The Living Dead Boy Read Online Free

“Well, Drake has immunity to zombies, so they’re going to eat you. Right, Drake?”
    “Right!”
    “That’s not how it works,” Josh began to protest. “Zombies eat because-”
    “Your brother is a nerd,” Corina said, smiling at Drake.
    With a sigh, Josh shoved the money into his pocket.
    “Yeah!”  Drake looked pleased and snuggled into Corina’s arms.
    “Make sure your mom gets that, okay?  Cause my mom will kick my butt if you don’t.”  Kissing Drake’s cheek, she set him down.
    “Yeah, I will.  Promise.”
    “You guys really moving away?”  Corina pushed her glasses up on her nose.
    “My dad is going to go to Austin and try to become a police officer there. So, yeah, we might move away.”
    “Austin is cool,” Corina assured him. “But it will suck to see you move away.”
    Josh tried not to smile too wide at her comment. “Yeah, well, you know there is , like, the internet and stuff to talk.”
    “Yeah. I’m sure the Cowboy brothers will keep in touch and stuff with you.”
    “My screen name is “livingdeadboy,” no spaces.”  Josh tried to sound casual, but he was sure he sounded desperate.
    Corina just smiled and kissed Drake on the cheek again. “Hope your dad gets the job. This town sucks anyway.”  She hopped off the porch and headed back to her home next door.
    “She’s my girlfriend,” Drake informed Josh, shoving past him.
    “Whatever, shrimp,” Josh answered, closing the screen door slowly.  He tried to keep an eye on his beloved until she disappeared into her house.  With a sigh, he shut the door.
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 3
     
    Deeply engrossed in his book, Josh didn’t hear the front door open.  He was so completely enmeshed in the world of the shambling undead that when his dad’s rough hand touched his cheek, he jumped with a yelp.
    Drake burst into laughter, dangling from their father’s forearm.  He was hanging there like a monkey, swinging back and forth, oblivious to the exhaustion etched in his parent’s face.
    “Kinda deep into that book, huh?”
    Josh could feel his cheeks reddening as he shoved the book into his backpack.  “Yeah.  It was a good part, too. The zombies were just about to eat the policeman.”
    “Well, I’m rooting for the policeman to shoot them in the head,” his dad answered with a wry smile.
    “In da head,” Drake said gleefully.
    Josh shoved his hair out of his eyes and slid off the loveseat to hug his dad.  James Rondell, known as Jamie to his friends, smelled like sweat and his blue Walmart vest was rumpled from his long day.  Drake looked like their mom, but Josh definitely looked like his dad.  They both had sandy hair and green eyes.  His dad’s eyes had fine lines reaching toward his hairline and dark circles underneath. Though he was twelve, Josh still felt young enough to kiss his dad’s cheek and he pressed his lips against the dry, rough skin.
    “Did you have a good day at school?”
    “I got an A in spelling.”
    “That’s my boy.”
    “I can’t spell,” Drake chirped.
    “That’s because you are three,” Jamie answered with a grin.
    Lynette shoved open the door from the kitchen. “Good! You’re home.  Now we can eat!”
    Josh let go of his dad and watched him stroll over to his mom.  He hated when his parents got mushy, but lately they had been fighting so much he needed the reassurance that their kiss gave him.  Drake tagged along behind Jamie and tried to push his way between his parents’ knees.  Josh felt like clocking him.  Last night the fight had been really bad and he was relieved to see his dad kiss his mom firmly on the mouth then hold her close for a few seconds.
    “I’m hungry!”  Drake wailed.
    “Josh, get the table set.  Drake, go wash your hands with Daddy.”
    “I’m hungry!”
    “I know, buddy.  Let’s go get those hands washed.” Jamie lifted Drake over his shoulder and headed toward the downstairs bathroom.
    Sighing, Josh pulled open his