Waiting for Augusta Read Online Free Page A

customer.
    â€œI wandered over by one of those big trees,” the girl said. “Felt like a walk.”
    â€œYou felt like spying.”
    â€œI’m running, too. Wanna know why?”
    â€œNo.” I reached in the refrigerator and pulled out two full apple pies with crisscrossed crust. They clanked on the counter, then settled while I took off the clear wrapping.
    â€œAll right. Respectful of privacy. I appreciate that in a partner.” Finished washing, the girl wiped her hands and threw the cloth on the counter.
    â€œI’m not running away. Not with you, anyway.” I remembered her stink face at the picnic table. It hadn’t improved much. She was prowling back and forth like a cat in the early stages of rabies. “Besides, you looked mad outside. You look mad now.”
    â€œWas sizing you up, that’s all. Still am.” She pawed at the edge of my watercolor. “Whatcha got there? Looks like a big smush of green and purple. Bushes?” She turned her head sideways. “Flowers maybe? You paint, huh?”
    I covered the paper, and she grabbed my drawing pad,flipping through to a page near the end. “Nice eyes on that one. So we should get this pie out to your mama. Then we should do some planning. Not now, though. Tonight. I found a sheet along the tracks and stashed it for making a tent. It’s too nasty to last more than a night, but it’ll do. You got a tent?”
    I shook my head. Daddy’d had a tent that he used to take fishing with his buddies, but Mama’d thrown it out because it stunk like cigarette smoke.
    â€œI’ll set up down by the creek. Saw it running past that big saloon-looking place at the far end of town. I’ll be somewhere along there. You come find me.”
    â€œNo, thank you.” With a snatch, I got my pad back and smoothed the pages.
    â€œWhy you going anyhow?” She jerked her head toward the door. “Your mama seems nice. Got plenty of food here. Heck, I’d run away to a place like this any day.”
    I didn’t answer. I wasn’t telling a strange girl that I had a golf ball in my throat and a dead daddy talking to me. And I definitely wasn’t taking her with me to the Sistine Chapel of golf courses.
    â€œWhy you keep rubbing your throat like that?”
    I couldn’t help rubbing on it. Since its arrival a couple of months back, the ball mostly stayed still, but over the last week, it’d started twisting around now and then. Tickling at me like it was getting ready to talk.
    â€œLeave your mama a note if you run. She seems nice.”
    â€œI’m not leaving forever. I just got something to do.”
    â€œThat’s fine. Now, you take care of money and provisions, and I’ll be in charge of the rest.”
    I couldn’t believe my big Putter ears. “What else is there, other than money and provisions? And why would I go anywhere with you?”
    She stuck out her lower lip. “I’m a good talker and I’m tough. You don’t seem to be either of those things. I’m good at tying knots, and I can sing real well and do magic tricks if we need to make street money. More like why should I run off with you?” She snorted. “Neck-rubbing twitchy boy. But I’m willing to take on a project like yourself because it ain’t safe traveling alone. Things happen.” She burped. “Name’s Noni. I’ll be along that creek. Bring some of that barbecue tonight. Password will be, It’s a fine night for a pork sandwich. ”
    â€œThat’s not a word.”
    â€œWell, use your imagination. Must have a decent one since I caught you talking to yourself.” Plucking the two pies from the counter, the girl did a handy leg swipe to open the side door and disappeared around the corner.

HOLE 4
Magic Words
    A n hour later, the yard was empty and I was eating a pulled pork sandwich at the kitchen table, thinking about May Talbot