The Amazing Wolf Boy

Part 22 - A Dead Ostrich

I didn’t go to school that day. It was a tough decision. On one hand, I wanted to see Brittany so bad it made my back teeth ache. And other parts, too. Just thinking about her did things to my body I could never tell my mother.

On the other hand, I had a belly full of ham bones. They felt like rocks.

Howard stopped by mid-morning. He chanted over the dead ostrich, something lilting and incomprehensible. He then announced that he wanted to save the feathers and tasked me with pulling them off. It wasn’t difficult, but I had to wear work gloves because, as it turns out, feathers are sharp. The carcass reeked, and I didn’t enjoy sitting next to it for a couple hours in the growing heat.

As I worked, I noticed its neck was broken, the skin torn almost like bitten, but the rest of it appeared to be in good shape. Not what you would expect after being hit by a truck. When I finished plucking, I watched Howard butcher the bird. It was cool. I’d seen internal organs before, of course, but never in something so big.

Later that day, a Big Brown truck delivered a package from my parents. I didn’t want to open it, but my uncle hung over my shoulder like it was Christmas. It was filled with lightweight clothing and even a few swimming trunks. Like I knew anyone with a pool. At the bottom of the box, I found three pairs of shoes and some rolled up posters from my room. And my mp3 player. I was glad to see that.

There was also a note.

Contrary to what you must believe, I do love you,

and I only wish the best for you. — Mom

Tears filled my eyes, but I couldn’t cry in front of Uncle Bob and Howard, so I acted mad instead. I piled everything back in the box and shoved it on the floor of my closet. Except the iPod. I kept that.

We ate ostrich all weekend. It tasted good. Not like chicken at all. My uncle never gave details of how the bird died. The episode seemed to upset him.

***

When I arrived at school on Monday, Maxwell and Lonnie were waiting for me.

“Eff’s back,” Maxwell said.

I nodded. “Old raccoon eyes, eh?”

“Nah. You should see him.” Lonnie laughed. “The black has slid under his chin, and his cheeks are green and yellow.”

“He looks like a ghoul.” Maxwell chortled.

I frowned. The worse Eff looked, the more humiliated he’d feel—and the madder he’d be at me.

“Just wanted to give you a heads up,” Maxwell said, “you know, in case he tries to get even or anything.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

Eff and crew glared at me all through PE. I had to admit, he did look like a ghoul. I’d have to remember to punch him out again right before Halloween. The thought brought a chuckle. I guess they knew I was laughing at him because their glares intensified, and they put their heads together as if planning something.

All thought of Eff and his anticipated payback whooshed out of my brain when I saw Brittany sitting at our table at lunch. After three days without seeing her, I felt like an addict getting the shakes. I’d brown-bagged an ostrich sandwich, so I bypassed the line, hit the machine for a couple of Dews, and hurried over to her.

She put out her hand. “Give me your phone.”

I handed her my cell and sat down, watching her program her number into my contacts.

“There,” she said. “Now you have no excuse not to call.”

I took back the phone, staring at it in amazement. “Does this mean we’re, like, um…”

She made a tsking sound and flipped her head. She’d dyed her bangs cherry-red over the weekend, and they fell over one eye. “No,” she drawled. “It means we have to study twice as much. We have a history test coming up, and I need to practice our Napoleon songs.”

I leaned back, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. Okay, she wasn’t interested in anything boyfriend-girlfriend. At least, she wanted me around.

So we went to her place after school. I felt more at ease this time. I even walked into the kitchen without being shown the way.

The slow cooker held something spicy again. “Vegetarian chili,” Brittany said, stirring the pot. “All fresh. My mother and I went to the Farmer’s Market yesterday.”

“In January?”

“Sure. Florida has lots of winter crops. They’d burn to a crisp in summer.”

That sounded ominous. I wondered what I was in for, turning into a wolf in the summer heat. “Well, I’m glad you got to spend Sunday with your mother.” I knew how much I missed mine, even if I was still sore about being kicked to the curb.

“Yeah, it’s confusing, right? I don’t know whether I want to spend more time or less time together. She drives me crazy. But we had a nice day yesterday. She didn’t even complain about my hair.”

“I like it, by the way.”

“You do?” She looked at me through her red swag and smiled.

I sighed. I couldn’t help myself. She was that cute.

“Too floppy, even when I gel it.” She brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “I swear, someday I’m going to shave my head.”

“Then you could tattoo your scalp. Little snakes coiled all over. It’ll look like hair until you get close.”

“Tattoos aren’t my thing.”

“Henna, then. I can do the artwork.”

“That actually sounds cool.”

I grinned, pleased to have impressed her. We sat at the kitchen table. I had math homework because I’d missed school on Friday, and she had her history book. We’d just settled when Grandpa Earle came in.

“Ah, the fix-it boy,” he said without looking at me. “You here again?”

“His name is Cody, Grandpa,” Brittany said.

He poured a glass of water from a pitcher in the fridge. “The faucet in the bathroom is drippy.”

“We’re studying,” Brittany said with exasperation.

“It probably needs a washer,” I said. “I’ll bring one the next time I come by.”

He looked at me. “You should keep your tools on your belt.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, smiling. A lesser guest might feel putout about being asked to work around someone’s home. I felt accepted, like I was already one of the clan. Watching Grandpa Earle shamble out of the kitchen, I decided I kind of liked the old guy.