Birdsongs Read Online Free PDF

put the dirt on mama and papa and rided bus,” Red simply stated. “Mama sick, tractor crash papa.”
        “Where are you staying?” Benny asked. He could tell Red didn’t understand the question and he tried again saying, “Where are you going to sleep tonight?” Red shrugged his shoulders and the look on his face told Benny he had not thought of this yet. He had a feeling if he let Red walk out the door after his drink, he would not be sleeping in a bed. He wanted to know more of Red’s story but decided not to pursue it until later. Being a good judge of character and feeling comfortable and empathetic with Red, Benny made up a quick lie with the hope that Red would accept his offer. “Red, I have another place where I live and I rent this house by the day, week, or whatever. It just so happens that nobody is living here right now. If you would like, you can sleep here for a few days until you decide where you want to go from here.”
        Without speaking Red sat Jezebel on the couch next to him, reached into his pockets and pulled out some money. Red looked at his money, showed it to Benny and said, “Red have this.”
        Benny could see that it was thirty dollars and said, “You can pay me later.” Benny had no intentions of taking his money and wondered what the hell he was doing getting involved with this kid. Benny knew Red probably needed some rest and he needed to talk to Vernon. “I have a few things I need to do Red. You stay here and rest. The sheets in the bed are clean, so you can take a nap if you want, and there are towels in the bathroom closet if you want to take a shower. There’s soap and shampoo under the sink. Do you understand?”
        “Some,” Red said hesitantly.
        Benny showed him around and pointed to all the things he previously mentioned making hand gestures as he went along. Before he left, he pointed to his stomach and asked, “Are you hungry?”
        “Very hunny,” Red answered.
        “I’ll send some food over, and I’ll be back in a few hours. OK?”
        “Yep,” Red said sheepishly.
        As Benny drove off he dialed his favorite pizza place in town and his friend Slick answered the phone saying, “Alfonzo’s Pizzeria, we’re not open for deliveries yet.”
        “Hey Slick, it’s Benny.”
        “Hey Buddy, you never call this early. I don’t know nothing about the murders so don’t ask.”
        “I need a favor Slick.”
        “Anything for you, sir.”
        “I know you’re not open yet, but do you have the ovens fired up, and is Vinny there?”
        “Yes to both questions my friend.”
        “I’ll tell you the details later, but I have a friend staying at my house who just rolled into town from a long bus trip and I don’t have any food in the house for him. He doesn’t speak English well to go out and get something and I have some important things to take care of right now. Could you throw something together and put it on a tab for me? If Vinny will run it over to him, let him know I’ve got a twenty dollar tip with his name on it.”
        “Gladly Benny. Pizza? Sandwich? Wings?”
        “Yeah, that all sounds good. You’re the best, Slick.”
        “Mama Mia he must be hungry!”
        “Can the Italian shit, Slick,” Benny said, joking. “You’re the only Puerto Rican in the world that must say that.”
        “Ciao,” Slick said, laughing.
      
 
        Benny knew Vernon would call him at some time during the day but could not wait and called him first. Vernon answered with a tired voice, “Hey Benny, did you get some sleep last night?”
        “I got enough,” Benny answered. “It doesn’t sound like you did. Can I buy you some coffee or lunch?”
        “How about both,” Vernon said with relief in his voice. “Where are you?”
        “At my house,” Benny answered.
        “The one on land or water, Benny?”
        “Land.”