The Predators Read Online Free

jacket. One of my other uncles, Uncle Morris, was kind of a rabbi, and he stood up and said kaddish for me. I couldn’t help it—I started crying again.
    Uncle Harry put his arm against my shoulder. “Let it go, Jerry,” he said. “You’re carrying a big burden.”
    Uncle Morris looked at him. “He’s still a kid. It would be okay if he went and lay down on his own bed for a while.”
    “I’ll be all right.” I sniffed.
    “No,” Aunt Lila said. “You go lie down right now. I’ll go turn the bed down for you.”
    Kitty had been at the funeral with us, and she also had come home with us to the apartment. She turned to Aunt Lila. “I’ll help you.”
    I followed them into my bedroom and stretched out as soon as they had turned down the sheets. I turned and looked at Aunt Lila. “Thanks for your help, Aunt Lila.”
    “You try to sleep,” Aunt Lila said, and turned to Kitty. “Here’s two aspirin I have for him. Get him a glass of water and give it to him. I have to go back to the other room. I forgot to give the bottle of schnapps and Manischewitz to the guests.”
    She left the room and Kitty leaned over to kiss me. “I’ll get the water for you in a minute. I just wanted to tell you that I put your money into the safety-deposit box already.”
    “Okay,” I said. The money, for the moment, didn’t bother me.
    “I’ll come up tonight and see you so you won’t have to be alone. I’ll really take care of you, Jerry. You don’t have to worry,” she said, and went to get the water for the aspirin, but I was out before she made it back.
    *   *   *
    It was almost dark when I awakened. I turned the lamp on beside my bed and sat up. Aunt Lila came into my bedroom. “Are you all right?” she asked.
    “I’m okay,” I said, standing up, “Is everybody still here?”
    “No,” she answered. “It was late and they all had a long drive ahead of them, so they left. Uncle Harry and I and your girlfriend Kitty and her father are the only ones here now. Her father seems to be a nice man. He wanted to come by and just give his sympathy. He said he liked your parents.”
    “I didn’t know he even knew my parents very well.” I turned to walk to the bathroom. “I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
    She saw the two aspirin tablets on my bedside table with the glass of water. “Take the aspirin now,” she said.
    I didn’t argue. I swallowed the aspirin and went to the bathroom. I looked into the mirror over the sink. I looked lousy. Even my clothing looked wrinkled and uncomfortable. Quickly I got out of my clothes and stepped into the bathtub and pulled the shower curtain closed. I turned on the shower. The water felt great and refreshing. It made me feel a lot better. I dried myself quickly and put on a fresh shirt and pair of pants. Then I went into the kitchen.
    My aunt and uncle, Kitty, and her father were seated around the table. Kitty rose as I walked in. “Jerry, I’d like for you to meet my father, Mr. Sam Benson.”
    Her father rose to his feet. He was a tall, heavyset man, six feet at least, maybe two hundred pounds. He held his hand out to me.
    “I’m sorry, Jerry, about your parents’ accident. I offer you my sympathy.”
    His hand was firm, but gentle. “Thank you, Mr. Benson. Please sit down again.”
    I sat down next to Kitty at the table. Mr. Benson looked at me. “My daughter tells me that you two are very good friends. She told me that she was tutoring you in geometry. Kitty was always good in math subjects.”
    I smiled to myself. Geometry wasn’t the main thing she was tutoring me in. “She’s been really nice, Mr. Benson,” I said solemnly.
    “I also found out something,” he continued. “Our families have many things in common. Both of our ancestors came through Ellis Island at about the same time. My grandfather changed his name to Benson after he first arrived here because nobody could pronounce his name, Bramowickh. And your uncle