The Orange Blossom Special Read Online Free

speaking to her through this boy. Of course that was true. For three years, she’dbeen trying in vain to hear her father’s voice, catch a glimpse of him in her dreams, pick up a signal from somewhere that he was watching. But nothing came. Now there was this mysterious boy with his spastic gestures. Her dad was talking to her through this boy. She’d never tell anyone, they’d think she was insane. But in her heart she knew this was so.
    On a Saturday afternoon, Dinah was downtown with her mother when they passed by the movie theater on Main Street. There was the boy with six fingers waiting in line with his parents. “I see someone from my homeroom,” whispered Dinah. “I’m going to say hi.” Delighted that her daughter had made a friend, Tessie watched as Dinah ran up to the boy.
    â€œHey,” she said, not looking him in the eye.
    â€œHey,” he answered in a low drawl.
    â€œWhat movie are you seeing?”
    â€œ
Rock-a-bye Baby,
you know the one with Jerry Lewis,” he smiled.
    â€œWell, enjoy the movie,” she said, running back to where her mom was waiting.
    Tessie noticed both parents beaming at their boy who was so popular that a pretty redheaded girl came over to say hello to him.
    Dinah could barely catch her breath as she said to her mother, “They’re going to a Jerry Lewis movie, can you imagine? A Jerry Lewis movie.” She must have repeated that four times that day. That boy, those words, they stirred something inside of her.
    That night, she took out her notebook and went through the numbers from the first day. Three: “Are you there?” (three words). Four: “I am here always” (four words). Five: “Are you talking to me?” Nine: “This is the only way that I can now.” For the first time since he died, Dinah felt her father’s presence.
    From then on, she would come to school each day filled with questions for her father. “Are you happy?” she’d send Eddie a three fingersign. “I miss you and Mom,” he’d answer with five. She and Eddie became like silent lovers, so contained in themselves they never noticed that anyone else was watching. But Crystal Landy was watching. On a day in early March she caught up with Dinah as they were walking to algebra class.
    â€œHey,” she said, nudging Dinah’s arm.
    â€œHey,” she said back, wondering why such a popular girl would even bother with her.
    â€œSo what’s going on between you and Eddie Fingers?”
    â€œEddie who?”
    â€œYou know, the freaky guy in homeroom with the . . .” Crystal made her eyes go crossed and wagged her pinky in Dinah’s face.
    Dinah giggled. She’d never thought of him that way.
    â€œWhat do you mean what’s going on with us? I don’t really know him.”
    â€œWell I see all that crazy stuff you do with your hands. Everyone does. You in a secret club or something?” Crystal used her forefinger to move a piece of her sprayed hair off her face.
    Dinah heard a tinge of want in her voice, and at that moment she realized that she had something that Crystal Landy couldn’t have. Mostly she was aware of what Crystal had that she couldn’t.
    C RYSTAL’S FATHER, MAYNARD LANDY, owned a group of liquor stores, Landy’s Liquors. It was where people went to shoot the breeze, plan the tailgate party, reclaim lost dogs and parrots. You can bet that Landy’s Liquors figured one way or another into Saturday night for anyone who grew up in Gainesville. Maynard liked to boast that he was responsible for at least three weddings, and uncountable births. When his customers went on vacation, they would send Maynard picture postcards. He kept every one of them, from the Trevi Fountain to a milk truck in Wisconsin, taped over his cashregister. Among them was a framed letter from a University of Florida alumna.
    â€œI won’t go into the gorey