Read Online Bingo Brown's Guide to Romance by Betsy Byars - Free Book Online Page B

about?”
    â€œWar.”
    â€œWar?”
    â€œYes.”
    Wentworth had looked interested. “Nam or Gulf?”
    â€œCivil.”
    â€œCivil? Hey, let me see that book. Are there any pictures?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œGive it here anyway.”
    And before Bingo knew what was happening, Wentworth was reading aloud and he, Bingo, was lying there on the grass, listening to him.
    â€œThat’s the end of the dialogue for a while,” Wentworth was saying. “I’m glad about that, aren’t you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI don’t see how actors stand it. I could never be an actor.”
    â€œNo.”
    Wentworth picked up the narrative. “ ‘A shell, screaming like a—’ ” Wentworth paused to sound out a word. “Ban-shee. Who ever heard of a ban-shee? I swear that’s what it says. You can look if you don’t believe me.”
    â€œI believe you.”
    â€œWhat will they come up with next. ‘—screaming like a banshee went over the huddled heads of the reserves. It landed in the—’ ”
    Suddenly Wentworth stopped reading. Bingo waited, thinking he was getting ready to sound out a word, but he heard the sound of the book being slammed shut.
    â€œHey, I almost forgot what I came over for,” Wentworth said. “Am I getting stupid or what?” He slapped the side of his head as if to activate his brain.
    Bingo didn’t answer. He had pushed his new glasses up on his forehead, but now he pulled them down and looked at Wentworth. Wentworth didn’t look much better, but Bingo liked to have an excuse—however feeble—to push his glasses up and down.
    â€œI came in the house,” Wentworth began, “and my sister said, ‘A girl called and wants you to call her back. Her number’s by the phone.’
    â€œI look at the number and I recognize it as the Weez’s. See, I been dialing Weezie’s number lately—I don’t know why—every time I pass the phone, I dial the Weez. I hang up as soon as anybody answers, so nobody knows it’s me, but I’m beginning to wonder why I do it. I don’t want to talk to her. I just want to dial her number. I’m getting so I don’t like to pass the phone anymore.
    â€œAnyway, I recognize the number and I dial it. And, Bingo, it takes all my strength not to hang up when someone answers. I was proud of myself.”
    Bingo continued to watch Wentworth, though his eyes closed from time to time, as if he were watching bad television.
    â€œSo I don’t get Weez. I get Shirl—that’s Melissa’s sister. Shirl wants to talk. She says, ‘You were over here the other day, weren’t you?’
    â€œI said, ‘Maybe.’ I don’t give anything away for free.
    â€œShe said, ‘Were you the big one in camouflage or the one with freckles?’
    â€œI said, ‘Do I sound like the one with freckles?’
    â€œShe said, ‘No.’
    â€œI said, ‘Well, I didn’t dial this number to be insulted.’
    â€œShe said, ‘Why did you dial it?’
    â€œI said, ‘The Weez wanted me to.’ That ends the conversation. She yells, ‘Weeee-zie!’ Weezie comes to the phone.
    â€œWeezie is naturally jealous that I’ve been talking to Shirl, but finally she comes out with the reason for the call.”
    â€œWhat was the reason for the call?”
    â€œMelissa’s coming over.”
    Bingo’s eyes unglazed.
    â€œOver here?” Bingo went up on one elbow.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWhat did she tell you—exactly?”
    â€œShe said, ‘Do you think Bingo’s home?’
    â€œI said, ‘Who wants to know?’ I don’t give anything away for free.
    â€œShe said, ‘Melissa.’
    â€œI said, ‘Melissa?’—like I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
    â€œShe said, ‘Yes, Melissa.’
    â€œI said,