Redemption Song Read Online Free PDF Page A

you’re in luck cause I’m great at keeping secrets!”
    The boy gazed up at him with an expectant smile. Ethan wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
    “Um . . . thanks, Bob.”
    “It’s Ben.”
    “That’s what I meant.”
    Ethan’s awkward forgetfulness didn’t seem to faze young Ben in the slightest. Instead, his smile beamed even brighter and he skipped off toward Hank and his “plane”.
    “Oh, man, Hinkle! That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!”
    Ethan suppressed an amused snort. Obviously, Ben didn’t get out much.
    “So how has my lil’ E been doing?” Granny Mae approached the car and motioned for Ethan to take shotgun before Ben returned and he still had the chance.
    “Wow, Granny Mae, I haven’t been called that in . . .”
    “Five years or so?”
    “Yeah, something like that.”
    There it was. Ethan knew was been disappointed in him. He quickly tried to think of something to change the subject.
    “So who’s the kid?”
    “Oh, Ben? I figured he already told you his name. I’m telling you, that kid has never met a stranger in his life. It’s like he already knows everyone on Earth, they just haven’t had the chance to know him yet.” Granny Mae gazed toward the plane where Hank had hoisted Ben up into the cockpit. He was making loud engine sounds and pretending to steer. Her look was listless.
    “I got that his name was Ben, but who is he? Are you babysitting or something?”
    She laughed as though it was some sort of inside joke. “Something like that.”
    “What does that mean, Grandma?”
    Granny Mae sighed, never veering her focus from Ben’s direction.
    “A few things have changed since the last time you were here, Ethan. Ben was one of my Sunday school kids at church. One weekend his parents left him with his sister to take a drive up to Mobile to get some time away together. But they never made it home.”
    “What happened?”
    “Drunk driver hit them before they ever reached Mobile. It’s only a twenty-one mile drive, but they only made it fifteen.”
    Ethan’s stomach twisted into knots and he recognized the familiar feeling of vomit rising in his throat. He wondered if this was a true story or a guilt trip.
    “Granny Mae, did my mom tell you why I was coming to visit you?”
    She gave him a sweet smile. “She sure did, honey, and believe me; I know what it feels like to be overworked. You deserve this break. I told your mom that you are free to stay as long as you like.”
    Ethan wanted to feel relieved that his grandmother didn’t know the real reason for his sudden arrival, but her innocent kindness only helped to further his guilt. Ben’s story was not some fictional story his grandmother had made up to cause him guilt. It was true. The kid had lost his parents in an accident similar to the one Ethan almost caused the night before. He wondered if his mom had known about Ben before arranging this little “vacation”.
    Ethan regained his focus. “So, I get that Ben’s parents died, but why is he with you? Doesn’t he have family that could’ve taken him?”
    “Sure, sweetie,” Granny Mae said. “He has me, as does his sister. We’re not related by blood, of course, but I’ve loved those kids ever since the first day I met them. I couldn’t just let them fend for themselves. Ben’s sister is only seventeen. Technically, she could have handled things, I guess, but I figured that was an awfully young age to become a parent. So, I took them in.”
    “You mean they live with you? Ben and his sister ?”
    “Is that a problem, dear?”
    Was that a problem? Obviously, Granny Mae had never seen how girls acted around Ethan. They wanted him to sign their arms, let them touch his guitar, dedicate a song to them. They squealed and screamed and even sometimes cried. Ethan loved his fans and he appreciated their support, but the obsessive crush act got a little old. Now he was going to have to live with it until his mom saw fit to let him return to his real