Travelin' Man Read Online Free Page B

at a banquet right now. I’ve got to give a testimonial after dinner. One of my best salesmen is retiring.”
    Mr. McGwire’s dealership moves more Hyundais than any lot in the entire Pacific Northwest. He’s got more money than he needs, but he’s lonely. He’s a widower and his daughter lives in California. Pictures of his grandkids are in every room of the house. They visit often, but Red is always down when they leave. His young friends are a distraction and he’s willing to compensate them for their trouble and time. KC’s his current favorite and always leaves with a hundred fifty bucks in spending money for doing nothing but letting Red watch him jack off.
    â€œRemember not to leave your car out front. Park behind the garage out back.”
    The cab ride is twenty-five bucks, but you got to spend money to make money. Not that KC’s looking for a handout or even a loan. He’s gonna shoot for the moon and ask Mr. McGwire to lease him a car, maybe even an SUV, without a down payment. Red knows he’s a stand-up guy, responsible, with a good job, and won’t miss any payments. Maybe they can even drive to the dealership and sign the papers tonight. It’s Mr. McGwire’s business. He can do whatever he wants.
    â€œJesus Christ, what happened to you?” Mr. McGwire asks when he greets KC at the back door. He seems wary, debating whether to let him in. KC knows it must look bad. He understands why Red is cautious when a kid he barely knows, someone with whom he’s spent less than six hours total, turns up at his door with a freshly broken nose and an ugly bite on his cheek.
    â€œI fell on my face on the basketball court. They have to wait for the swelling to go down before they can set it.”
    It sounds reasonable to Mr. McGwire, who, thank God, doesn’t ask him to explain the mysterious bite mark. He lets KC into the kitchen where his stupid little Shih Tzu is making a racket.
    â€œMisty, you behave! You remember our friend Kevin. Now be nice!”
    KC’s given up trying to befriend the dog. She snaps at him if he tries to pet her and growls if he so much as says her name.
    â€œWhere’s your car Kevin?” Mr. McGwire asks, looking out the window to make sure the Civic is parked behind the garage. “You didn’t leave it out front, did you? I told you to never leave it in the driveway.”
    â€œNo sir. It got stolen. Three days ago.”
    â€œHow did you get out here?”
    â€œIn a cab.”
    â€œI hope you have insurance.”
    â€œI think so. I’m pretty sure. My mom takes care of all that stuff,” he says, regretting a stupid lie that makes him sound too irresponsible to trust leasing a car.
    Mr. McGwire changes the subject, asking KC if he wants to fire up the grill even though it’s late. KC understands the subject of the stolen car is closed, for now at least. Red must have some kind of sixth sense and already suspects the true reason for his young friend’s unexpected call.
    â€œNo. No thank you, Mr. McGwire.”
    â€œRed.”
    â€œRed.”
    â€œHow about a beer then? Or a Coke?”
    â€œDo you have any Dew?”
    â€œOf course I do ,” Red teases and KC forces himself to laugh at the stupid joke.
    Red says they should sit out by the pool and enjoy the cool breezes. It’s a quiet, peaceful night. The water filter is humming and angry sounding crickets are chirping in the grass.
    â€œIn the mood for a swim?”
    â€œI don’t think so. Not with this,” KC says, pointing at his damaged nose.
    â€œRight. Probably not a good idea to get that wet.”
    Mr. McGwire puffs on his cigar and sips from his tumbler of scotch on the rocks. KC can see he’s growing impatient; he’s checking his watch every few minutes.
    â€œBugs are terrible out here tonight, Kevin. Let’s go inside.”
    KC follows him into the house and up the stairs to the