Wreath, In Summer by Christie Judy

Author:Christie, Judy [Christie, Judy]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Brosette & Barnhill Publishing
Published: 2015-11-29T08:00:00+00:00

36

Bum sat alone on the cottage steps, staring at the end of a lit cigarette when Wreath rode up Sunday afternoon. The door to the room stood open. He wore a long-sleeved white T-shirt and had a blue bandanna on his head. His hair sprang out from underneath.

The combination almost looked like a costume from Landry’s Fourth of July festival the day before.

A crumpled white sack sat next to a soft-drink can on the porch. A twenty-dollar bill lay under a rock. Three dirty bottles, one green and two amber, were lined up next to the door.

Wreath climbed off her bike. It had been nearly five days since they had taken him to the hospital, and he looked pale. “I didn’t know you smoked,” she said.

“I don’t.” He glanced toward the office. “What are you doing here?”

“Checking on you.” She pulled the cigarette from his hand, dropped it on the ground and ground it out with her tennis shoe.

“J.D. just left. Did you two get your shifts mixed up?”

“My grandfather was here?” Warmth flared inside her.

Bum picked up the paper sack and dropped it back on the porch. “He brought me something to eat.” His face flushed. “And tried to give me that money.”

“Looks to me like he succeeded.”

“I was afraid I’d wind up with another busted lip if I didn’t give in. He’s as stubborn as you are.”

Wreath grinned. “It surprises me how alike we are.”

“Aren’t most kids like their families?”

“Beats me. I only found out J.D. was my grandfather a couple of months ago.” She plopped down. “What’d your sister really say the other night?”

Bum cast another furtive look toward the front of the motel. “I told you that wasn’t my sister. The pain meds fried my brain.”

“I saw the look on your face.”

His voice lowered. “You shouldn’t be here, Wreath. Go on back to your safe little world, your safe little boyfriend.”

Wreath propped herself on her hands, legs outstretched. “Impressive,” she said. “Definitely an A-plus. You must have studied extra hard in jerk class.”

He picked up the muddy green bottle and one of the amber ones. “I got these for Faye for being so nice to Jaclyn.” He glanced at her. “I suppose I should give you one, too, risking life and limb to check on me.”

She reached for one of the antique bottles. The glass was thick, the words raised off the surface. Aunt Ida with Shreveport on the bottom. It felt heavy in her hand. “Nice.”

“You shouldn’t be here, Wreath. Just because Big Fun’s in jail doesn’t mean the world’s all sweet and shiny.”

“I’m careful,” she said. “I checked for Theriot’s truck. If it’d been out front, I’d have gone on by.”

He rolled his eyes. “Stealthy of you.”

“So what’d your sister say the other night?”

“Hush,” he hissed.

“Nobody’s paying attention.”

“Someone’s always paying attention around here.” He voice was almost a whisper and he nodded toward the closest open door, the room where Half-Pint and his mother stayed. “Linda’s probably already called to let Theriot know you’re here.

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.