Written on My Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

basic training. In less than a month, he would head for the war in Vietnam.
    Bud wasn’t going near Vietnam or anywhere else, for that matter. His number had come up in the draft lottery and he had gone for his physical, but he had been declared unfit for service. As a baby, he had developed near-fatal pneumonia and his lungs were scarred. He also suffered from asthma from time to time.
    Although he had dreaded being picked for the draft, his 4-F status had bothered him. “Thought that might happen,” he told me. “Didn’t want to go anyways. Stupid to go fight someplace I have to look up on a map.” After saying that, he had taken a long walk, which was something he did when he had to think.
    â€œYou like the army?” I asked Glen as we shuffled through our clumsy dance.
    Glen shrugged. “It’ll keep me off the streets,” he said. “When I come back, I’m going fishing. You hold Leeman’s boat for me, maybe?”
    â€œWe’ll keep her for you,” I said, hopeful that my father’s lobster boat, the
Florine
, might get to do what she’d been built for, once again. As of now, she sat in her cradle on dry ground in Daddy’s yard across the street.
    When the song ended, Glen bent and kissed me on the forehead. “You send me pictures of the baby? It’s almost like it was mine.”
    â€œHow do you mean that?” I asked with a grin.
    He blushed. “I mean . . . Well, you know what I mean. All of us have been so close.”
    â€œI know,” I said. “I’m teasing you. I’m glad you’re going to be in this baby’s life.” A touch of nausea made me dizzy and I grabbed Glen’s arm. “Sit me down, would you?” I said to him.
    He led me over to a line of metal folding chairs set before the peoniesand I plunked down onto the warm metal surface of one of them. Bees buzzed and wove their way through the garden. A flower brushed my cheek and I buried my nose in its silky folds. The baby kicked me a couple of times and then settled. Maureen put “Going to the Chapel” onto the record player and almost everyone started to dance, except Dottie, who stomped her way across the lawn, tugging at her dress as she came toward me.
    She sat down beside me and we watched the dancers for a few minutes. Pastor Billy hopped and bopped with Maureen, twirling her in circles as she giggled and tried not to get jumbled up in her legs.
    â€œAin’t that cute,” Dottie said. We turned our attention to Evie, who was dancing with Glen. The red dress she wore was so tight it might as well have been body dye. Her little butt wriggled its way up to the tips of her fingers and down to her toes. “Looks like she’s been practicing,” I said.
    â€œFor what, I’m not sure,” Dottie said. “Whatever it is, it’s packed with trouble.”
    â€œThink Glen notices?” I said. He grinned like a fool as Evie spun around him like a curvy tornado, laughing with her mouth open wide.
    â€œHave to be blind not to,” Dottie said.
    â€œSpeaking of Evie, how’s my makeup?” I asked.
    Dottie produced a crumpled Kleenex from the pocket of her dress. She dabbed it here and there on my face, pocketed the tissue, and squirmed in her chair.
    â€œTake off the dress if you want,” I said.
    â€œNah. I’ll wear it for a little longer. Someday, you’ll owe me a favor, and I can use this to remind you of all I’ve done for you in my life.”
    â€œI do appreciate everything you’ve done,” I said. “By the way, I might need you to babysit sometimes.”
    â€œThat’s something else I get to do for you,” Dottie said. “What you doing for me?”
    â€œMaking you an unofficial aunt,” I said. “Something happens to me, you take the baby? You okay with that?” When she didn’t say anything, I looked at her. “You