Читать книгу Battle of the Beasts - Ned Vizzini - Страница 7

“Mr Walker?” Angel asked, suddenly worried about his job. “I’m sorry. I didn’t recognise you!”

Their father would have been hard for anyone to recognise. He was wearing a ski jacket, torn jeans, loafers without socks, a tattered San Francisco Giants cap, and aviator sunglasses, with a plaid scarf wrapped around his neck. He was crossing the street in a hurry, headed for a deli, while a double-parked cab waited across the way. Mr Walker saw Angel and put on a smile.

“Kids! Hey! Angel, don’t worry about it.” He walked to the rear passenger window. Cars honked at him. He looked like he’d been up all night.

“Mom said you were out for a run,” Brendan said.

“I was working. Your mother tries to shield you from the amount of work I do. But I’m really trying to get my old position back, and that means doing time-consuming research.”

“We understand,” Eleanor said. “We love you, Dad.”

“What kind of research?” Brendan asked, concerned about his dad – and wanting to believe him.

“Medical research. Blood flow and reward centres in the brain. Look, I’m grabbing a sandwich and going home. You kids have a great day at school. I love you.” He kissed his hand, reached through the window, and patted each of their heads.

Then he was off, into the deli. The Walkers looked at one another.

“Maybe he’s going insane. Maybe the book cursed him,” Cordelia said.

“Or maybe he’s just got too much money,” said Brendan.

“Maybe I should have wished for like half as much,” Eleanor said guiltily.

They rode in silence the rest of the way to school.