Читать книгу Waiting with Elmer - Deanna K. Klingel - Страница 15

Chapter Eight

“Hey kid, what’s your name?”

“Willy. Who wants to know?”

“Really? That’s your real name?”

“Yeah. Willy Sykes. So what?”

“Nothing. I never knew anybody named Willy. No problem. I’m Kyle. My friend Jason is in your gym class. He says you’re pretty good. You going out for the baseball team?”

“Going out where?”

“Going out… you know, like tryouts. You know. Are you going to try out for the baseball team?”

Like always when he wasn’t sure how he should answer, Willy shrugged off the question with one shoulder, and kept walking.

“Were you on a team before? At your previous school, I mean. You’re new, right?” Kyle kept pace with Willy.

Willy stopped walking and stared at Kyle.

What’s he doing? Trying to aggravate me or something? Stupid white kid. I can’t believe him. He thinks I’m dumb or something.

Willy looked around to see who might be witnessing Kyle’s behavior, waiting in ambush. Kyle followed Willy’s eyes.

“You meeting someone?” Kyle asked.

Willy started walking. He’d seen setups before. He figured before long a mob of white baseball players would be all over him.

“Hey, wait up! You got a problem, Willy?”

Willy stopped again and stared at Kyle. “You’re gonna be the problem if your friends see you talking to me. Unless you’re the one setting me up.”

Yeah, that’s it. Distract me while they attack me.

“Setting you up? What are you talking about? I just thought since you were new you might appreciate some friendliness. Jason said you play good in phys ed class, just thought I’d be helpful. Sorry.” He walked away. Willy looked around. There was no one coming. No one in the shrubbery waiting. No ketchup squirted on him. No water balloons, or worse, dropped on him.

Could Kyle be for real?

Willy walked on down the colorful sidewalk until he was on the purple square in front of Mr. Okei’s market on Harmony Street. He stood outside the door until Mr. Okei came to the screen door.

“You want something?”

“Yes, sir. I wondered if you could use some help after school. I can sweep up, or make your fruit display, or wash your windows. You know. Work.”

“You work market before?”

“No.”

“How you know how?”

“I don’t, but you could tell me what to do the first time. I learn fast. I’d really like to work for you.”

“You friend of Elmer?”

“Yes, sir. I’m Elmer’s friend. I live at the Union Mission.”

“Okey dokey. You start tomorrow. After school. On Saturday you come in morning. Okay? I give you 15 cent every hour. Okey dokey?”

“Swell! I mean yes, that’s fine, okay, okey dokey.” With his books still stacked under his arm, he whistled the rest of the way to the library.

“Hello, Willy,” said the beautiful librarian. “Everything going well for you?”

“I believe so, yes. Thank you. I’m returning this book, and I need to do some research.” Willy went to a quiet table near the card catalogue and dropped his notebook on the table.

“If you have any questions about anything, please ask me,” the librarian whispered as she passed his table.

I do have some questions, but I’m not sure the answers are in your books.