The Hero Two Doors Down Read Online Free PDF Page A

husband made me promise not to tell anyone who our tenant is going to be. So we’ll all just have to wait to see who moves in,” Mrs. Palin said with a warm smile.
    I almost fell to the ground and screamed out in frustration. Not another person telling me to wait. No, I couldn’t stand it! I barely heard my mother say good-bye. Tears in my eyes, I followed her back to our house.
    I trudged up the stairs, feeling mad. “Why didn’t she tell us?”
    â€œFor all the reasons we discussed earlier,” Mom said.
    â€œI still think it’s Jackie.”
    Â 
    That night I was sitting on the front stoop when Dad came home from work. He saw me staring down the block at our new neighbor’s house.
    â€œYour mother told me you met the Palins today.”
    â€œYes.” I nodded.
    â€œI’ve been debating about when was the right time to tell you this,” Dad said.
    â€œTell me what?”
    â€œI now know who is renting from the Palins,” he replied.
    â€œWho is it, Dad? You’ve got to tell me. Please?” I begged.
    â€œUntil they move in, we won’t know for sure,” Dad teased.
    â€œIs it who I’ve been wishing for?”
    Dad chuckled. “I think you’ll be very happy,” he said.
    â€œDad, are you telling me that Jackie Robinson is going to be my neighbor?”
    He beamed. “I saw Mr. Palin today. He told me that Jackie and his family have signed the lease for April first.”
    I couldn’t believe it! Jackie Robinson! I jumped into Dad’s arms, yelling with joy. But Dad’s laughter worried me. It was almost April 1 and he loved a good April Fool’s joke. I pulled away from him. “Are you making up a story?”
    â€œI wouldn’t do that to you, son.”
    â€œIs it
really
true, Dad?”
    â€œIt’s true, son. Mr. Palin said that Mrs. Robinson is driving their Cadillac across country with her brother, Raymond, and little Jackie Junior. They’re expected in New York sometime between April fifth and seventh—”
    â€œWhat about Jackie?”
    â€œHe’s still barnstorming with the team, Steve.”
    â€œOh, yeah. That’s right. Is Jackie Junior my age?” I asked.
    â€œI think he’s younger than you. You’ll know soon,” Dad replied.
    â€œI’ll bet they’ll be here tomorrow. Can I stay home from school?”
    â€œI’m not even going to respond to that question, Steve.”
    I laughed it off. “All right, Dad, but will you come get me out of school the minute the moving van pulls up?”
    â€œNo,” my dad said. “I’ll be at work and you’ll be at school. You’ve got to give the Robinsons privacy, Steve. Promise me you won’t drive Mrs. Robinson crazy with questions about Jackie.”
    I slid down to the step below my dad. I honestly didn’t know how I’d react to Jackie Robinson’s living so close to me. It was just too important. None of my friends would even believe me until Jackie actually moved in. I looked up at my dad and shrugged my shoulders. “I’ll try not to be a pest,” I promised.
    I jumped off the stoop. “Time me,” I insisted before racing to Jackie Robinson’s new house and back. “How long did that take, Dad?”
    â€œThirty seconds, tops,” Dad said.
    â€œJust think, I’ll be living that close to a Brooklyn Dodgers player!” I shouted.
    Â 
    Every day after school, Sena and I would race home hoping to find a moving van parked outside of 5224 Tilden Avenue. Wednesday, April 7, I got my wish. We broke into a trot, reaching the truck just as two men lifted an off-white couch from the back of the van.
    My heart pounded so hard I was sure the men would see it beating under my coat. I wanted so badly to peek inside the house, but Sena wouldn’t let go of my hand. Instead, we stood back and watched for a glimpse of the Robinson family.
    We