Me and Rupert Goody Read Online Free PDF

on the hand. She got about four itty-bitty stitches but you’d’ve thought she got her hand cut plumb off, the way she hollered.

    Then I told him about how Daddy came home with roadkill and made a stew I swear. The biggest rabbit I ever saw. Hardly a scratch on it. Daddy hung the skin on the fence out back and it smelled something awful, flies swarming all around it.
    â€œYour daddy’s a pretty resourceful man, ain’t he?” Uncle Beau said.
    â€œWhat’s that mean?”
    â€œMeans he turns lemons into lemonade.”
    â€œI guess so. Only problem is, don’t nobody want a thing to do with that roadkill stew”
    Uncle Beau laughed and laughed. We ate our sandwiches and before long we were pulling into the parking lot of the Fletcher post office.
    â€œAnybody works in a post office is likely to know everybody worth knowing,” Uncle Beau explained.
    He folded the napkin, put it in his pocket, walked up to the woman behind the counter, and said, “I’m looking for Miss Sophie Day”
    â€œYou’re looking right at her,” the woman said, without the slightest blink of curiosity
    â€œWell, I’ll be doggone,” Uncle Beau said. Then I guess he was so surprised to find Miss Sophie Day right off the bat that he didn’t know what to say next.
    Miss Sophie was about the tiniest woman I ever saw. Couldn’t hardly see over the counter. She wore glasses thick as soda bottles. Her skin was as dark and cracked as old shoe leather.
    â€œI know I ain’t broke no law and ain’t nobody died and
left me nothing,” she said, “so what you want with me?” Then she smiled. If I had to count the teeth in her head, I reckon I could’ve stopped at about five.
    Uncle Beau chuckled and held out his hand. “I just come to shake the hand of one who helped Rupert Goody”
    Miss Sophie squinted at Uncle Beau. “Rupert Goody?” Then she looked up at the ceiling, rubbing her chin. “Rupert Goody Rupert Goody”
    Uncle Beau kept his hand out. “Tall, skinny black boy. A mite slow but sweet as can be. A good worker, too. Lost his mama as a baby Floated all over Fletcher till he come my way.”
    Miss Sophie snapped her fingers. “I know who you mean now.” She shook Uncle Beau’s hand. “Lord, I hadn’t seen that boy in ages. Last I heard, he was working for Mr. Reuben.”
    â€œRupert’s my son.”
    Miss Sophie’s eyebrows shot up. “Your son?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œWell, I’ll be.” She looked Uncle Beau up and down, then glanced at me.
    â€œThis here’s my friend Jennalee,” Uncle Beau said.
    Miss Sophie nodded. “Rupert stayed with me awhile when he was about thirteen, fourteen. I take in so many strays I can’t remember one from the other half the time. I do remember Rupert, though. Couldn’t read but could take my washing machine apart and put it back together. Not to fix it, mind you, but just for the hell of it.”

    Uncle Beau smiled at me. Such a proud, sweet smile I had to smile back.
    â€œI never knew he had no kin, though,” Miss Sophie said. “He was all the time saying he was gonna find his daddy someday, but they all say that. I never paid no mind to that kind of talk.” She looked out at the truck. “You got Rupert with you?”
    â€œHe’s back over in Claytonville working,” Uncle Beau said.
    â€œY’all from Claytonville?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Uncle Beau took the napkin out, smoothed it on the counter, and squinted down at the list. “Can you point us toward this Mr. Reuben?”
    â€œI’ll point you but I gotta warn you. That old geezer is about as mean as a hornet in a mason jar. Liable to run you off.”
    Uncle Beau tipped an imaginary hat. “Thanks for the warning,” he said.
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    â€œEither you can’t read or you’re just stupid. Which