Finn Finnegan Read Online Free PDF Page A

Gideon handed him several pairs of folded jeans of various sizes.
    â€œAye, ye do.” Gideon pointed to a nearby dressing room. “Spending an afternoon at Wal-Mart is not the way I planned to celebrate both the ceremony and yer birthday, but ye’re woefully lacking.” He checked the price tag on one of the jeans, then pulled out his wallet and thumbed through the bills. “We can afford two, plus a few shirts. ” And another pair of shoes , he thought, glancing down at the boy’s feet. Although he’ll most likely outgrow them before he out wears them . “And what about…?” Gideon’s voice trailed off as he gestured vaguely toward Finn’s middle region.
    Finn glanced down in confusion. “What about… what? ”
    â€œUnderwear.”
    â€œYou mean, like…like…am I wearing any? ” Finn’s voice cracked with thirteen year old boy indignation.
    Gideon fought a smile. And lost. “No, ye dolt. Do ye need more?”
    â€œI guess,” Finn mumbled, blushing as red as his hair. He ducked inside the dressing room. With one last glare, he pulled the door closed with a snick.
    Laughing softly under his breath, the Knight pressed against a rack of shirts as he attempted to stay out of the way of the other shoppers packing the aisles. He watched as Finn emerged a few minutes later and stood in front of the full-length mirror, tugging at the waistband of the jeans.
    â€œAnd just what are ye doing?”
    â€œGetting them right. They don’t sag enough.” Finn pulled up his tee shirt to check the fit.
    â€œI can see the top of yer boxers.” Gideon stepped closer to shield Finn as two teenage girls walked past. “As can everyone else.”
    â€œYeah, that’s the point.” Finn examined himself in the mirror, then looked up. “What?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNo? Why? Gideon, this is how everyone dresses. We’re supposed to fit in with human society, right?”
    â€œMine are not on display, and I’ve manage to blend in,” Gideon declared. “For quite some time now.”
    â€œThat’s because you’re an adult.”
    â€œAnd thus lack any sense of fashion?”
    â€œWell, yeah. I mean, yes, sir.” Finn headed back to the dressing room, then paused. “Have you ever had an apprentice before?”
    Grief poked a claw into Gideon’s heart. “Aye. ‘Twas long ago.”
    â€œWell, teenagers dress a lot different these days. In fact, teenagers act a lot different these days, too.” Turning around, Finn stumbled on the hem of the too-long pant legs. He lurched into a clothes rack and knocked it over with a crash. Hangers skittered across the tile floor.
    The corner of the Knight’s mouth twitched. “Why, of course, they do.”

    â€œHere, take these.” Gideon handed the plastic bags of clothes to Finn as they left the store. “I’ll get the food.” They made their way through the overflowing parking lot. Their truck was squeezed into the furthest corner, behind several behemoth campers. Thunder rumbled overhead as a spring storm darkened the sky. Rain clouds bunched up and spilled over the mountain range west of the city, turning the day gloomy. A car rolling past, searching for an empty spot, flipped on its headlights.
    â€œOur afternoon deluge is a wee earlier,” Gideon said as they approached their vehicle. He tossed the keys over to Finn. “We best put everything inside the cab.” He shook his head when the keys sailed past the boy’s outstretched hand and skittered under one of the recreational vehicles.
    â€œNice throw,” Finn muttered. He dropped his bags by the passenger door and jogged over to the RV
    Crouching down by its folding steps, he stretched out an arm. The reek of a septic system in desperate need of emptying assaulted his nose. His fingers scrabbled across the asphalt as he tried to fish the