The Gift-Giver Read Online Free Page B

your family?"
    "No, with strangers. In a foster home."
    "Foster home? Where your brothers and sisters?"
    "We all in different homes."
    I never heard about things like foster homes before. "Where's your mother and father?"
    "I ain't got none." He looked like he was gonna cry so I didn't say nothing else. I thought everyone had a mother and father.
    "I ran away from the foster home. I hate it. Nobody can make me stay there."
    "Why don't you go back to your grandma?"
    "'Cause that's the first place they'll look for me. Don't tell no one what I told you. Can you get me some food?"
    "Where you sleeping?"
    "In the basement. That old super so drunk most of the time he don't even know I'm here."
    "But it's nasty down there."
    "I know. But I ain't going back to that foster home. I can make it on my own. Could you get me some food? And don't tell nobody. Especially them old simple twins you hang out with."
    "Okay," I said. "I'll try to get you something. But it's gonna be hard sneaking food out my mother's house."
    "You can do it. You ain't dumb. But don't tell no one. Not even Big Russell."
    I felt very sorry for Sherman. I never heard of no one being taken away from their family. I always thought Sherman's mother and father just lived somewhere else.
    Sherman went back in the basement. I looked over to my stoop. Big Russell, Amir and some other boys was still there. I knew Russell was gonna bother me because of Dotty. But I figured I'd be like Amir and just face what was coming.
    When I got to the stoop Big Russell says, "Look at Long Tall Sally. You better tell that little tack-head Dotty I'm gonna get her for what she said."
    I ignored him and went upstairs. Mama was in the kitchen like always. "I was just getting ready to call you in," she said. There was no way I could sneak food out. I sat at the table.
    "Ma, down in the basement at 130 there's a cat just had kittens. They hungry."
    "You always messing with some stray animals. You can't bring no cats in here."
    "I just want to feed them."
    "We ain't got no cat food."
    "Give me a sandwich then."
    "If you don't get out of here with your nonsense. Here, take a bowl of milk." She put some milk in an old plastic bowl.
    "Can I have some crackers?"
    "Crackers? You just want them crackers for yourself. You ain't even had dinner yet."
    "No, Ma, it's for the cats. You know them old alley cats eat anything."
    "Just hurry back from them cats. We can hardly afford to feed ourselves."
    She turned to the stove and I grabbed some crackers and an orange. She'd fuss if she saw me, but she was always giving somebody food. One time Mrs. Grant, our neighbor with five children, asked her for two slices of bread and she gave her the whole loaf. My father got mad about that.
    When I got outside all the other boys was gone and only Amir was there. "Where you going?" he asked.
    "To feed some cats."
    "I'll walk you."
    "I don't want no company."
    "What's the matter with you?"
    "Nothing."
    "Where's the cats?" he asked.
    I know I promised Sherman I wouldn't say nothing, but I couldn't help telling Amir. Somehow it seemed okay to tell him. I'm good at keeping secrets. That's why everybody tells me the gossip, 'cause all I do is listen.
    "Amir, can you keep a secret?"
    He smiled and nodded his head. We walked over to the basement. When Sherman saw him he yelled, "You big-mouth thing. I knew I shouldn't trust a girl. Why you bring him here?"
    "It's okay," I said. "Amir ain't gonna say nothing."
    Sherman looked like he wanted to cry. "Why you bring me milk in a bowl? I ain't no cat."
    "That's what I told my mother you was."
    Amir said, "Sherman, I'll get you a blanket."
    Wonder what kind of house he live in where he can just take out blankets, I said to myself.
    Sherman stared at me and didn't say anything. I sat on the box with him until Amir came back. He had a blanket stuffed in a shopping bag. Sherman didn't seem so mad now. He went inside the dark, stinking basement and I went home.
    I could hardly eat for