Fire and Rain Read Online Free Page A

soothed. Kip figured he was hungry. When he parked in front of Carter and Donald’s house, Donald met them and ushered the three of them inside.
    “I have food heated up, so come to the table.”
    “This is Jos, and the little one is Isaac,” Kip said. “He’s Donald and this is Carter,” Kip added as Carter came down the stairs. Isaac stayed plastered to Jos’s legs, staring up at the newcomers. “Alex is in bed, I’m sure.” Donald and Carter’s energetic little boy was a little older than Isaac.
    “Yes, and he’ll be disappointed that he missed someone he could have played with,” Carter said.
    “Are you hungry?” Donald asked Isaac, who nodded. “Then come with me. I have macaroni and cheese. Do you like that?” Isaac nodded again and looked up at Jos. “I also have some soup, and I made some sandwiches, so come to the kitchen.”
    Jos took Isaac’s hand and led him to the table. Donald helped Jos put Isaac in a booster chair and then set a plate in front of him. Isaac looked at Jos once again and then began to eat. Donald gave him a sippy cup of milk, but Isaac barely stopped shoveling food into his mouth to notice. Jos sat next to him, and Donald brought him a plate of food as well as a bowl of soup.
    Kip sat down, and Donald brought him a sandwich before sitting down next to Carter.
    “Will you tell me your full name?” Kip asked. He wasn’t sure Jos would, but he hoped rescuing him and helping feed him and Isaac would go a long way.
    “Josten Applewhite,” he answered between bites.
    “How did you end up on the streets?” Donald asked Jos.
    “Got kicked out.” He barely paused to talk before going back to eat.
    Kip shared a glance with Donald and Carter, ate his sandwich, and accepted a cup of coffee, watching both Jos and Isaac eat.
    It wasn’t long before Isaac began to tire. He ate a large amount of food for a boy his size and drank two glasses of milk. Once he was done, he began falling asleep in his chair. Jos lifted Isaac out of the chair, setting him on his lap, and Isaac put his arms around Jos’s waist and his head on Jos’s chest and fell asleep. Soon Jos had eaten his fill too, and he sat back in the chair.
    “Thank you,” he whispered.
    Kip was pretty sure Jos was very close to reaching the end of his rope.
    “You’re welcome,” Donald said and then excused himself.
    Kip shared a glance with Carter, who nodded, and Kip followed Donald out of the room.
    “What should I do?” he asked Donald quietly in the hall. “I can’t put them back out on the street, but all the shelters are full to bursting.” He hoped Donald would offer to let them stay here. But they had Alex, and Kip wasn’t sure they even had room.
    “It’s nearly midnight. I suggest you take them back to your house and put them to bed for the night. They need a chance to rest. I’ll come over in the morning and see what I can do to help.” Donald led Kip to a small room off the living room. “Here are some pajamas that should fit Isaac.” Donald grabbed a grocery store reusable shopping bag and began putting some things inside. “I’ve got clean clothes and things for him, as well as some other supplies you’ll need. If you don’t use it, bring it back.”
    “Thanks. What about Jos?”
    “I’ll let you help him. He’s closer to your size.” Donald grinned and handed Kip the bag. “They’re both dead on their feet, so take them home, put them to bed, and I bet you won’t hear a peep out of either of them for hours.”
    “I hope you’re right,” Kip said and took the bag before returning to the kitchen. Isaac was still asleep, and Jos seemed about ready to fall asleep as well. “Come on. I’m going to take you home so you can both get some sleep.” He helped Jos to his feet and carried the things.
    “Thank you,” Jos said to Donald and Carter as they left the house.
    “You’ll need a booster seat,” Donald said as he rushed to the car and got it installed for Isaac in the