Best Boy Read Online Free PDF Page B

“issues.” Raykene has been my Main for nearly six years, which is a record because Payton suffers from what one of Mr. B’s yearbooks called ruinously high turnover which he says is typical of many state-funded institutions for the developmentally disabled . But Raykene has stayed on even though many other people have come and gone. She carries a special book for the weekly meeting that she takes notes in. At the most recent meeting that was held in a room off the Main Hall, she was late and rushed in and said:
    â€œJust never enough minutes in a day! So how we doin’, Todd?”
    â€œFine, I think.”
    She sat down with a big loud sound of rustling and then she breathed for a few seconds, in and out.
    â€œWhoo.” She fanned herself with a hand. “Lemme catch my breath.”
    I looked out the window at where the world was, and, beyondthe mountains, the home where I had my very first memory of people leaning in over my crib and smiling in a way that showed their long, curving teeth and cold animal eyes.
    â€œThat’s better,” she said. “Now let’s talk about things.”
    â€œThings,” I said.
    â€œFrom where I’m standing you seem a little bit worked up these days.”
    â€œI do?”
    â€œYes, and I got a good idea as to why that is. Do you?”
    Before I could catch myself, I could feel parts of my face fall.
    â€œExactly,” she said, looking at me. “You’re an open book, Todd. From the moment you first saw this guy you were in fight-or-flight mode. I thought it was gonna blow over but that doesn’t seem to be happening. Look, I’m not saying he’s gonna be your best friend, but help me here, please. What is it about the man that makes you so nervous?”
    â€œI don’t know,” I said. This wasn’t exactly true.
    â€œWell,” she said, staring at me. “I’m thinking we better move on this.”
    â€œOkay,” I said.
    â€œDo you know what I’m thinking of?” she asked. I could feel the tiny heat of her eyes on my face.
    â€œAnnie Applin!” I said loudly.
    She laughed a little bit, and said, “I’m-a call right now and set it up.”
    Annie Applin was the campus psychologist who always spoke in a low, calm voice that sounded like she’d made it fresh that morning, just for you. Mike the Apron and I met in her office the very next day. It was a quiet office. The way the sun leaned in from outer space to fall through the windows made it feel evenquieter. The only sound was the noise of the ocean coming from a small radio on the floor.
    â€œGood morning, guys,” Annie said and smiled as she put down a Payton LivingCenter mug of coffee. Despite her calm voice she had a cap of fire-colored red hair on her head and smoldering red freckles on her face and even though I liked her she frightened me because I thought she could “go off ” like a firecracker or volcano at any moment. “We’re here, guys, to have a friendly chat and continue letting the two of you get acquainted,” she said.
    â€œRoger that,” said Mike the Apron.
    â€œYes,” I said and looked away from her dangerous hot freckles and stared at the floor. I wanted to talk as little as possible for the same reason I didn’t want to talk too much to Raykene: because if I started talking I might by accident mention my Idea. And my Idea was becoming more important every day. As Annie began to ask me questions, I answered her by saying that everything was fine and I had no problems with anybody. When she asked what “fine” meant I said nothing. When she asked me who anybody was, I continued looking at the floor.
    Then it was Mike the Apron’s turn. I looked up in time to see his eyes bouncing back and forth very quickly between Annie and me over his big moustache. I don’t like looking people in the eye because it feels like they’re touching my