Dinosaur Hideout Read Online Free PDF Page B

another kitchen relic left over from his grandmother’s days – he looked over at Dad and asked, “You’re not going to lease to those oil companies are you? It’ll wreck the land, you know. They’ll dig big holes everywhere, and ruin it. It won’t be good for anything.”
    Dad winced and pushed his empty plate away. “We don’t know yet what’s going to happen, Danny. Not until we hear what the company people have to say. I’m all for keeping our land, but the southwest quarter wouldn’t be too big of a loss. It isn’t much good for anything, anyway. Doesn’t even make great pasture land, unless we had more.”
    Daniel dropped his fork onto his plate with a clatter. “But there’s lots of great things about it.” He felt a sudden pounding in his head.
    “Relax, Daniel,” Mom soothed, wiping the baby’s face and hands with a cloth. “We’re just going to find out more about it. We’re not going to make any rash decisions.”
    “Besides, Son, a few rocks and hills don’t mean much unless you can turn them into a paying proposition.” Dad pushed back his chair and stood up. “And raising cattle on them hasn’t worked well enough so far either. There’s never enough grazing land.”
    Daniel sat there with his mouth open as Dad headed towards the hall.
    “We’d better go, Libby.”
    “Okay, I’ll be ready in a jiffy,” Mom said, wiping Cheryl’s face and hands. Then she gave her a rattle to play with before she started clearing the food off the table.
    Daniel crumpled his napkin and stared at Mom. “Money isn’t all that important, you know.”
    “Your dad’s just looking out for us in the best way he knows how.” Mom gave him a sympathetic look.
    “But, Mom, he doesn’t understand what’s maybe out there in those hills. It’s way more important than money!” He rose from the table and began stacking the dishes, his usual after-supper chore.
    “He’s just trying to do whatever will help us stay on the farm. So keep that in mind.” Mom looked at him sternly, and then softened. “We’re only going to hear what these people have to say.” Then she hugged him.
    “Would you mind doing the dishes yourself tonight?” she asked, taking his baby sister from the high chair.
    Daniel felt annoyed. “I can’t come with you?”
    “No, you have school tomorrow, and I don’t know how late we’ll be.” Mom waited for his reply.
    “Oh, all right.” What was the point of arguing?
    “Thanks, Sweetie.”
    He stood stiffly as she gave him another hug with her free arm. Cheryl gave him a big smile, and he took her while Mom went to the hall closet for their coats. He could already hear Dad starting the truck in the driveway. As Mom bundled up Cheryl and hurried outside, Daniel turned to the dishes with a heavy sigh.
    After finishing, he helped himself to a large serving of apple crumble, and a Gatorade from the fridge. Then he wandered through the house with his snack. Everything was so still and quiet, except for the creaking of the maple floorboards as he headed through the dining room. He walked around the huge antique oak dining table, where Mom had arranged a bouquet of silk flowers in the centre, on a crocheted tablecloth. A matching china cabinet and sideboard sat together on one wall. Next to them hung a row of his school photos. He passed them and went through the double doorway into the adjoining living room. The television set sat on an angle in one corner.
    For the next hour, he sprawled on the orange and yellow flowered couch, sipping Gatorade, while he watched his favourite National Geographic show. When it was over he carried the dishes back to the kitchen, being careful not to leave any evidence that he’d been eating in the forbidden living room. Then he went upstairs to his bedroom and scoured his books for more about receptaculites.
    Every once in awhile, he’d get up and look out his bedroom window to see if he could spot headlights from his parents’ truck. At ten