Long Shot for Paul Read Online Free Page B

Benjy
     there, but said nothing. He knew that the two liked to play together and enjoyed each other’s company.
    After a while Judy came out and played with them. Later, she and Glenn watched Paul shoot baskets from a foul line which Glenn
     had drawn with white chalk. Paul started off by missing the first few, then began sinking them better and better.
    “Hey, you’re doing great,” Benjy said, smiling.
    “I’m going to be an expert,” Paul said, “if it takes me a million years!”
    Judy nudged Glenn. “Glenn, wouldn’t it be funny if Paul did become an expert?”
    “At foul shooting?” Glenn shrugged. “He probably could if that’s all he did. But basketball isn’t only foul shooting.”
    “I know. But many times foul shots make a big difference in a game, don’t they?”
    “Yes. But with Paul …” Glenn paused. “He just won’t play that much. But he could get good at it. I guess he could get real
     good if he did it a lot.”
    A voice spoke up behind them — a woman’s voice, with a familiar ring to it.
    “Benjy! Ben — jy! Do you hear me?” It was sweet and singsongish.
    Glenn and Judy turned. Mrs. Myles was standing on the sidewalk, a smile on her lips as sweet as her voice. A dark-brown fur
     coat was draped over her shoulders.
    “Coming, Mom!” Benjy said, and dashedout of the yard. “So long, Paul — Glenn — Judy! See you Tuesday!”
    “Right,” said Glenn, then watched Mrs. Myles take Benjy’s hand and propel him hastily up the street, as if they had to get
     away from there or else. Suddenly she wasn’t the sweet-voiced, sweet-smiling mother anymore. She was blurting out something
     to Benjy, but they were too far away for Glenn to hear what she said.
    Glenn turned and saw that Paul had stopped throwing at the basket. He was watching, too.

6
    I t wasn’t until after dinner that Glenn and Judy mentioned the incident to Mom and Dad. Paul was outside again, shooting baskets.
    “Why won’t she let Benjy play with him?” Glenn asked, bewilderedly. “I don’t get it, Mom. Paul’s a good kid. What’s she afraid
     of?”
    Mom took a deep breath, as if the question had no easy answer. Dad and Judy had just finished doing the dishes. They were
     all sitting in the living room, watching the news on TV.
    “I heard that Mrs. Myles won’t let Benjy play with Paul because she’s afraid Benjy will get just like Paul,” Judy said.
    Glenn stared at her. “Who told you that?”
    “One of the girls in school. Her mother heard Mrs. Myles say that. Isn’t that ridiculous?”
    “It’s worse than ridiculous,” replied Mom, and for a moment her eyes blazed. “I hope that someday Mrs. Myles will realize
     how wrong she is for thinking that way. If she’d only take a little interest she’d find out that there are many families with
     a disabled child growing up with brothers and sisters, and things like that never happen. Take our own family. Both of you
     are doing fine. Does having a brother who is less fortunate than you make you disabled, too?”
    “Mrs. Hotshot Myles had better do some reading up on the subject before she makesany more statements like that,” Dad broke in angrily.
    “You’d be surprised at the number of people who feel the same way,” said Mom.
    “I know,” replied Dad. “They want to keep away from such kids because they’re afraid of what the kids might say or do. Can
     you imagine? It’s the worst thing in the world to avoid the child that way. He needs love and understanding even more than
     other children do. You two kids have noticed that. You’ve seen how happy Paul is when we all chip in and show him our affection.
     We correct him when he makes mistakes, praise him when he does something well. We’ve tried to use patience with Paul, and
     I think we’ve come a long way. Right, Corinne?”
    “I’m sure we have,” Mom said.
    “I’m sure we have, too,” said Judy. “Hestill gets angry sometimes when I try to correct him, but it only