Chat Freak by Terry Brown

Author:Terry Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Published: 2010-04-08T04:00:00+00:00

chapter. 8

As soon as Morgan opened the door of the Gnosh on . Tuesday morning, the noise of the breakfast rush hit her. It was only 8:30, but dishes and silverware already clattered. Voices blared. After being online answering questions about last_wish until 2:00 A.M., she’d given Jamie her key that morning to open up at 8:00. Already laughter erupted around the sunny room.

“Phew.” Amber handed Morgan some silverware wrapped in paper napkins. “I was starting to get worried. Booth number eight needs setup.” Amber swiped her forehead with the back of her hand, then ripped off a sheet from her order pad and handed it to Morgan without looking. “We’ve been swamped. I appreciate you closing last night, but please remember that I’m new to serving.”

“Sorry.” When Morgan turned, she spotted a familiar face in a booth. Coach waved her over.

“What’s up?” Morgan asked while setting up the booth right behind him.

“That’s my line.” Coach pointed to the donation box and her sign that read: “Make a dying boy’s last wish come true!”

“Oh, that. I’m collecting money to help a friend.”

“What friend? Why?” asked Coach.

“I met a kid on the Net who has cancer. His screen name is last_wish because he’s dying. They’ve tried everything, but even the chemo didn’t work.”

Coach Short drummed his stubby fingers on the table. “Honey, people can . . . well . . . alter the truth when writing online.”

“I know, but he’s not lying, Coach. I’ve gotten to know him. And he’s worried about leaving his mom. It’s just the two of them, so she’ll be alone. She works double shifts, but his medical bills have left them broke.”

“So you put up a donation box?” Coach asked.

“Plus I asked for cards. I want a million people to send cards and put one dollar inside each card—”

“A million dollars?” Coach roared. “You’re trying to raise a million dollars for someone you met on the Internet?”

Morgan’s eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised at you. You’re a nice man. I thought you’d like the idea.”

“Strangers won’t send you money for some kid they don’t know,” Coach said. “For that matter, they don’t know you either. Anyway, he sounds like a con artist to me, Morgan.”

“But he’s not! It was my idea about the cards and money. It’s going to be a surprise, to put his mind at ease about his mom when he dies.” Irritated with herself, Morgan felt tears welling up. “I just want to help.”

Coach just rolled his eyes.

Jamie stopped at Coach’s booth. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need a roll of nickels and quarters, Morgan. Can you get it?”

“Sure.” Glad to escape, Morgan slid out of the booth and raced to the office for more change from the metal box in the bottom desk drawer. She grabbed the money, shut the box, then couldn’t resist quickly logging on. She just wanted to count the number of e-mails from people who’d promised to send her money and cards. That would give Coach an idea of how caring most people were about last_wish’s condition.

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