Crowam 281 Read Online Free PDF

into.
    It was the middle of the night and I was all riled up. Thomas looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. “What are you here for, Thomas? You don’t seem like the troublesome type.”
    “I’m afraid it’s a long story.”
    “I got all night.”
    “No really, not tonight. Perhaps tomorrow. We’ve accomplished much this evening.”
    “We did?”
    “Yes. We’ve formally introduced ourselves. Now we’re friends.”
    “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Don’t be gawking at me in the middle of the night like that again. “
    “Again, my sincerest apologies, Mr. Hudson. It won’t happen again.”
    “Just call me Jake. Here are the ground rules. Don’t touch my stuff. You stay on your side of the room, and I’ll stay on mine. And no gawking.”
    “I believe you established that already.”
    “Well I’m saying it again.”
    “Fair enough, old chap. I am going to retire for the evening. Good night.”
    There I stood in the middle of the room with the lights off while Thomas went to bed. I lay in my bed, shut my eyes, and pretended to be somewhere else, away from this damn place.

Chapter 5
    At breakfast the next morning, we were served some sort of porridge with mystery meat that tasted like sausage, although I didn’t want to hazard a guess. You should have seen Charlie, though. That boy sure could eat. Ate like a damn champ, if you asked me. He even had the gall to ask for seconds. Could you imagine that? Eating seconds of that crap. Hell, I had trouble eating it the first time. Owen didn’t eat much. He spent most of the time playing with his food.
    “Aren’t you going to eat?” I asked.
    “Not very hungry.”
    “Lost your appetite?”
    “It’s easy to lose you’re appetite with this rubbish.”
    Charlie dug his spoon right into Owen’s porridge, practically stuffed his hand with it. “Mind if I have some of yours?”
    “What the hell are you doing Charles?” Owen yelled.
    “What?”
    “ You ask first, then you help yourself.”
    “Sorry.” Charlie put his spoon down. “Can I have some?”
    “No, you may not.”
    “But you said you weren’t going to eat it.”
    “I changed my mind.”
    “Can I have just a little?”
    “You fat bastard. You already had your serving.”
    Charles looked at me with these empathetic eyes. I took a big spoonful of the stuff and shoved it in my mouth. I smiled at the fat bastard. He looked like he was going to cry. “It’s for your own good, Charles,” I said
    “But I’m hungry.”
    “That’s the problem. You’re always hungry,” Owen said.
    “That’s not true. I was satisfied last night.”
    “What, for an hour?” I said
    “Can I just have a little?”
    “You sound like a child,” Owen said.
    “I’m not a child. I’ll be eighteen in six months.”
    “You’re as mature as Winston Churchill himself. A true man’s man,” I said.
    “You really think so?”
    “Of course.”
    “Oh, you’re just poking fun at me.” Charlie pouted.
    “Why would I want to do that?”
    “Oh, leave him alone.” From the corner of my eye, I saw my new “best friend,” Thomas, walking over to our table. What was this weirdo going to pull now? All I could think about was this kid staring at me in the middle of the night while I slept. The thought of it gave me goosebumps. “Mind if I join you fine gentlemen?”
    I wanted to say no. I would rather watch Charles stuff his face with more porridge.
    “By all means. Make yourself at home,” Owen said.
    “Couldn’t find another table?” I asked.
    “I normally sit by myself. But I thought it would be splendid if I had lunch with my new roommate.”
    “Roommate? Well, any roommate of Jake’s is a roommate of ours,” Owen said.
    “Thank you.” Thomas placed his tray on the table. He polished his fork and knife with his napkin. He positioned his plate and utensils like he was playing some sort of chess match, setting his pieces in proper order. He unfolded his napkin and placed it on his