The Rightful Heir Read Online Free Page A

go to church and meet this lady and start crying…no, too stupid, and I don’t wanna wait ’til Sunday. I could make Mom go to her house and get it, though she’s already not happy with me and doesn’t want me wearing it any more. I could
—
”
Then it came to him. A sneaky, yet noble, idea. He hopped out of the den and ran up the driveway, smelling dinner as he neared the house. In the
kitchen his mom was busy cooking spaghetti. He approached her and looked as remorseful as he could.
    â€œSo…you’ve decided to treat me like your mother again?”
    Benjamin cleared his throat. “I’m really sorry about the way I acted earlier. I just miss Pugsly so badly, and whenever I wear that collar…it makes me feel close to him.”
    â€œYou need to let him go, son. He lived a long and good life, but we all knew he’d die someday. Everything that lives dies, sweetheart.” Carol stirred the bubbling spaghetti sauce with her big wooden spoon.
    â€œMom, you’re not going to go into that stuff about you and dad dying, now are ya?” He hated the few times his mom had given him a life lesson on mortality.
    â€œNo, I’ll spare you this time.” Carol smiled.
    â€œWhat’s this about your mom and me dying?” From his favorite chair Tom Biggs’s eyes looked over his newspaper through the bar opening of the kitchen.
    She leaned over to look at him. “Nothing, dear. I haven’t made plans to off you yet.” She grinned evilly. His eyes widened and slid behind the paper.
    â€œSo…” Benjamin began, “Is this old lady a nice person?”
    â€œYes, yes, I believe she is. I see her at church but I don’t think she has any friends. And I know she’s in need of money. She was telling me about her sick little dog and how she didn’t have enough money to take him to the vet.”
    â€œPoor thing.” He tried his best to look concerned about the no-good mutt wearing his beloved dog’s collar.
    â€œSo I went over to her house this morning—it’s actually not too far from here—and gave her a little money and Pugsly’s old collar. It definitely made the dog look better!” Benjamin felt a pang and grimaced. Carol raised her eyebrows. “Kind of a cute little dog…
kind of.”
    â€œWell, I hopeher dog appreciates it.” He stared at the floor and wanted to stomp his foot through it, but contained himself.
    â€œI’m sure it does.”
    â€œIt was really nice of you to help that poor old lady, Mom.” He faked an admiring smile.
    â€œThank you, sweetie”
    Benjamin wasn’t any good at tearing up on demand but tried his best, mustering just enough sincerity to be believable. “Mom…I feel sorry for her. Do you think she could use a few chores done around the house?” He couldn’t look his unsuspecting mom in the eye.
    â€œHoney,” and her tone made him worry that she knew what he was up to, “that’s a very nice idea! I’m sure she’d
love
to have a young man come over to help…And now that I think about it, her lawn needs mowed badly!”
    â€œWell, good grief, Mom. I wouldn’t mind mowing her lawn after school tomorrow.” Again he looked at the floor, hoping he’d have the
pleasure
of mowing the old lady’s lawn—and yanking that collar off her nasty little dog!
    â€œOkay, Ben, I’ll give her a call.” She grabbed the phone book and flipped through the pages. Benjamin went into the living room to sit with his dad. While Tom talked about the buzzard in the windshield, Benjamin tried to listen to the phone conversation.
    â€œMrs. Crane? Hi, it’s Carol Biggs.…
Carol Biggs!
I was over at your house earlier today.… I’m calling because my son would really like to help you out around the house.”
    Geez, Mom, I don’t know if ‘really’ is