Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle Read Online Free Page A

man.”
    “Me either, but I doubt he had anything to do with it. The teacher’s house backs up to his, and that’s probably as close as anybody can get.”
    “Who’s the teacher?” LuAnne asked, and I could just see her eyes squinch up as she asked it.
    “A Miss Petty, but I don’t know her.”
    “Yes, you do, if she’s the one I’m thinking about. Her father owned that hardware store, the one right off Main Street? You remember it, I know you do. It was about the only one around here for the longest, but he had to go out of business when Walmart opened. People just stopped giving him their business. They were so thrilled to have a Walmart that they did their shopping there instead of supporting the local stores. Why, I even heard of families planning outings to Walmart like they’d plan a trip to the movies. Anyway, I think Jim Petty died not too long afterward. But what was the daughter’s name? Let me think a minute. Well, it’ll come to me. But Julia, how’re you doing?”
    “Oh, I’m all right. Just perking along as usual.”
    “But aren’t you worried ? I mean, they could’ve found that body in your backyard. You’re practically next door.”
    “Why, LuAnne, we’re six blocks away. I wouldn’t call that next door.”
    “Well, it’d be too close for me. If I were you, I’d find out all the details and take steps. No telling what could happen.”
    Then after telling me to be sure to call her if I heard anything more, she remembered something else. “Wait, I forgot to tell you. Did you know the Methodists have a new preacher? Not the main one, but an assistant or youth minister or something.”
    “Oh, LuAnne, their bishop is always rotating someone in or out, so that’s not news.”
    “Well, this one is,” LuAnne almost whispered. “It’s a woman, Julia, and I heard that half the congregation is up in arms about the way she looks.”
    “How does . . .? ”
    “I’ve got to go, Julia,” LuAnne said, suddenly in a hurry. “Leonard is having a fit for me to drive him by Thurlow’s to see what’s going on. He’s sitting out in the car, blowing that horn for me to come on. But I’ll call Mildred to see what she knows. I’ll call you back if I hear anything else.” And she rang off to continue tracking the news.
    “Well, Lillian,” I said, replacing the receiver, “the phone lines have started humming, and no telling what tales will be spread before we get the truth of it. But I just can’t get exercised over it. I’ve made a vow to Sam that I’ll stay out of matters that don’t concern me, and I intend to keep that vow.”
    Lillian cut her eyes at me. “Uh-huh, I b’lieve that when I see it.”
    “You can believe it, all right. We have our hands full already. Just think, Lillian, those babies will be here in two weeks!”
    “Yes’m, but they’s somebody dead not far off from here an’ I can’t help but feel a little skittish ’bout that, ’specially ’cause that somebody didn’t die in his own bed.”
    “It is worrisome, I admit. It’s like death striking at one place, while life begins at another. But that’s the natural way, isn’t it? And the world just keeps on going.”
    I had to sit down and rest after that profound philosophical moment. And a good thing I did because Lillian wasn’t through.
    “Yessum, it do. But don’t sound like to me that whoever dead down there got that way in a nat’ral way. Dyin’ in a toolshed seem’bout as un nat’ral as you can get.”
    “You have a point,” I said, leaning over and beginning to drum my fingers on the table. “But my concern right now is the whereabouts of Lloyd, Sam, and Mr. Pickens. I declare, one after the other leaves and none of them have come back.” I got up and went to the window again. “I mean, what can be keeping them? They know we’re sitting here waiting for them, and they’re lingering and lingering. Besides, I need to ask Sam about that check. He’ll know what to do about it.