High Water Read Online Free PDF Page A

you.  Sifu probably the most,” Walter said. Kyle’s pedagogy had done a lot for Pete’s self-confidence, molding him into a different person. He’d come to the studio overweight from years of university dining hall food. Kung fu had gotten Pete into the best physical shape of his life and he knew it was equally important in attaining his graduate degree. His current expertise in the nature of parasitic infectious diseases was the result of hard work and discipline. Martial arts sharpened mind and body equally.
    Pete looked over at Walter before saying, “You’ve got to be pretty close at this point, though.”
    Walter grinned and nodded. “Yeah, he hasn’t said anything, but I wonder if he was going to test us both at the same time. Guess I’m going it alone.” Pete wondered whether Walter resented him for leaving, but disregarded the thought. His best friend wasn’t the kind to hold grudges because Walter would have to remember them first.
    Pete’s hip vibrated, and he pulled his phone out to see Liz’s face. The picture he’d set for her number was his favorite. She sat casually in a meadow, wearing a light green dress. Her smile was sublime.  The goldenrod surrounding her made Liz look radiant.
    Pete was crazy about her.
    “Do you mind, Walter?” Pete asked, holding up the phone.
    “Liz? Stop playing, of course not,” said Walter, making a dismissive gesture with his hand.
    “Hey baby, what’s up?” Pete said, his ear sweat making the screen of the phone sticky.
    “Heyyyy! I almost didn’t expect to get you.  How’s the moving going?” Liz’s voice was bright and had an echo that made him think she was still at work.
    “Well, we’re taking a pizza and smoke break. Walter tore the bumper off my fucking car, but other than that we’re fine,” Pete said as Walter took another hit. Walter threw his arms up in indignation without stopping his bong hit, only to start coughing violently. Pete helpfully slapped him on the back.
    “Say what?”
    “I’ll have to show you. What’s up, though?”
    “I want to see you. What are you doing tonight?” Liz asked. Pete imagined her brushing her fingers against her neck, which she tended to do when on the phone.
    “Walter and I are going to pack up the truck. I’m free after that.” he replied, heart rising.
    “That sounds great.  I’ll come over there. Work was a nightmare. It got real weird up in here,” she said, suddenly getting serious.
    “Like how?” asked Pete, amused, knowing that her job was privy to all kinds of scandal.
    “Let me tell you tonight. I’ll see you at like, 6:30,” Liz promised. They exchanged their love and hung up. Walter had already put the bong on the floor to stand up.
    “Looks like you’re on a schedule son.  Let’s get to work,” he said, hands on his hips.
    Pete looked up at him, doubtful at his sudden motivation. “Since when did you care about my schedule?”
    “Pete, you don’t know shit about me. Let’s move some boxes.”
    Pete decided to start in the office. A large stack of liquor boxes sat in the corner. He was still moving most of his undergraduate biology textbooks, even though some of them were out of date and dead weight. .
    One of his boxes held his computer. Truthfully, Pete kind of wanted it to break in transit. The device was a massive waste of his time, a machine he couldn’t trust to operate. Too many lab reports and paper drafts had committed hari kari all over his hard drive too many times. It deserved nothing less than complete destruction. On the other hand…
    “I was thinking that we’d start with the heavy shit.” The computer was more likely to survive if he kept it above the books at the front of the truck.
    “Sure, whatever,” said Walter.
    They got to work. Pete took the boxes two at a time and hustled, stacking them carefully in the back corner of the truck. It was doubtful that they’d use all the capacity, but he did it anyway. On his second trip back to the