The Ears of Louis Read Online Free PDF Page B

Come out from under your disguise!” The voices rang in Louis’ head. He didn’t know who was calling him. He didn’t stop to find out. Instead, he walked faster, faster until he had a pain in his side and his heart was pounding. Whoever it was didn’t catch up. Louis made up his mind. He’d keep working at those bar bells and his muscles, combined with his good luck charm, would make him invincible. Then when Ernie and the boy with the little eyes called him names, he’d turn around and punch them in the face. Wham! Pow!
    Louis rang Mrs. Beeble’s door bell and when she answered, he handed her the ring. “It’s for you,” he said. “I was digging in my back yard for worms and I found a chest full of treasure. Probably pirates buried it there a long time ago.”
    Mrs. Beeble didn’t flick an eye. “It’s lovely,” she said. “You were nice to think of me. I’ll cherish it always.”
    Louis didn’t know why he got carried away and told stories like that. It didn’t happen often but when it did, he really told a big one. A tall tale, his father called it. Then he usually had to go and spoil it by telling the truth.
    â€œI found a garage sale down the street,” he said, “and the old man who was running it gave it to me. For free. That’s because I spent my allowance on a pair of bar bells yesterday and I didn’t have anything left.”
    â€œOf the two stories,” Mrs. Beeble said, turning the ring to catch the light, “I prefer the first. At any event, I’m glad you thought of me. I’d ask you in for a hand or two but I’m expecting company.” She wore a big white apron and had a sort of plastic cap on her head.
    â€œI’m making steak and kidney pie. My niece and her husband are coming. I’d never think of making steak and kidney pie for myself. It’s not much fun to cook just for one person,” Mrs. Beeble said. She looked gay and happy. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes sparkled.
    Louis backed off from the idea of steak and kidney pie.
    â€œI’ll see you,” he said. Mrs. Beeble waved and closed the door.
    As Louis cut across the yard, a car pulled up and a lady and man got out. They must be Mrs. Beeble’s niece and her husband. They looked kind of dried up and sour, Louis thought. Still, he was glad Mrs. Beeble wouldn’t be eating alone.

9
    On Monday the impossible happened.
    Louis was stationed on the sidelines, watching the big kids mill around, trying to get a game organized.
    â€œWhere’s Steve? Where’s Eddie?” they called.
    â€œFlu. They’ve got the flu.”
    â€œOh boy, it’s not worth it, to have a game with nobody here. We better wait ’til tomorrow. Maybe they’ll be back by then.”
    â€œWhy can’t we play with subs?” the boy who seemed to be captain of the team asked. “That’s what the pros do. They have subs so if somebody gets hurt, like he racks up his knee or something, the game doesn’t get put off, it goes on.”
    The sixth graders stood with their hands on their hips and looked over the horizon for subs. Louis resumed his position on one knee with both fists supporting him. He hoped they’d notice him before he got tired.
    â€œHow about that little guy? Hey, kid, want to get in the game?”
    Considering he’d been waiting and dreaming and hoping for just this minute ever since school started, Louis did a pretty good job of pretending he didn’t know who they were talking to.
    He got up from the ground and trotted over to the group.
    â€œYou mean me?” he said nonchalantly.
    â€œI don’t know,” the captain said. “He’s pretty small. He might get hurt and we’d catch it from Mr. Anderson. He probably wouldn’t let us play at all if this little kid got racked up.”
    Louis put his hands on his hips. “Don’t worry about