Dirty Faces - Book 2

Chapter 3: About that Louisiana Purchase

Chapter 3: About that Louisiana Purchase

Kody held the door for Adam as he hobbled inside with his heavy book-filled satchel. It was the least he could do, he supposed, because he'd learned a while back that offering to carry that satchel up the stairs for him offended Adam a good deal. His cousin dropped the satchel by the door and headed straight to the back bedroom, like he did every day. Kody wiped his wet boots on the mat one more time before daring to step inside onto Mama's pristine kitchen floor.

He set his books on the table and sat himself down to get started on his homework. His stepfather would be back from his latest run this evening and if he had his homework done, he could go straight to bed after supper.

Just as he turned to the page he'd marked in his history book, Mama walked into the kitchen, having been relieved of her bedside duties. "Hey, darlin'," she said. She looked tired, but then, too, that was how she usually looked lately.

"Hey, Mama."

"Where's your sister?" she asked, as she set to putting on another pot of coffee.

"In the truck."

Mama turned around. "Why?"

"She's drawing."

"And she can't do that in here?"

"Something about the rain. Said she wanted to draw the puddles or something like that."

She frowned then turned back to the percolator. "Well, alright then."

Kody began reading the assigned passage. The sounds of Mama busying herself in the kitchen, and the falling rain outside, and the quiet coming from Granny's room made for a rare, peaceful moment in the cramped little apartment. "Oh!" Mama said suddenly, startling him.

"What is it?"

She began shuffling through the stack of bills on the counter. "You got mail today." She produced from the pile an envelope addressed just to Kody and handed it to him. He fought the urge to laugh as the mental image of Jack trying to figure out which end of the pencil to use to write a letter flashed through his mind. He glanced down at the envelope and was surprised to find that the handwriting on it was legible; this was not a letter from Jack. He slid it under the history book and continued reading.

"Well, aren't you gonna read it?" Mama asked.

"I will. After I'm done with this homework."

Mama shook her head. "Always so serious." She moved on to heating up the stove to warm up the little bowl of mashed potatoes that had been sitting on the counter. When the potatoes were heated to her satisfaction, she put them back in the little bowl and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Maybe Adam can get her to eat something," she said, sounding just as tired as she looked. "She likes him best." Then she headed back to the back bedroom, mashed potatoes and coffee in hand.

When Mama had been gone a few minutes and Kody was sure she wouldn't be coming back to the kitchen any time soon, he pulled out the letter and opened it. He couldn't keep the corners of his lips from turning upward as he read; it was from her. It wasn't much, just a page, in fact, but it was enough. When he was finished reading, he was happier than he'd been in a long time, but he also felt worse than ever about having told her he would write her when he'd had no intention of doing so. But maybe now he could make it right.

He opened up his school notebook to the first blank page and began furiously writing down the thoughts swirling in his head. Then he laid down the pencil and reconsidered. Maybe he shouldn't. He shouldn't get close to anybody, especially her. That way, when he was finished with high school, he could leave that dirty little town in his dust, where it belonged, and not have to worry about severing any ties. He chewed on his bottom lip as he considered all the 'buts' and 'what-ifs', then he picked up the pencil and continued writing. May as well write while it was fresh on his mind. He could choose whether or not to mail it later.