Caught in the Act Read Online Free

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    Mike put the Friedrichs out of his mind. The food was more important. He tasted strange new dishes such as sliced potatoes mixed with a sweet-spicy sauce that smelled of onion and fried pork drippings. To his sur-

    prise, Mike loved it. When he put a bite of a golden spiced peach into his mouth, he closed his eyes and sighed with delight. He had never tasted anything so wonderful.
    Mr. Friedrich helped himself and Gunter to seconds, emptying the bowls. He didn't offer more of anything to Mike, but Mike didn't mind. His stomach was so full that the waistband of his trousers dug into it.
    "Good, good," Mrs. Friedrich murmured as she glanced at Mike's empty plate. "You have a good appetite, Michael. You'll soon begin to grow big and strong like Gunter."
    Marta took the plates from the table, but no one moved. Mike wondered why but didn't dare to ask. Was Mr. Friedrich going to pray again?
    But Marta brought in steaming cups of coffee and pitchers of milk, and she set a golden-crusted pie in front of Mr. Friedrich. He proceeded to cut large wedges, transferring them to small plates, which he passed to the others at the table. Mike couldn't imagine how he could possibly eat another bite of food, but the fragrance of lemon and sugar tickled his nose, and he took just one bite.
    It was so wonderful and creamy, with its chewy topping, that Mike gobbled the entire piece, then leaned back in his chair, his belly stretched too tightly for him to bend forward. Ma had known what she was talking about when she'd said they'd have good food in the West. He'd write and tell her about all these delicious things he'd had to eat. He'd describe—
    Mike stopped short, guiltily thinking of the boiled potatoes and cabbage that Ma would have for her noon meal. It didn't seem fair that Ma couldn't share all this. If he only had the choice, he'd rather have Ma and his brothers and sisters and potatoes and cabbage than everything else in the whole world. The shame of what he

    had done tx> separate his family smothered him like a fog. If he hadn't been arrested as a copper stealer, none of them would have been put on the Orphan Train. If Mr. Friedrich wanted to point out Mike as a sinner again, Mike would heartily agree with him.
    But instead, Mr. Friedrich shoved back his chair and rose, giving a last swipe at his lips with his napkin before tossing it back on the table.
    Mike quickly stood, too.
    "You will help Marta clear the dishes from the table," Mr. Friedrich told Mike.
    "Yes, sir," Mike said, glad to know what he was supposed to do next.
    "Then you will help her to wash and dry them and put them away."
    "GirFs work," Gunter snickered.
    "It's work that needs to be done," Mr. Friedrich said. "Michael is properly grateful that we have taken him in to feed and clothe him and provide him with a fine home." His eyes narrowed as he stared down at Mike. "You are grateful, are you not?"
    "Oh, yes, sir! I am!" Mike said.
    "So you will work hard to repay us for our kindness."
    Mike nodded. "I understand the agreement, Mr. Friedrich."
    "Agreement?" Mr. Friedrich made a face of disgust. "We will hear no more of agreements." He leaned so close that Mike could see the red veins in his eyes and said, "I told you that I know how to handle boys. Remember?"
    "Yes." Mike gulped.
    "Very well. A boy who has been in trouble needs to be kept so busy he will not have time to get into further trouble. Good, hard work is a fine thing for any boy, but especially for you, Michael." Mr. Friedrich stepped back.

    "Now—get to work with the dishes. Marta will welcome your help."
    As Mr. and Mrs. Friedrich walked into the hallway, Mike turned to the table and picked up the nearest dish—^the serving plate that held a large remaining wedge of the pie. Holding it carefully, he began to walk toward the kitchen, but he had gone only a few steps when his elbow was struck with such force that the plate flew out x>{ his hands and smashed on the floor.
    Gunter leapt away from