The Struggles of Johnny Cannon Read Online Free Page B

thinking?”
    â€œHold the dadgum telephone!” I yelled. “It ain’t mine, for crying out loud, it’s Tommy’s.”
    Talk about throwing a bucket of water on a bonfire. Pa went from being as mad as the devil to as giddy as a naked angel baby. He hurried and got up next to Sora and walked her over to the couch, the whole time grinning like a possum with an ice cream cone and babbling sounds that didn’t none of them make sense strung together.
    He fluffed up a pillow for her to sit on, then sat down right next to her.
    â€œAin’t that just like Tommy,” he said. “Going off and getting married without telling nobody.”
    Come to think of it, no, it wasn’t like him at all.
    â€œWell, we didn’t ever actually—” she started, a little embarrassed. “What I mean is, we planned to take care of that when he came back.”
    Yeah, that sounded more like him.
    Pa’s face showed his shock again, but I reckon the happiness from finding out he was a grandpa took over and he just started smiling again.
    â€œOh well, water under the bridge,” he said, then he patted her on the leg. “And this just proves that the Good Book is true. ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ Here I am, doing the work I’m doing, and in return the Lord brings a happy addition to my own family.”
    Sora smiled and nodded.
    â€œWhen are you due?” Mr. Thomassen said.
    Martha plopped down next to Sora and put her arm around her.
    â€œIn October,” she said, “and she doesn’t have a place to stay.”
    â€œNot true,” Pa said. “She can stay here.”
    â€œPa!” I said. “What about the hotel or something?”
    â€œWhat?” he said. “No, nonsense. This place could use a woman’s touch. Sora can stay in Tommy’s room. It’s only right.”
    She hugged his neck and I reckon the baby took a jab at him too. He didn’t seem to mind it. He put his hand on her belly to feel it contort and he laughed when it did.
    I announced that I was going to get her luggage and Carlos offered to help me, but then Short-Guy said he’d do it ’cause he needed to talk to me about something. Which made my stomach get back into the bag of knots it had been when I first saw him. I hurried outside and he hurried to follow me.
    I started grabbing bags real quick and he stopped me.
    â€œHow much do you know about what your father is doing with Mr. Thomassen?” he asked.
    â€œWhy?” I asked, and I felt all them knots tighten up in my stomach. “Is he getting into trouble again?”
    â€œNo,” he said. “Not—just tell me, how much do you know?”
    â€œOnly that they call themselves the Three Caballeros, like that old Disney cartoon. And that Carlos goes away for two or three days to do jobs that Pa finds for him. And that not a one of them talks about it none.”
    He listened real intent to that.
    â€œAnd that’s all?”
    â€œYup.” I pulled out another of Sora’s bags from the truck. “Why? What’s up?”
    â€œHave you mentioned their name to anyone? The Three Caballeros, have you told anyone about that?”
    â€œNo,” I said. “Well, Willie, but he’s my blood brother, so I tell him everything.”
    He nodded.
    â€œNow, listen to me. I need you to answer this question completely, and don’t even think of lying to me.” He grabbed me by the shoulders, which was a little weird since he was an inch smaller than me. “Who have you told about Captain Morris? That he is your real father?”
    â€œOnly the folks that was in the room when I recorded my testimony,” I said. “So, the Parkinses, the Mackers—well, Martha and her ma, at least—and Mr. Thomassen and Carlos. Oh, and Pa, of course.”
    He sighed.
    â€œThat’s more than I’d like, but it’ll have to do. It