Summer of the Geek Read Online Free PDF

the school network,” Finn said.
    “Do you want to know what I did today?” Charlie continued.
    “Not really,” Finn said. “Harsh, yes, but I believe honesty is the best policy.”
    “You’re a role model to us all,” I said sarcastically.
    Charlie, ignoring both of us, continued. “I got up really early, so I could paint for a few hours before I had to be at work here at eight thirty.”
    “Brutal,” Finn said.
    “And then I got here, and, as the newbie, I got stuck with shoe duty. Which basically means that I’ve spent the last eight hours taking people’s stinky shoes from them and handing them even stinkier bowling shoes. And then, when they turned the bowling shoes back in, I had to spray them down with Lysol, in a futile attempt to eradicate the funk.”
    “Excellent. Now go get me a soda,” Finn told her.
    “Get it yourself,” Charlie snarled.
    “Don’t you work here? Aren’t you supposed to do whatever I say?” Finn looked puzzled. “What happened to the customer always being right?”
    “Were you even listening to me?”
    “Not really,” Finn admitted. “I started to, but then you went off on one of your rants, and when you do that, I basically only hear this.” He held up one hand, and opened and shut it, like a bird snapping its beak. “Wah, wah, wah. So, where’s my soda?”
    Charlie looked longingly at her soda, and I knew she was picturing herself dumping it over his head. The fact that her manager was still there, manning the cash register, was probably the only thing stopping her.
    I decided to step in. “Charlie doesn’t work at the snack bar.”
    “Really? I would have thought that would be preferable to touching people’s shoes,” Finn said.
    “It would.” Charlie sighed. “But apparently you have to work here for months before you climb up the ladder from shoe handling to the snack bar. One of the fry guys told me he was on shoes for six months before he got promoted. Still,” she added, looking more hopeful, “he was only working part-time. I’m here full-time, at least for the summer. Maybe I’ll move up faster.”
    “That’s the ticket,” Finn said. “Keep your eyes on the prize. Reach for the brass ring. Ouch!” He leaned forward to rub the shin Charlie had just kicked. “There’s no need to get violent.”
    “The sad thing is that as bad as handling other people’s shoes is, Charlie’s summer job is better than mine,” I said.
    “Child care isn’t all you dreamed it would be?” Finn asked. He reached for my soda, but I moved it before he could take a sip. Finn backwashed.
    “No,” I said.
    “That sucks,” Finn said cheerfully. “I’m glad I don’t have to work a crap job.”
    Finn had become a self-made multimillionaire by creating a series of incredibly popular and incredibly violent video games, the most succesful of which was called Grunge Aliens. He’d never have to slog away at a minimum-wage job. For that matter, he’d never have to slog away at any job. Finn was set for life. I picked the straw up out of my Coke and flicked soda at him.
    “Hey, now!” Finn said. “There’s no need for that!”
    “Yes, there is. You’re being incredibly annoying,” Charlie told him. But then she looked thoughtful and turned to me. “You know, he could be just what we need right now.”
    “He who?” Finn asked.
    “You,” Charlie said. “When you interrupted us, Miranda and I were discussing the girl she’s watching this summer.” Charlie filled Finn in on Amelia’s musical gift and the moral imperative of my helping Amelia achieve a more balanced life. “We need to figure out a way to get Amelia to open up to Miranda. And you’re the most devious person we know.”
    “Flattery will get you everywhere,” Finn said. He bridged his hands and tapped his fingertips together. “But I have to admit, I’m intrigued. I’ve never attempted to turn anyone into a minion before.”
    “I don’t want to turn her into my minion!” I said.