Read Online Al Capone Does My Homework by Gennifer Choldenko - Free Book Online Page A

hands in surrender. “Got two bucks, thirty cents says you can get this cap past the
     barrel and I can’t.”
    “What if we both make it?” I ask.
    “You’ll get the whole kitty: two bucks, thirty cents.”
    “So wait. I get all the money if we both get it past? That doesn’t seem fair.”
    Donny nods. “Be worth it to see how you do things. Your arm in action. Be an education.”
    Theresa frowns. “Moose could show you without a bet.”
    “Sure,” I say, the pressure in my chest easing.
    Donny shakes his head. “You should be paid for your time. Make it worth your while,”
     he tells me like he’s my coach.
    “Hey, thanks,” I say, standing up a little straighter. He’s probably just doing this
     on account of he feels bad for me, but I like it anyway.
    “It’s not that far,” Piper adds, eyeing the drum. “Even I could make it.”
    “I don’t think so, boss,” Theresa tells her.
    Donny nods to Piper, talking to her as if she’s somebody too. “You want to bet on
     Moose or on yourself?”
    “Moose,” Theresa answers for her.
    Donny’s eyes don’t leave Piper’s face. “I asked Piper.”
    “Moose,” Piper says.
    “Looks like she’s your girlfriend to me,” Donny whispers. “All right then.” He takes
     a small piece of white chalk out of his pocket and marks an X on the dock boards.
     “You go first.”
    Donny sinks back on his heels. “Call me a fool. I mean, you guys play all the time,
     but I’m gonna give it a shot.” He smiles. “You first, Moose. Got to see what I’m up
     against.”
    I put my feet on the X, take a bottle cap from his cool palm, and pitch it hard and
     fast in a direct line. It hits the wood, bounces once, then stops next to the drum.
     Not a bad throw. Not bad at all.
    “Made it,” I say.
    “Nice,” Donny says. “But it didn’t go past.”
    “It’s even with it. Not past it,” Theresa agrees.
    My stomach sinks. First I fall asleep when I’m supposed to be babysitting, then I
     can’t execute a simple throw. What’s the matter with me? A warden’s kid is supposed
     to be better than this. Still, if I can’t do it, I doubt Donny will be able to either.
    Donny takes his hat off, smoothes his hair back. “Might as well face the music here.”
     He fingers the bottle cap.
    Donny looks carefully at the drum, winds up, but doesn’t let go, winds up again and
     lets it fly. I’m pretty sure from the way his arm moves, I’ve got him beat, but the
     bottle cap cuts through the air like a skipping stone. It arcs higher than mine and
     lands a good five feet farther. Clearly beyond the drum.
    “Would you look at that? You really are a good teacher! Then again, probably just
     dumb luck,” Donny says. “What say we try again? Double or nothing.”
    I shake my head a firm no.
    “You sure?” Donny asks. “You almost had me. I got lucky is all. Bottle caps threw
     you off your game. Takes a time or two to get used to them is all. We’ll try your
     baseball next time.” He shoves his hand in his pocket and jingles the change in there.
     “I’m not going to keep your money. We’ll chalk it up to practice.”
    “It’s only fair. We had a bet. Moose
lost,
” Piper says.
    I wish she would keep her mouth shut. Maybe she’s got money to burn, but the rest
     of us don’t.
    “He’s going to be a man about it too. Honor his bets. Moose is a stand-up guy.” Donny
     smiles at me.
    “Don’t you want some more tips from him?” Theresa asks.
    “Sure thing.” Donny pulls the brim of his hat down low. “But we got to get on the
     boat here, missy,” he says.
    We all look out to where the bow of the
Coxe
is cutting through the fog toward us.
    This was all just a distraction to make me feel better and we both know it. He’ll
     return our money. Course he will. But when the ferry puts down the gangplank, he gets
     on without looking back.

12. Just Plain Mean
    Tuesday, January 21, 1936
    By the time I get to school, Piper has told every last person