Dead End Job Read Online Free PDF Page B

to.
    I heard a customer walk in the door. I got up and went to the counter.
    I couldn’t believe it.
    I was so surprised that I just kind of yelled “Tom!” I’d never even called him Mr. Orser before. He looked at me like I was nuts.
    â€œWell, hello to you too,” he said and put a package of diapers on the counter.
    I rang them in. I had to say something to him but I didn’t know how. Or what.
    â€œWill there be anything else?” I said. I was just stalling for time.
    â€œNo,” he said. “That’s all.”
    He handed me the money. He was going to leave.
    I blurted out, “Actually, there is one other thing.”
    â€œI have to buy something else?” He looked confused.
    â€œNo. No. Um. Sorry. Look.” I gulped. “Well…”
    â€œYes?” he said. I couldn’t tell if he found this amusing or irritating.
    â€œOkay. I guess there’s no easy way around this. I’m just going to come right out and say it,” I said. “You have to talk to your son.” I wiped my hands on my shirt. They were all sweaty.
    â€œMy son?” he said. “You must be mistaking me for someone else.”
    â€œYou’re Tom Orser.”
    â€œThat’s me. But I don’t have a son.” I nodded.
    â€œDevin told me you’d say that.”
    â€œWho’s Devin?”
    I nodded again.
    â€œHe told me you’d say that too.”
    Tom rolled his eyes. I pushed my hair off my face and just kept going. I was too far in to stop now.
    â€œI’m sure you have your reasons for not wanting to see him. That’s none of my business. I promise I won’t tell anybody else about this. But you really need to talk to him now before he does something stupid. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”
    Tom scratched his chin and looked at me.
    â€œPlease. I’m really worried about him.”
    â€œI can see you are,” he said. “I appreciate your concern but, honestly, I don’t have a son. Four daughters, two wives, no son. Someone’s pulling your leg.”
    I got this sick feeling. I went, “But…but…um …”
    â€œGo ahead. Ask anyone,” he said. “You’ll see.”
    He picked up the diapers.
    â€œAnd if you do find out I have a son,please call me. I like to know about these things.”
    He smiled and left.
    I spent the rest of my shift in a daze. Tom didn’t look like he was lying. And Tom didn’t look like Devin’s father either. He was dark and round. Devin was pale and skinny. They weren’t related. I was sure of it.
    Or was I?
    I don’t look like my parents. I look like my father’s mother. It’s one of those skip-a-generation things. Maybe it was the same with Devin and Tom.
    And there was another thing that didn’t sit right with me. I just couldn’t believe that Devin was able to pull off that big a lie. I lie and my ears turn red. Leo lies and he starts rubbing his neck. Kyla lies and she bites her lip. You always know when someone is lying. Devin looked me right in the eye and told me Tom was his father. He didn’t blink.
    Was he a good liar?
    Or was Tom?
    Or was I just stupid?
    I had no idea.
    Midnight came. Mr. Abdul arrived for the nightshift, but there was no sign of Leo. I was just starting to worry when Chris Cooper, the guy from Diamond Taxi, showed up.
    â€œLeo sent me,” he said. “I’ll take you home.”
    I figured Leo must have been having problems with his transmission again. But then I got in the cab and Chris handed me a package. It was the homework I asked Leo to get from my locker.
    That picture of Devin and me was on top. Leo had stuck a stickie on it.
    It said, “From now on, find your own way home.”

Chapter Eleven
    I couldn’t sleep that night. I didn’t even try. I was sad. I was mad. I was totally confused. I couldn’t believe that I’d got myself into such a mess. I was