Read Online Alabama Moon by Watt Key - Free Book Online Page B

TV!”
    â€œIt’s the wild boy!”
    I watched as everyone gathered around me. I paid the most attention to the tallest boy, who seemed to be moving through the others to get closer. In a moment, he was standing before me, staring at my face poking from the blankets. “You that wild kid?”
    â€œI don’t know,” I said.
    â€œYou the one got arrested yesterday?”
    â€œYeah.”
    He turned to the others and then to me again. “You don’t look so tough.”
    I sized him up. He was about twice my weight and height. “I can whip
you
,” I said.
    His face went red. He reached out to grab me, but I was ready for him. I swung my arm from under the blanket and hit him open-handed across the face. At the same time, I leaped up and stood on my bunk. The boys cheered and began gathering closer. The big kid recovered and grabbed for my feet. I danced around the top of the bed and avoided his hands for a few seconds, but he finally got me and I fell onto the mattress. He dragged me towards him. I took my free foot and slammed it against the other, knocking his fingers between the knobs of my ankles. He yelled and let go. About that time, I heard something smack against the hall door, and the crowd grew silent. I rolled onto my back and propped myself on my elbows and looked in the direction of the sound. Mr. Carter stood there holding a club.
    â€œEverybody to their bunks. Now! You’ll stand there until suppertime if I hear another word.”
    Everyone began to find their beds. The boy who’d come after me was three bunks towards the door on the bottom. He turned and gave me a mean stare.
    â€œHal Mitchell,” Mr. Carter said. “I want you in the center of the floor.”
    Hal moaned and stepped to the middle of the room and faced Mr. Carter with his jaw set tight. It looked like somebody had painted a red hand on his cheek.
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œThe little runt popped me across the face.”
    â€œWho?”
    Hal rolled his eyes at the ceiling. “The cave boy.”
    â€œHis name’s Moon.”
    â€œWhatever.”
    Mr. Carter walked towards Hal. “Why’d he slap you?”
    Hal raised one shoulder like he didn’t care. “I don’t know.”
    Mr. Carter towered over him. “I don’t imagine you were provokin’ him?”
    Hal shrugged.
    â€œYou sleep outside tonight. No supper.”
    Hal set his jaw tightly and stared at Mr. Carter. “What?”
    Mr. Carter didn’t change his expression, but pointed to the door leading into the play yard. “Outside.”
    â€œAre you serious!”
    â€œNow.”
    â€œYou can’t do that!”
    â€œSays who?”
    â€œSays . . . Well, you just can’t.”
    â€œNow!” Mr. Carter’s voice boomed and I thought I saw Hal jump a little beneath his uniform. Hal began to walk towards his bed.
    â€œWhere you goin’?”
    â€œGet my blanket and pillow. It’s cold out there.”
    â€œNext time you ask me first, you hear?”
    I saw Hal’s face go red. “I might.”
    The room was silent. Hal reached out for his pillow, but Mr. Carter took two steps and grabbed him by the shirt collar. He lifted Hal like a scarecrow and dragged him across the room. He hung there, red-faced and coughing against the shirt that pressed into his throat. In less than two seconds, the door was flung open, and he was shoved outside. Mr.Carter walked over to the bed and grabbed the blanket and pillow. He returned to the door and threw them out into the yard, pulled the door shut, and turned to face the room. He pressed his fingers together and cracked his knuckles. “I catch any of you lettin’ him back in here, you’ll be spendin’ the night out there, too. Now, go back to your business. Mrs. Broomstead said she’ll ring the supper bell in ten minutes.”
    Mr. Carter walked out and I lay on my side