Ain't No Sunshine Read Online Free PDF Page B

She always said that one success was worth a thousand failures.  My stomach disagreed.
    "Um...no...I mean yes...um."  I felt like an idiot.  I couldn't even formulate a complete sentence around her anymore.  I had to get control of myself.
    "Huh?"
    "No, I am not still sick and yes, I would like to try some of your soup." 
    "Good."  Ruthie plopped down on my bed and handed me the bowl and a spoon.  The thought of her next to me on my bed made me excited again.  I closed my eyes and tried to get a hold of myself. 
    "Stephen, what's wrong?  Why are you acting so strange?" 
    I opened my eyes, but when I looked at her, sitting on my bed, so close to me that I could feel her warmth, I had to turn away.
    Ruthie grabbed my chin and gently turned my face toward her. She stared deep in my eyes like she was trying to read my soul.  Her striking, light brown eyes were so beautiful.  They were the type of eyes that you could spot from across the room.  She took her little hand and wiped away the beads of sweat that were beginning to form above my brow. She smelled so good.  When had she started wearing perfume?  Or maybe it wasn't perfume.  Maybe she just naturally smelled like flowers.  Suddenly, I had the urge to kiss her.  My lips tingled with anticipation.  I think she finally figured out what I was thinking.  Her eyes expanded to twice their size.
    "I gotta go." She quickly jumped off my bed, nearly tipping over the soup in my hands.
    "Don't go," I pleaded.  Now I had done it.  I had scared her away. What if she didn't feel the same way?  I'm such an idiot, I thought.  Ruthie stopped in the doorway and smiled at me.
    "I'll see you tomorrow, Stephen," she said as she bounced out the door.  I knew we would be okay.
    I wasn't the only one to notice how Ruthie had changed nearly overnight.  Whenever she was around, my father couldn't take his eyes off of her. 
    "Ruth, come sit with me for a moment," he said to her as she was trying to sneak out of my house unnoticed.
    "I really can't, sir.  I have to get back to my grandmother.  She's not feeling well."
    "I'm sorry to hear that.  She will be in my prayers. Is there anything I can do?"
    "No, we're fine.  I just need to get back."
    "Why don't you sit and talk to me for a while and then I'll give you a ride back.  I'll even take you into town and we can pick up some groceries."  Ruthie wanted to protest, but he grabbed her hands and led her to the sofa.  He sat next to her and started stroking her hair.
    "What did you and Stephen do today?"  he asked.
    "We went swimming in the lake, but Stephen got sick and came home," Ruthie replied.  She was so tense and nervous; she looked like she wanted to cry.
    "That's nice."  He wasn't even listening to her.  "You are a beautiful child.  Do you know that?"  I couldn't take it anymore.  I came into the living room as loudly as possible.
    "Ruthie, you're still here.  Um...isn't it your turn to walk Goldie?"  I couldn't think of anything else to say.
    "Oh, I forgot.  Come here, Yellowbird." Recognizing a way out, she bolted off the sofa.  "Excuse me, Reverend Phillips." 
    My father stared after her. Then he put his face in his hands...and cried.
     

Chapter 8
     
     Ruthie and I got a lot closer that summer.  Our hugs became longer and more meaningful, and we would hold hands when no one was around.  We had this unstated commitment to each other.  Once, my father caught us watching TV together. We weren't doing anything wrong.  I don't even think we were touching, but he could sense that there was something between us and he didn't like it.  Maybe it was the way she smiled at me or the way I would move the loose strands of hair out of her face when they got in the way.
    "Ruth, please leave," he said. Ruthie could tell from his tone of voice that he meant business.  She was practically off the sofa before he finished the sentence.
    "What's going on between you two?" 
    "Nothing, Father; we're just