Hide and Seek Read Online Free PDF Page B

too.
     
    "Nice place you've got here."
     
    I told you I was fabulous at conversation.
     
    More nodding.
     
    I was making all the impact of a spot on the rug. Luckily he didn't seem to care. I had the feeling that as far as he was concerned, I
    We heard footsteps on the stairs. He glanced up at me sharply and for once his eyes seemed to focus. Ah, a human being standing there.
     
    "Take care of my daughter, Mr. Thomas." "Yes, sir."
     
    The footsteps descended. I saw him staring away from me again, and this time I followed the sight lines across the room to a small table cluttered with vase, flowers, ashtray, and a pair of gilt-frame photographs. One was a few-years-old photo of Casey. A high school graduation photo, probably. The other was a studio portrait of a young brown-eyed boy, maybe six or seven years old, smiling in that shy funny way kids have of smiling without showing you their teeth.
     
    Casey had never mentioned a brother.
     
    I looked at Mr. White. He was staring intently at the photographs.
    The high, pale forehead was studded with creases. The flesh gleamed.
    I wondered if it was Casey he was staring at or the boy.
     
    "Ready?"
     
    She swung down the stairs and the T-shirt looked painted on. By a very steady hand. She stood there slightly out of breath, smiling, smelling very clean and freshly showered.
     
    She moved to her father and pecked him on the cheek. "Bye, Daddy."
     
    He managed to raise a weak smile. I could not see much in the way of affection between them. "You'll be late?"
     

"Don't know. Maybe. Say goodnight to mother for me."
     
    "Yes."
     
    He stood up absentmindedly but with some effort. It was learned behavior but its hold on him was stronger than the discomfort it caused him. Or that's how it looked to me. When a lady leaves the room, you stand. Even if it's your daughter. It was years of habit talking. But it wasn't making life any easier for him.
     
    Like everything else I'd seen him do, its net effect was zero. Except to make you wonder where all that lethargy came from. Here was a man, I thought, inhabiting a great big void.
     
    "Good night... young man," he said.
     
    He'd forgotten my name.
     
    "Good night, sir."
     
    We walked outside into the warm summer night. I was glad to be out of there.
     
    She looked at the pickup across the street.
     
    "You really want to take that thing?"
     
    "I don't care."
     
    "Let's take the Chevy, then. Kim and Steve would never forgive me."
     
    She turned and headed for the driveway. I grabbed her arm.
     
    "Suppose we make a deal?"
     
    "What's that?"
     
    "We take the Chevy. But tonight we skip Kim and Steve."
     
    She laughed. "They're expecting us."
     
    "Call in sick. Say you've got your period."
     
    "I can't do that." Sure you can.
     
    "Suppose they see us driving around town or something?"
     
    I shrugged. "You got better again."
     
    We climbed into the car. I watched her mull it over for a minute. She was smiling and I had the feeling I was winning this one. She started up the car. I leaned over and took her chin in my hand, turned her toward me and kissed her. At first I kissed smiling lips and teeth.
    Then there was heat and a brittle hunger.
     

HShe pulled away.
     
    "You convinced me."
     
    We drove to the phone booth in front of Harmon's. She got out, and I watched her under neon light. Dialing the number, talking. I guess she got a little argument. Then she turned toward me and made a circle with her thumb and forefinger. A moment later she smiled and hung up.
    She climbed back into the car and slammed the door.
     
    "I have my period. Kim will tell Steven. He's not going to like it much. But."
     
    "But."
     
    I kissed her.
     
    "What is it with Steven, anyway?"
     
    "You mean with Steven and me."
     
    I nodded. She laughed at me.
     
    "We were kids together. Next-door neighbors. When we were real little, we even talked about getting married some day. You know how kids do. Then we grew up. At least some of us