The Predators Read Online Free Page A

has been telling me that your grandfather also changed his name from Kuperman to Cooper.”
    “My father never told me that,” I said.
    Uncle Harry shook his head. “It’s not important anymore. That was a long time ago and now we’re all Americans.” He looked over at Aunt Lila. “It’s been a long day. Is everyone else as hungry as I am?” he asked.
    “It’s the first day of shivah,” Aunt Lila said. “We can’t go out to a restaurant now.”
    Mr. Benson turned to Uncle Harry. “There’s a great Chink restaurant just around the corner. We can get a whole family take-out dinner. Do you like Chinese?”
    “I think it’s great,” Uncle Harry said. “But I can’t go out for it.”
    Kitty looked at us. “I can go out for you.”
    Aunt Lila said politely, “We can’t bother you, dear.”
    “It’s no bother,” Kitty said. “Just tell me what you would like.”
    Her father spoke up. “They have a great family dinner. It’ll feed all of us. It’s got everything: egg rolls, chow mein, chop suey, spareribs, dim sum.” Quickly he took out a ten-dollar bill and gave it to Kitty. “That’ll cover five dinners, plus a big tip. Ask one of the Chinks to help you carry it up here and tell him he can keep the change.”
    Uncle Harry gave Mr. Benson a fiver. “I’ll split it with you. You have dinner here with us.”
    Aunt Lila got up. “I’ll set the table.”
    I hadn’t realized how hungry I had gotten. I ate like the Chinese were never going to cook again. I got a couple of Rheingold beers and two big Pepsis out of the refrigerator. Kitty, Aunt Lila, and I drank the Pepsis, and the two men drank the beers. The table was quiet as we all ate like crazy. Finally we were finished. Kitty smiled and put the fortune cookies on the table.
    I started to take one and then I stopped. “I don’t know if I want to take one. My future is pretty messed up right now.”
    Aunt Lila took my hand. “Tatele, today is already yesterday. Your tomorrows will be better. Let’s all take one for a better day tomorrow and forever.” She leaned over and kissed me. I looked at her. She was right. It was already yesterday. I took a fortune cookie and broke it open. I straightened the small piece of paper that had been inside. THE GODS OF FORTUNE WILL SMILE ON YOU. Then suddenly I was angry. I crumpled the little piece of paper and pushed the fortune cookies off the table. “What fortune am I going to get, what fortune did my father and mother get?” I said angrily. “An early grave. And I’m left in a fucked-up world.”
    “Don’t talk that way in front of the ladies, Jerry,” Uncle Harry said softly. “It’s going to be all right, son. While you were sleeping I was talking to Mr. Benson and we worked a good plan for you.”
    I stared at him. “What kind of plan? You don’t even have an extra bedroom for me to live in, and there’s no way I can pay the rent for this apartment. I’m going to have to quit school, get a job, and live in a small room in some boardinghouse!”
    “Jerry, it’s not that bad,” Uncle Harry said. “Mr. Benson has three months’ security deposit that your father had paid him for the apartment. He has been kind enough to offer us a deal. He has a studio apartment open on the second floor. Your father’s deposit will pay for your studio apartment for eight months.”
    “That’s great,” I said. “But where do I get money to live on? I gotta buy food and stuff.”
    “We’ve got that worked out, too,” he said. “Aunt Lila gave me the idea. What time do you get out of school?”
    “Two in the afternoon,” I answered.
    “You see, it’s perfect. You can come work at my counter on the Square. It’s the outside open counter across the street from Nedick’s and down the block from S. Klein. It’s the busiest store on the Square, and it’s across from an IRT subway entrance.”
    “Fine,” I said nervously. “What am I going to do for you?”
    “I’m going to teach you how to