Creatures of Habit Read Online Free PDF

flies in ’cause he’d knock your socks off. You got to have a person on each side.”
    â€œBut you gotta have a strong person,” Danny said. “Like you.”
    â€œCan’t be done, son,” their father said and went to sit besideUncle Tim. “You see, once you get to be a certain size, oh I’d say about Randy’s height, then you’re too big to go sniping because the snipe’ll see you there holding the bag. They’re smart, those snipe. They aren’t gonna come if they think somebody’s holding the bag.”
    â€œYes sir, Danny,” Uncle Tim locked his hands behind his head and stretched his legs. “Take advantage of the fact that you’re just the right age for a snipe hunt. It’s one of those things you remember for the rest of your life, like catching a great big fish or hitting a home run.” Uncle Tim looked at their daddy and grinned. “A few other things.”
    â€œI’ve done those things,” Danny said, his face so serious. “Done both of those, caught a fish at camp and I hit home runs all the time.”
    â€œWell then, let’s get you out in the woods to bag a snipe.”
    â€œBut Caroline hasn’t. She hasn’t caught a fish or hit a home run.”
    â€œBut I can do it,” she had said suddenly, her heart beating faster and faster with the thought of it all.
    N OW IT SEEMED like she had been in the woods forever. A mosquito bit her on the leg and she let him, without slapping or saying a word. It just wasn’t a good night for snipe. Deep down she hoped one didn’t come. It was too hotand too dark; the snipe were going to fly into somebody else’s bag. Again, something rustled against her leg. She tried to think of something good—the big box of fireworks. She was going to eat a slice of watermelon and sit on the porch rail and watch those fireworks sizzle way up into the sky. She was ready to go.
    â€œThey ain’t coming,” she whispered.
    â€œNot if you keep talking,” he said, but this time his voice was slower like he was getting tired of standing in one place, too. “This is the right spot,” their father had said. “Don’t move from this spot.”
    â€œI gotta pee,” she whispered, but he ignored her. “Danny? Danny, I really do gotta pee.”
    â€œShhh, one’s coming.”
    She froze in place and sure enough she heard something way down the path, a rustling sound, and she imagined that big animal bird creeping along ready to suddenly fly up and into a hole just like they’d said. She could hear Danny breathing, her own heart beating up in those soft spots of her forehead. She couldn’t stand it anymore.
    â€œI can’t wait. I gotta go.”
    â€œGo in your pants,” he said.
    â€œI can’t go in my pants. Mama’ll get me.”
    â€œI’ll get you if you don’t shut up,” he whispered. “I’ll tellthe principal you been bad, too. I’ll tell the witch to come get you. I’ll tell you a lot of things you don’t want to hear, okay?”
    Caroline swallowed hard, blinked back the tears and crouched forward to squeeze her legs together. “I can’t wait. I can’t hold it.”
    â€œHere.” He took her side of the bag. “Go over yonder and pull down your pants. Pee out there but be quiet.”
    â€œCome with me.”
    â€œI can’t, you big baby. I gotta hold the bag. How do we know that a snipe ain’t been watching this hole the whole time?”
    Caroline took a step away and moved her hands through the air to make sure there was nothing there. She eased down the zipper of her shorts.
    â€œI talked to the witch today,” she whispered. “She’s planning to pour cement all over her yard.”
    â€œYeah right,” he said. “Go on now. You’re too close. Go away from here so the snipe don’t see you.”
    She