Al Capone Does My Shirts Read Online Free PDF Page B

on this island. Rule number one: There’s no contact with the convicts. You see them on work detail down at the dock. On occasion they’ll help a family move furniture or paint their quarters.” He pulls open the curtains and there is the cell house. The little hairs on my neck stand up at the sight of it so close.
    “But”—his voice goes low and hard—“they are accompanied by a guard at all times. You may not under any circumstances approach them or speak to them. Women are not to wear bathing suits, shorts or any attire that is anything but completely modest. Undergarments are not to be sent out with the laundry.” He turns to Piper. “Cover your ears, young lady.” He beckons me with his finger.
    I walk up close and he whispers, “Some of these convicts have not seen a woman in ten or fifteen years. You’re old enough to understand what that means, Mr. Flanagan.”
    “Yes, sir,” I say, almost running back to my chair.
    “You can never trust a con. Nobody came here for singing too loud in church. Do you know what the word conniving means?”
    “Sneaky, tricky,” I say.
    “That’s right. Remember that, Mr. Flanagan. Conniving men with no sense of right and wrong.”
    Oh, swell!
    “Number two: Do not enter an area that is fenced off.
    “Number three: No visitors unless you’ve made your request in writing one week prior to the visiting day.
    “Number four: Do not speak to any outsiders about what goes on here. Don’t go shooting your mouth off about Al Capone. You say his name and hordes of reporters come crawling out of the woodwork ready to write stories full of foolish lies, dangerous lies. Know anything about Capone, Mr. Flanagan?”
    “He’s a gangster from Chicago. Killed a lot of people on Valentine’s Day.”
    “Al Capone was—some people say is —the most powerful underworld figure in the country. Here on Alcatraz he’s a number like every other con. The point of this prison is to keep these showy criminals out of the limelight. If I find out you’re running your mouth about Capone, I’ll ship you back to where you came from so fast, it will make your head spin.”
    Would you please? I want to say. But then I think about my dad and how hard he’s working so we can stay here.
    The warden’s eyes flicker. He seems to sense his words haven’t had the desired effect. “I know you’re going to want to give that sister of yours a chance at school.”
    “Please, sir, don’t bring her into this,” I say, looking down at the carpet.
    I can feel the heat of his intense blue eyes watching me.
    “Fair enough.” He nods. “Number five: You must walk through the metal detector upon entering and leaving the island. No dogs, cats or pets of any kind. No play guns, ropes, metal pipes or anything that can be used as a weapon. No old hangers or nails or anything made of metal or glass goes out with your trash. These convicts can fashion weapons out of anything.”
    “Yes, sir,” I say, the hairs on my arms so keen, I could pick up radio signals with them.
    “Now, my daughter tells me she’s introduced you to the other children here.” He nods to Piper.
    Your daughter hasn’t done boo. Far as I can tell, she’s a bald-faced liar, I want to yell.
    “Is there anything I missed, sweetheart?”
    “The school projects?”
    “Oh, yes. Piper is a straight-A student,” he says, pretending to whisper.
    “Oh, Daddy.” Piper blushes.
    “Her mother and I are so proud. But sometimes keeping track of all the projects she has going is a challenge for her. Annie and Jimmy both go to St. Bridgette’s, so you’ll be the only other Alcatraz child attending Marina School with Piper, and she often needs help carrying her projects and whatnot to school. We were hoping, as a favor to us, you might be willing to help out.”
    Emergency alert! Emergency alert! Moose Flanagan played for a sucker right before his very eyes. “Yes, sir.” My voice squeaks high like a rodent’s. I glance sideways at