Fever Season Read Online Free
couldnât control himself, as if each of his arms had a mind of its own, swinging and swinging, sometimes connecting and sometimes not. Other kids gathered from all over the schoolyard, forming a circle around the boys and yelling, âFight! Fight! Fight! Fight!â
David barely heard them. He hardly noticed anything at all. Even after Kevin managed to land a punch that made his nose bleed, David still felt as if he were moving in a dream. It was as if he were watching someone else ⦠until he felt something pulling at his ear.
âGet off that boy! Get up right now!â
David barely heard the voice, but he did feel his ear being twisted and pulled. The pain snapped him out of his daze, and as soon as he was yanked to his feet, he recognized Miss Graham, the toughest teacher in the school. She wasnât much taller than the sixth-grade boys she taught, but she was wide and sturdy like a bulldog. No one ever talked back to Miss Graham, not even Kevin Bull.
Miss Graham had Davidâs right ear in her left hand and Kevinâs left ear in her right, and she continued to twist as she led the two boys into the school. She didnât let go until the boys were seated in the principalâs office. By then the blood had almost stopped dripping from Davidâs nose, which was now hurting. Kevin had some puffiness around one of his eyes, but heâd been in plenty of fights before and didnât seem to be in much pain.
âWhat have we here?â the principal asked, as if he couldnât tell.
âFighting!â Miss Graham barked. âOn school grounds.â
Although David had never been in trouble before, he knew what the punishment was for fighting on school property. Everyone knew the principal kept a thick black strap in his office, and just the thought of it was enough to scare most kids into obeying the rules.
The principal spoke to Kevin first. âYou know the drill, Mr. Bull.â
Kevin got up and held out his right hand, a defiant expression on his face. The principal picked up the strap. It looked like a fat black belt, but it was much stiffer than any belt David had seen. When the principal brought the strap down hard on the palm of Kevinâs hand, David saw Kevinâs ears turn bright red, but he didnât cry. Not even when the principal strapped him a second time. No matter how much it hurt when it was his turn, David was determined not to let Kevin see him cry, either.
âAll right, Mr. Saifert, hold out your hand.â
David stood and did as he was told.
âAnd just let me say how disappointed I am to see a bright boy like you in my office. But if youâre going to act like an animal, youâre going to be treated like one.â The principal brought down the strap across Davidâs palm.
The pain was immediate, and David jerked his hand back. The skin was already turning bright red where the strap had struck. He fought back tears with all his might. Kevin wasnât going to see him bawl. Thankfully, the principal didnât strap him again.
âNow go home,â the principal told him. âAnd donât let me see you in here again.â
C HAPTER 3
Davidâs mother could tell right away that heâd been in a fight. It was obvious from the dried blood on his face. Also, his right eye was going black. But she didnât seem angry, only concerned.
âAre you all right?â she asked.
David nodded slowly. Neither his nose nor his hand hurt much anymore. The long walk home in the cold had dulled the pain.
âWell, come over to the sink and weâll get you cleaned up.â
Davidâs mother ran some warm water over a face cloth, then dabbed it gently under his nose. The water made the dried blood glisten.
âDaybo gots a boo-boo?â
Although his thawed-out face was starting to hurt again, David couldnât help but smile at his little sisterâs baby talk.
âThatâs right, Alice.
David barely heard them. He hardly noticed anything at all. Even after Kevin managed to land a punch that made his nose bleed, David still felt as if he were moving in a dream. It was as if he were watching someone else ⦠until he felt something pulling at his ear.
âGet off that boy! Get up right now!â
David barely heard the voice, but he did feel his ear being twisted and pulled. The pain snapped him out of his daze, and as soon as he was yanked to his feet, he recognized Miss Graham, the toughest teacher in the school. She wasnât much taller than the sixth-grade boys she taught, but she was wide and sturdy like a bulldog. No one ever talked back to Miss Graham, not even Kevin Bull.
Miss Graham had Davidâs right ear in her left hand and Kevinâs left ear in her right, and she continued to twist as she led the two boys into the school. She didnât let go until the boys were seated in the principalâs office. By then the blood had almost stopped dripping from Davidâs nose, which was now hurting. Kevin had some puffiness around one of his eyes, but heâd been in plenty of fights before and didnât seem to be in much pain.
âWhat have we here?â the principal asked, as if he couldnât tell.
âFighting!â Miss Graham barked. âOn school grounds.â
Although David had never been in trouble before, he knew what the punishment was for fighting on school property. Everyone knew the principal kept a thick black strap in his office, and just the thought of it was enough to scare most kids into obeying the rules.
The principal spoke to Kevin first. âYou know the drill, Mr. Bull.â
Kevin got up and held out his right hand, a defiant expression on his face. The principal picked up the strap. It looked like a fat black belt, but it was much stiffer than any belt David had seen. When the principal brought the strap down hard on the palm of Kevinâs hand, David saw Kevinâs ears turn bright red, but he didnât cry. Not even when the principal strapped him a second time. No matter how much it hurt when it was his turn, David was determined not to let Kevin see him cry, either.
âAll right, Mr. Saifert, hold out your hand.â
David stood and did as he was told.
âAnd just let me say how disappointed I am to see a bright boy like you in my office. But if youâre going to act like an animal, youâre going to be treated like one.â The principal brought down the strap across Davidâs palm.
The pain was immediate, and David jerked his hand back. The skin was already turning bright red where the strap had struck. He fought back tears with all his might. Kevin wasnât going to see him bawl. Thankfully, the principal didnât strap him again.
âNow go home,â the principal told him. âAnd donât let me see you in here again.â
C HAPTER 3
Davidâs mother could tell right away that heâd been in a fight. It was obvious from the dried blood on his face. Also, his right eye was going black. But she didnât seem angry, only concerned.
âAre you all right?â she asked.
David nodded slowly. Neither his nose nor his hand hurt much anymore. The long walk home in the cold had dulled the pain.
âWell, come over to the sink and weâll get you cleaned up.â
Davidâs mother ran some warm water over a face cloth, then dabbed it gently under his nose. The water made the dried blood glisten.
âDaybo gots a boo-boo?â
Although his thawed-out face was starting to hurt again, David couldnât help but smile at his little sisterâs baby talk.
âThatâs right, Alice.
Readers choose
Ava Archer Payne
Doris Lessing
James Howe
Marcia Muller
Lady Defiant
Kristina Weaver
Alan Cheuse
Joseph Robert Lewis