phone ring. I figured it was Melissa calling to see if I knew about the concert. I was in a hurry, because you know how she likes me to get it on that all-important first ring?â
Dunc nodded. He had given up arguing with Amos about Melissa. It was hopeless. Amos was convinced that the law of averages was in his favor. Melissa couldnât go on ignoring him forever.
âYou should have seen me, Dunc. I was really moving. I made it to my momâs bedroom door by the middle of that first ring, jumped for the center of the bed, and flattened out to reach the phone with my righthand. My fingertips were touching it. I almost did it this time.â
âAlmost?â
âJust as I started my jump, my toe caught the electric iron cord and jerked it out of the plug. The whole iron landed on the bed with me. You know, they really donât make those rubber waterbed mattresses like they used to. That iron melted a hole in it so quick, I nearly drowned.â
âDid you answer the phone?â
Amos shook his head. âAmy got to it first. She said it was an encyclopedia salesman and hung up. I think sheâs just jealous.â
âSo you had to pay off Amy to keep her quiet?â
Amos nodded. âYeah, we agreed to blame the whole thing on Scruff. She says the moneyâs just a loan. Of course she lies.â
Dunc rubbed his chin. âLet me see if I understand your problem correctly. Youâve got to have two tickets to a concert that takes place this weekend, theyâre selling out fast, you donât have any money or any possiblehope of getting any, and you want me to help.â
Amos nodded again. âThat about covers it. Got any ideas?â
⢠2
âThis isnât exactly what I had in mind. I was hoping you were going to be a little more creative.â Amos stepped off his bike and pushed it down the sidewalk behind the civic center.
âYou said you needed money.â Dunc pushed his bike behind Amos. âWhen I heard that Mr. Whitman, the manager of the civic center, had broken his leg and could use some help to get the place ready for the upcoming concert, I called and offered our services.â
âI know. But I wasnât thinking about gettinga job where you had to do work and stuff. Do you realize how big this place is?â
âWhat did you have in mind? Robbing a bank?â
âNo, better. I thought maybe we could stand on the sidewalk by a busy intersection with a sign that said âDonate to a Worthy Causeâ or something like that.â
Dunc stopped in front of a little white house in back of the civic center where Mr. Whitman lived. âSomehow I donât think getting you and Melissa tickets to a weirdo rock concert would qualify as a worthy cause.â
âYouâre really too hard on these guys. Sure they have a disgusting name, they paint their faces green and black, and their songs are awful, but other than that, theyâre okay.â
Dunc raised his hand to knock on the door. A little man with bushy white hair and a cast on his right leg pulled it open. âWhat can I do for you, sonny?â
âHi, Mr. Whitman. Itâs Dunc. Dunc Culpepper.Iâm the one who called you about the job cleaning the civic center.â
The old man scratched his head. âJob?â
âYou said we could sweep the center to get it ready for this weekendâs concert.â
âI did?â
Amos pulled on Duncâs sleeve. âHe obviously doesnât remember. Come on, itâs not too late to make it to the intersection and hold up that sign.â
Dunc shook Amosâs hand off. âDonât you remember, Mr. Whitman? The Road Kill concert. You said you needed some help getting ready for it.â
âWell, why didnât you say so, sonny? Of course I do. You boys follow me. Iâll show you what to do.â
Amos fell in behind Dunc. âI hope this doesnât take too long. I really
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