The Islanders Read Online Free PDF

you.”
    â€œI know. Unusual, huh?” Nina said. “Come on with me. Go ahead, Zoey. You know I’m never in a hurry to get to school. We’ll take the scenic route.”
    Benjamin put out his left arm and felt Nina insert her elbow. She had led him before and knew the routine. “Later,” Benjamin said in the direction of the others.
    Nina led him left, down Independence, through the busy, bustling early morning commuter crush of Weymouth. “You didn’t have to do this,” Benjamin said. “Zoey usually gets stuck.”
    â€œI know you don’t like to ask your sister,” Nina said.
    Benjamin smiled. “You do, huh? How do you know that? Is that what Zoey thinks?”
    â€œNope. I just know,” Nina said. “You always get a certain way when you have to ask her for help. Embarrassed or something.”
    Benjamin felt uncomfortable. “I’m not embarrassed,” he said in a tone that was grouchier than he’d intended. He softened it a bit. “It’s just that I don’t want Zoey spending her life as my guide. She needs to live her own life.”
    â€œI know,” Nina said.
    â€œOh, you know that too?” Benjamin said.
    â€œSure. We have known each other forever, Benjamin.”
    â€œMmm. I just didn’t realize you were observing me,” Benjamin said. “It makes me nervous.”
    â€œYou like being mysterious,” Nina said.
    â€œWhat is this? Nina Freud time? I should have had Zoey take me.”
    â€œComing to a corner. Sixth Street. We have to cross here. Execute right turn.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œLight’s red.”
    â€œI know. I can hear the traffic moving past. The cars over there”—he pointed to his left—“are waiting for the light to change. I could probably have done this on my own. It’s just three sides of a square, right? Then we hook back up with Mainsail.”
    Nina sighed. “It’s a good thing I don’t wait around for you to be grateful. It would be such a long wait.”
    Benjamin grinned. “Sorry, kid. I am grateful.”
    â€œCome on. Curb. Can I ask you a favor?”
    â€œHow can I say no? You could just spin me around and leave me to wander through traffic.”
    â€œI don’t like it very much when you call me kid. Curb, step up.”
    Benjamin stepped onto the curb, caught a seam of the sidewalk, and stumbled forward a bit before regaining his balance. “Hey, that was exciting.” He walked along, swinging his cane in a short arc to the right but relying on his contact with Ninafor truer guidance. “Why don’t you like me to call you kid? I’ve always called you kid.”
    â€œBecause I’m not a kid,” Nina said a little heatedly.
    â€œOh. All right, if you say so. It’s just that the only picture I still have of you in my mind was when I was twelve, so you were, what, nine or ten? You were a kid then. I have this image of you with your hair cut short, with barrettes. And I think you had braces.”
    â€œThat’s how you think of me? Braces on my teeth and really bad hair? Jeez, what a sad thought,” Nina said. “But you’ve missed most of my later zit phase, so I guess it isn’t all bad.”
    â€œI have no idea what you look like now,” Benjamin admitted. “I have no idea how anyone’s looks may have changed in the last seven years.” He laughed to lighten the mood. “It used to be strange when I was going out with your sister. The Claire I was making out with looked about ten in my mind. Slightly bizarre at times.”
    â€œFortunately for you, by the time Claire was ten she already looked like she was twenty,” Nina muttered.
    â€œAnyway,” Benjamin said, fighting off a wave of sadness at the mention of Claire. They had broken up only a short while ago. He hadn’t even begun to get over her. He wasn’t sure he wanted to