Читать книгу Cast a Blue Shadow - P. L. Gaus - Страница 20

7

Friday, November 1

9:00 P.M.

ON THE front steps of Martha’s dorm, her Amish friend, Ben Schlabaugh, said, “That boy’s not treating you right, and you’d better believe it.”

Martha stood shivering with the door propped open and said, “How many really nice things do you have, Ben? What’s wrong with wanting nice things?”

“You shouldn’t be smoking that silly weed,” Ben said. He buttoned his denim jacket, turned up his collar, and put on his black hat.

Martha let the door close a little and took a step back.

“When can I see you?” Ben asked.

“You don’t approve of me,” Martha said matter-of-factly.

“You know how I feel about you, Martha,” Ben complained. “Always have, and you know it.”

“You saved my life once,” Martha said. “I’m grateful, really I am. But that doesn’t mean we’re going out.”

Schlabaugh drew gloves out of his hip pocket, put them on, and slapped his palms together. He tipped his hat and said, “I’m not giving up.”