The Same Stuff as Stars Read Online Free PDF Page B

heading right back to—Bernie Elvis Morgan! Can’t you do nothing right?” Verna slid to the left and jumped to her feet in one quick motion. Bernie had knocked his soda over, and it was pouring across the tabletop right toward where her lap had been. Angel ran for napkins and came back with a handful. Bernie’s face was scrunched up, ready to bawl.
    â€œDon’t cry, Bernie,” Angel begged as she tried desperately to sop up the sticky liquid. “You can have mine.”
    â€œI’ll see you kids in the truck.” Verna snatched her purse off the table and stomped out.
    â€œGet up, Bernie.” Angel was frantic. “Here, take your Happy Meal. You can eat in the truck.” She dropped the sopping napkins on the table, grabbed what was left of her burger in one hand and her mother’s coffee in the other, and, half pushing Bernie ahead of her, hurried to the truck. It was still there. She went around to the driver’s side. “I brought your coffee, Mama.”
    Verna rolled down her window and took the Styrofoam cup, nodding a begrudging thanks. She was furious. “He didn’t mean to, Mama,” Angel said. “He was tired and sleepy. It was my fault. I made him come in.”
    â€œI swear, I don’t know what I’m going to do with you kids.”
    â€œWe’ll be good, Mama. Could you—could you please unlock the other door?”
    â€œOh, for pity sake, Angel.” She stretched over and pulled up the button.
    Bernie was standing crying beside the truck, his fries in one hand and the action figures and his half-eaten burger clutched together in the other. Angel reached up and opened the door for him. “You want to sit by Mama or you want the window?” she asked quietly.
    â€œWindow.” He mouthed the word.

 
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    FOUR
The Other Side of the Mountain
    Verna juggled the coffee, changed gears, and steered, all at the same time. Couldn’t she see how dangerous that was? Besides, she hadn’t fastened her seat belt.
    â€œWant me to hold your coffee?”
    â€œHuh? No. I can manage.”
    Angel opened her mouth to object, but closed it again without saying anything. She took a bite of her burger and chewed. Something the size of a golf ball was blocking her throat, and it was hard to swallow. “Eat, Bernie,” she commanded out of the side of her mouth.
    â€œShe promised me a double bacon cheeseburger and a chocolate milk shake,” he muttered.
    â€œShe was just pretending, Bernie.”
    â€œWell, I wudn’t pretending.”
    â€œBetter just eat what you got.”
    â€œWhere’s my soda?”
    â€œYou spilled it, remember?”
    â€œYou said I could have yours.”
    â€œI couldn’t carry it, Bernie. I had my hands full.”
    â€œI need something to drink.” His voice was louder now. Verna was sure to hear him whining.
    â€œShh, Bernie, please. I can’t help it. Just eat what you got. Mama’ll get you a drink next time we stop.”
    â€œAnd when is that going to be? Never. Never. Never. Never.”
    â€œShut up whining, Bernie. I’m trying to drive,” Verna said.
    â€œSee, Bernie, you’re bothering Mama.”
    â€œI don’t care. I want a milk shake and I want it now. Right this minute.”
    Verna jerked the pickup over and slammed on the brakes. “I’ve had enough of your whining, Bernie Elvis. Now you shut up or get out of this truck and walk.”
    â€œMama!” Angel cried. “She doesn’t mean it, Bernie.”
    â€œThe hell I don’t. Now, are you going to shut up and eat your food or what?”
    â€œShuddup and eat my food,” said Bernie, his voice tiny and trembly. Verna shouldn’t scare him like that. He was only a little kid.
    â€œThat’s better.” Verna pulled out into the road again. “I don’t mean to be ugly to you kids, but I got my limits.