The Wild Kid Read Online Free PDF Page B

step without looking back to see if you’re leaving a trail,” Kevin said.
    â€œStep and look,” Sammy said.
    â€œNow you got it. I’m careful. If I sniff danger, I’m a tree. K-Man can do that. I go out when nobody’s in the woods, in a storm, when the wind blows. I don’t go out when there’s snow. Then I stay put. I hibernate like a bear; I sleep a lot. Only when the snow melts do I venture out.” Suddenly Kevin stabbed at the ground with his snake stick.
    Sammy jumped. No snake, but after that, he couldn’t step high enough.
    They came to a cut in the woods with power lines running overhead. Power lines, Sammy thought, went to houses. Kevin must be taking him home! It was going to be a big surprise.
    Kevin stopped near some bushes and pointed to a branch that was bent over and hooked to the ground. “Snare.” He knelt down and adjusted a loop of twine.
    â€œWhat’s that for?”
    â€œCatching rabbits.”
    â€œRabbits? What for?”
    Kevin looked into Sammy’s face. “I eat them.” He moved to another snare. He had a bunch of them.
    â€œYou eat bunny rabbits?” Sammy said.
    â€œYes, and you’ll eat them, too.”
    Sammy knew he’d never eat rabbits. “Are you taking me home?”
    Kevin wasn’t listening. He was getting mad all over again. Every snare he’d set was empty.

13

    There was no light, and Sammy didn’t hear anything, not even Kevin breathing and muttering the way he usually did. “Kevin?” He pulled his blanket over his head. It smelled funny. Was he asleep or awake? Sometimes he was asleep and thought he was awake. Maybe Kevin was dead. Maybe there was no Kevin. Maybe an animal had chewed him up and would chew Sammy up next.
    He made a big growly noise with his voice, then felt around and found a stick. Holding it made him feel braver. He sat with his knees up, and the stick ready. If a rat came out, he’d hit it on the head. He banged the stick down. It was good to have a plan. Plans made things better. That’s what Mrs. Hoffman said. His plan was, sit up this way all night, and in the morning, if Kevin wasn’t here, he’d find those power lines and go home. That was a good plan.
    He was still sitting up, but asleep, when Kevin came back. Kevin lit a candle, then dropped his knapsack on the floor. “Free food,” he said. He pulled out a melon, some rolls, pieces of fried chicken, and other stuff. “Dig in,” he said, taking a piece of pizza.
    Sammy reached for the chicken. It looked like somebody had bitten into it, but it tasted good. He ate it all, then a slice of pizza, then he reached for the chicken again. He put a lot of food in his mouth, like Kevin. At home, he had to chew each mouthful with his mouth closed. And no grabbing. And you waited until you were served.
    â€œThis is good food,” he said.
    â€œIt’s garbage. Man, people throw away good food all the time.”
    â€œGarbage?”
    â€œYeah. You’re eating garbage.” Kevin wiped his hands on his pants. “Tastes pretty good, doesn’t it?”
    Sammy burped. “This is delicious garbage.” He burped again. Then Kevin burped, a really loud one.
    â€œI don’t bring back everything. This is the best of it. Garbage can kill you, too. When I was a little kid, I’d put anything in my mouth. Once, I ate bad meat from the neighbor’s garbage. I was four or five. I puked up all over myself, and the neighbor lady took me to the hospital. That was the time they took all us kids away.”
    â€œWhere’d they take you?”
    â€œInto foster care. I didn’t even know what was good for me. I wanted to go back to my mother, I was that stupid.” He put the remains of the food in the pizza box. “I think of her now, and depending how I feel, I’m sorry for her. Stupid cow. I don’t know why I’m sorry. She never watched out