Summertime of the Dead Read Online Free PDF

Kako came running through the door. He stopped dead when he saw us. ‘Surely you’re not leaving!’
    â€˜We have to get home,’ said Miko.
    â€˜I’ll give you a ride,’ said Kako.
    â€˜She has to be home by twelve,’ I said.
    â€˜Who are you – her dad?’
    He was three years older than me and just as tall but he didn’t frighten me. And I gave him a look that let him know it.
    â€˜Just kidding, Yukio. I’m glad she has someone to look after her.’ He turned to Hiroshi. ‘And as for you, my little Hiroshi, you’re welcome here any time.’
    â€˜Is this your club?’ asked Hiroshi.
    â€˜No, it’s Riko’s. But I work on the door and, well … I can let some people in for free.’ He turned to me. ‘The same applies to you, Yukio. Come any time you like.’
    But as we left the club I saw him in a mirror. The smile had gone and his face had soured with spite. I knew he was scum. I was just about to warn Hiroshi to stay away from him, but Miko took my hand.
    â€˜I had a great time, Yukio,’ she said, and she kissed my cheek.
    I felt humbled and happy and I flagged down a taxi without even realizing it. But it was worth it. Because driving through Shibuya, cocooned in the cab, was the icing on the cake of a great evening. It was nice looking out at the swarms of peoplewith the lights shining in on us. And knowing we would soon be home. When I looked at Miko she was smiling, and when I put my arm around her she smiled even more.
    When we pulled up Hiroshi scurried up the steps to their apartment. We could hear him talking excitedly to his grandad. Then the cab drove away, leaving me and Miko alone. We laughed as we listened to Hiroshi raving about the club. Then Miko came closer.
    â€˜So you’re going on vacation with your grandmother.’
    â€˜Don’t remind me,’ I said.
    â€˜It won’t be that bad. But I won’t see you for a whole week.’
    â€˜I suppose not.’
    â€˜Well, this won’t wait,’ she said, and standing on her tiptoes she kissed me. It was a long lovely kiss, our first, and it felt so good my eyes closed. Then I realized I wasn’t doing anything and so I kissed her back. I heard their grandad shuffling on the landing. He appeared above us, but his eyesight wasn’t that good. ‘Are you there, Miko?’
    â€˜Yes, Grandad.’
    She smiled and kissed me, quickly this time, and then she trotted up the steps.
    â€˜Did you have a good time?’ he asked.
    â€˜We had a great time, Grandad.’
    Miko waited patiently as he made his way into the apartment, and then she looked over the landing. ‘I’m missing you already,’ she said. And then she went inside and the door closed.
    I was smiling as I walked back to the house and I couldn’t seem to stop. I slipped off my shoes in the doorway and ran up the stairs to my room. It was warm and my head felt woozy and so I went out on the balcony. There were a few stars and a sickle-shaped moon above the twins’ apartment. And there was that summertime smell that made the night seem sweet. And then it dawned on me. Me and Miko had always been childhood sweethearts. It wasn’t something that had happened lately; it was something that had always been. Then I laughed when I thought about Hiroshi’s words: ‘You two will be kissing next.’ After all these years he was finally right.
    The lights went out in the twins’ apartment and I turned to go to bed. But just then I saw something. It was the tips of a pair of shoes in the street light. There was a man standing in the shadows. He started to urinate against the side of the twins’block. I tried to see who it was but it was too dark. I was just going to shout something but he turned and walked away. I leaned out as far as I could and looked into the street. But all I could see was his shadow shrinking in the street light, and