The Buried Book Read Free Page B

for him, but his heart fluttered anyway. He’s come to take me home. Jasper had never been so homesick in his life. He threw on his trousers and crept out into the kitchen. Out the front window, the two men stood in the yard by a beat-up truck. Jasper scowled at the strange vehicle. His parents only owned one car, and she’d taken it. His father was dressed in blue coveralls for work.
    Uncle Leo looked sort of silly standing there in his union suit, but that didn’t stop him from being indignant. “What the hell are you doin’ here at this hour?”
    “She’s gone, Leo. She hasn’t been home in three days.”
    The spring in Jasper’s heart went slack as his father’s words sank in. She’s gone. He cupped his ear to the bug screen to hear better.
    “Yep. I figured as much.”
    “What do you mean you figured as much? This ain’t funny. She hasn’t been to work. That boss of hers, Galatas, has been by lookin’ for her, calling the house at all hours. Even showed up on my doorstep with his fat red face, making threats. If she doesn’t come in today, she’s canned.” His father ran a hand through his thinning gray hair.
    “I wish I could help, I really do.” Leo held up his hands. “Last I saw her was three days ago myself. She brought Jasper here and left just like that. Didn’t ask, just did it.”
    His father went quiet as the words sank in, then said, “Did she say where she was headed?”
    “Nope. Wouldn’t say. She didn’t know when she’d be back either. Kept sayin’ how I had to keep the boy safe. As if somebody might come snatch him. Woman’s got a damned screw loose, but that’s Althea, isn’t it?”
    His father shook his head. “I don’t believe it. She wouldn’t do that. Althea wouldn’t do that to Jasper. She’d die first.”
    Leo shook his head. “Well, she must be dead then.”
    In the dull light of morning, he could see his father cover his eyes with his hand. His shoulders shook. He’d never seen his father cry before, and the sight sent a bolt of panic through him. She must be dead then.
    Jasper sank down onto the floor. She can’t be dead. She’s coming back in a few days. She promised.
    “He’s inside. You want to see ’im.”
    “Not like this. I can’t let him see me like this. I can’t—I can’t stay. I gotta get to work. You tell him I’ll be back tomorrow. I promise. Saturday. Okay?”
    “Alright. You get on then.”
    “Thank you, Leo. I’ll pay back this debt. I will. You have my word.”
    Jasper didn’t hear what was said next. His ears couldn’t take it. He buried his face in his knees and clutched the sides of his head. His father didn’t want to see him. He wasn’t taking him home. Tears streamed down his face.
    “He’ll be back, kid.” His cousin squatted down next to him and patted his shoulder. Jasper had no idea how long Wayne had been standing there and didn’t really care. He shot up and slammed out the front door. His father’s truck had pulled away up the long dirt drive, leaving a cloud of dust hanging in his wake. Jasper ran after it. He could still hear the sound of tires on gravel up ahead. He wasn’t that far behind. Maybe if his dad saw him in the rearview mirror he would stop. Maybe he would take him back home.
    Jasper ran for all he was worth. Glancing over his shoulder, he half expected to see Wayne or Leo hot on his tail, ready to take him down. There was no one. They’d let him go. They didn’t want him either. His uncle would never say it, but Jasper could see it in his worried eyes every time they all sat down for dinner and divvied up the meat. He was a burden. Another mouth to feed.
    The sound of tires grew fainter as he turned the corner up onto Harris Road. A half mile or more ahead, he could see the red outline of the truck. He kept running, knowing he’d never catch him now. His father probably couldn’t even see him through the cloud of dirt out his rear window.
    Jasper’s feet slowed to a stumbling walk as he