San Remo Drive by Leslie Epstein

Author:Leslie Epstein [Epstein, Leslie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-59051-431-3
Publisher: Other Press
Published: 2010-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

3

Canyon Elementary was closed on Tuesday, but I did not stay long in bed. I wanted to spend the whole of the day under the house. Mole-asses: now I could laugh at Roger’s joke. I’d be a mole, blind and burrowing, making my home in the ground. I lay a moment longer, listening to the banging of the pipes as a churchgoer might the call of his church bells. Then I dashed to the bathroom and spun the taps, delighted to find that not a drop came out. I bolted down my breakfast, not pausing to savor the two spoons of hot coffee that Mary had allowed me to pour into my glass of milk. Arthur came into the kitchen. The sight of him, in black pants and black coat, wearing his chauffeur’s cap, did not alarm me; I thought he’d be taking Norman to work. Then I saw that he held my striped jacket in his hands.

“Can’t procrastinate no more, Mister Richard. Put on this coat.”

“Why? Why put it on?”

“We going out for the day.”

I clenched both fists and brought them down on the table. “I’m not going with you! I’m not going anywhere. You can’t make me.”

“Now don’t be that way. Mister Barton is waiting in the car.”

I jumped up and slipped into the hall. I looked out the window. The Packard was in the circle. A wisp of exhaust came from the tailpipe. I could see Bartie, his head of blond curls, rocking against the plush of the rear cushions. Arthur drew up beside me. He held out the coat. “I believe you going to enjoy what we got in store.”

“Fine! You go! You go with Bartie! There: that’s a good idea.”

The chauffeur was implacable. He seized me by the arm. “Please. I need you to help me. Please, now.”

“No! Damn you! I’m not going!”

“You watch your language.” That was Lotte. I was amazed to see her, at this hour, on the spiral staircase. Her hair was down. She wrapped the folds of a nightgown around her. “Put on your jacket, Richard. You are not spending this day at home.”

“The hell I’m not! I know why you want me to go. You don’t want me to be with my friends. You’re ashamed of them. Don’t deny it. Eddie was right. You’re a prejudiced person.”

Did she fly down those stairs? Float through the air? All I knew was the next instant she was magically before me, and the instant after that she slapped my face.

“That’s all right, Miss Lotte. That’s all right. The boy is coming along with Arthur. Ain’t that right?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m coming. That’s right.”

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