The Castle Cross the Magnet Carter Read Online Free PDF Page A

their official contest with St. John’s, up near Birmingham. So! You are both outstanding students. I’d like you to represent our school as the debate team.”
    Lucille and I look at each other. Never before had our names and “school team” been in the same sentence.
    â€œIf you’re interested, we’ll set up an empty classroom for you to prepare with each other. Mr. Hickory will be your coach. Some days he will be with you, other times you will have independent study on your own. By virtue of your high academic achievements, you’ve earned our trust. The meet will take place on Friday, February 20th, three weeks from tomorrow. And I see here you both happen to have PE at the same time. I’m thinking you can be excused for debate practice during that period. If you don’t mind?”
    â€œI think you oughta do her,” says Henry Lee on The Old Smoke Escape between puffs.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHe said some days they’ll leave you alone. All alone.”
    â€œTo practice debate. Sure, we’re really gonna make it when Mr. Hickory can just walk in any second!”
    â€œJust suggestin. Opportunity. You definitely better be practicin the missionary though. Put her on top, one wrong move and you’re smithereens, I’d be readin your eulogy. ‘Obviously,’ I’d say, ‘he died satisfied.’” He attempts a smoke ring and chokes.
    â€œI don’t think I’m gonna come here anymore.” I bite the boiled egg he gave me. He loves chicken salad so he’d asked his mother to pack two sandwiches, claiming to want seconds, and thus we each had our own meal. “I don’t wanna get caught.”
    â€œYou been comin here three weeks. How come, all the sudden?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe they’re looking at me more closely now.”
    â€œOh yeah, the star debater.” He stubs out his cigarette and unwraps a stick of Wrigley’s in case a teacher were to get too close to his breath. Mr. Westerly said our meet might not be official to St. Mary’s, but far as he’s concerned if we win, he’s ordering two trophies from Gephart’s Athletic Gear and Footwear.
    â€œWell,” says Henry Lee, chewing, who usually offers me a stick but today doesn’t, “no Old Smoke Escape, no lunch.”
    â€œWe could have lunch somewheres else.”
    â€œNo!” Once in a while Henry Lee’d do that, get loud, kind of squeal. I shut up and hope he follows suit, me all paranoid like the principal gonna bust in on us, spying, making sure I’m worthy. Henry Lee brushes crumbs down into the shaft. Pigeons flock to the feast.
    After school I go straight home, not stopping by Henry Lee’s. My mother is thrilled by the news. She’s all for me going to college. Not anywheres in our budget but she’s thinking like I’m thinking, that being chosen for this debate thing’s on track toward my earning a scholarship. Few months ago she and my father got into it, him feeling like eighth grade was plenty for me, he could get me on at the mill full-time after that, and her refusing, insisting I graduate secondary. He thinks high school’s okay for Benja, for girls and their frivolous pursuits, just husband-shopping anyway.
    Taking advantage of her rush of pride, I fib. “We’re gonna be practicing during lunchtime so I’ll need to start packing.”
    It works without a hitch. I’d been feeling guilty about banking the daily six cents she’d been giving me for lunch so the falsehood actually eases my conscience. But then, though I don’t ask for it and even argue against it, she’s adamant on giving me the penny for milk, which in spite of my shame has to go directly to the Sopwith fund as I refuse ever to set foot in that blamed cafeteria again.
    Monday Lucille and I sit in an empty English classroom.
    Resolved, that the territory of Hawaii should be granted