No!” With that she turned around, apparently to go back to her room.

In a more normal voice, I said, “Where’s Mom?”

“She’s working late again.”

Darn! That meant I’d have to rustle up my own dinner. I can cook a little, but it’s ever so much easier if someone else does the cooking.

Mom had gotten her degree the previous year, which was the good news. She was also making a lot more money, which was even better news. Unfortunately, her new job resulted in frequent long hours. I guess she was still building her work history, making her bones as it were.

That part sucked.

I was busy doing unnatural things to some Hamburger Helper when the doorbell rang. That was unusual, since most of our friends came to the carport door.

I went out to see whom it was. Opening the door, I saw two Latino-looking guys, maybe in their mid-thirties. One was very lean, almost skinny, with a pencil-thin mustache and a soul patch on his chin. His friend was much, much larger. He looked like he bench-pressed pickup trucks in his spare time. Intricate tattoos covered both arms and crept up his neck. Do tattoos spread, like mold?

I decided to be bright and helpful. That can’t hurt, usually. “Hi, guys! What can I do for you?”

The ratty one asked, in a strong Hispanic accent, “Hey, kid, is your dad home?”

I wasn’t wild about the “kid” part, but I answered anyway, “Nope. My dad hasn’t lived here for years. Are you sure you’ve got the right place?”

Ratty said, “Jim Gavins is your dad, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah, but Mom threw him out a long time ago. They’re divorced.”

Ratty and Godzilla exchanged a flat look, and then the smaller one went on, “Well, look, Viejo, if your dad shows up, tell him Mister Molina is looking for him.”

I nodded, still in helpful mode. “Got it. Mister Molina.”

Without another word, the two turned and made their way to a totally chromed out black Hummer parked in front of the house.

Colleen came out at that point and asked, “Who was that?”

“Guys looking for Dad.”

“Did you tell them he doesn’t live here any more?”

I nodded. “Yeah, but I’m not sure they believed me.”

“They didn’t look like anybody I’d want to hang around with,” she said.

“Me either. Sounds like our dear daddy may be in trouble again.”

“Now there’s a surprise.”

I looked around the house.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.