Tent City Read Online Free PDF

before.
     
    It makes me self-conscious all of a sudden of my own looks. I sneak a quick peek at the mirror in the wheeler. Of course, my dark hair is a mess and I don’t have a stitch of make-up on. As well as a full rats-nest for hair, there are black rings under my hazel eyes, and I probably resemble a zombie more than a living person.
     
    “Good morning!” he says.
     
    “What are you doing here, Stranger?” Kit drawls out.
     
    “Well, I was hoping someone could help me eat these fish.”
     
    At the sight of the fish Brody perks up, and immediately starts asking questions about what kind of fish they are and if we are really going to eat them. Kit gives me a questioning glance and I ignore her.
     
    “Well, little man, how about you help me clean them and I’ll tell you all about them,” Jack offers.
     
    “You can do it here, but you need to hurry up. We’ve gotta get on the road. We’re kinda in a hurry. Brody stay by me,” I say.
     
    Jack nods and gets to work on the fish. I am amazed how quickly he works, and also a little nervous, as my mind races at all the things he could do with that knife, just inches away from Brody. He’s given me no reason not to trust him, but I still don’t.
     
    He could be what stands in the way of us getting out of here safely. I should have never invited him over, but what was I to do? If he can fix the wheeler, then we can be on our way and I can forget about him and those gray eyes.
     
    Kit’s already quick to work frying the catfish and bass in the small frying pan Mom packed. She sautés it in oil and sprinkles it with salt and pepper.
     
    I plate it up with some crackers I found and we eat in silence. I didn’t realize how hungry I was. I can’t help but think we are wasting time and that we’ll never make it by Tuesday.
     
    As I study the map, I sneak glances at Jack tinkering with the four-wheeler. He seems to know what he is doing. He does a complete check of all things unknown to me, takes something out, dries it and puts it back.
     
    “Spark plug was wet,” he states. “Should work now. Where ya headed anyway? I never did find out why you guys were out here. You must have family?”
     
    I feel a pang of guilt. Even if he’s a drifter, he will be relocated too. I feel like I should tell him and then he can be on his way and do what he wants with the information.
     
    “The Council is relocating all us kids, so we’re getting the hell out of here.” Kit beats me to the punch. He raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t look that surprised.
     
    As if saying “The Council” out loud brings them in, we see a government van passing on the road. I feel like we’re hidden in the trees, but still my stomach churns in anxiety. It’s got some surveillance equipment on it and I can’t help but feel like they are watching us.
     
    “Brody, put your jacket on. We gotta go,” I order.
     
    “Is Jack coming?” he asks.
     
    “No, he’s not. I’m sure he’s got other places to go,” I say, as I toss Jack a can of peaches and some of the crackers.
     
    “Deal is a deal. Thanks for fixing the four-wheeler, but we really have to be going.”
     
    I glance up, and instead of the van continuing on, it has turned around and is headed back our way.
     
    “Kit, let’s move!” I shout.
     
    “Jack, you can ride with me,” she says, and I start to protest.
    A worried look crosses his face and then he says, “Just for now. I’ll go my own way when we’ve cleared the area and given them the slip.”
     
    “Fine, whatever.”
     
    He actually drives Kit’s wheeler and we clear through a couple miles of forest area just outside the farmland. I don’t like having him with us. I can’t rid the feelings of warning telling me he’s no good and that he’s just looking for his chance to rob us and take us for what we’re worth.
     
    There’s something he’s not telling us. He’s not just a regular drifter. His clothes are too nice and he’s a little too