Read Online Boys & Girls Together by William Goldman - Free Book Online Page B

spray the garden.”
    “You gonna get me wet?”
    “How can I get you wet? The water’s not turned on.”
    That was true. Walt took the hose from his brother. “Now what?”
    “Just hold it. Whatsa matter, doncha trust me?”
    “No.”
    “Well, just hold it.” Arnold walked toward the house. “That’s a nice suit, Walt. I really like that suit.”
    “You do?”
    “Yeah. You really look good in it. No kidding.”
    “It comes all the way from St. Louis.”
    “It does?”
    “Mama helped me buy it. She drove me in the car.”
    “No kidding?”
    “You really like it?”
    “I’ll say I do. I wish I had a suit like that. Hey, Walt, is there something stuck in the end of the hose?”
    “I don’t see—” The water gushed from the nozzle, drenching his body, turning the blue suit a darker blue.
    Walt fled toward the house but Arnold grabbed him. “Don’t you tell them or you’ll really get it.”
    Walt broke free and continued his run, Arnold’s laughter keeping him company.
    “Hey, Goofy.” (It was Walt’s birthday, and he was in his room, getting ready for a boat ride on the Mississippi with his mother.)
    “What’d you close the door for?”
    Arnold leaned against the door. “No special reason.”
    “What do you have behind your back?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Then let me see your hands.”
    “Sure.” Arnold brought one hand out, opened it, put it behind his back, then brought out the other hand. “See? Nothing.”
    “Both at the same time, I meant.”
    Arnold crossed to the bed, keeping his hands behind his back. “That boat ride sure oughta be fun.”
    Walt continued getting dressed, keeping an eye on his brother.
    “Ice cream and cake. All you can eat. That’s what I heard Mother tell P.T.”
    “You did?”
    “That’s right. All the chocolate cake you can eat. Hey, Walt. Guess what I found today?”
    “I give up.”
    “Oh, go on, guess.”
    “I’m late, Arnold.”
    “Guess.”
    “What have you got behind your back, Arnold?”
    “Jar.”
    “What’s in it?”
    “Guess.”
    “Cut it out, Arnold.”
    “You know what I got.”
    “Don’t.”
    “Donchaknow?”
    “ Spider! ” Walt said and he bolted for the door but Arnold blocked him. Walt retreated.
    Arnold waved the jar at him. “Baby. It can’t hurt you. Not while it’s in the jar. I wonder what would happen if it got out?” He twisted the cap and then the spider was crawling crazily on the rug.
    “Arnold—”
    “If they hear you, you’re dead, you know that.”
    “Please, Arnold.”
    “Eat the spider.”
    “No.”
    “Yes. Eat the spider.”
    “Please.”
    Arnold scooped it up and ran for Walt, grabbing him, forcing him down, pushing the twisted black mass toward Walt’s face. Walt screamed and got sick on the rug.
    “Hey, four eyes.” (It was suppertime and Maudie was feeding them at the kitchen table while she and the other servants served cocktails to company in the living room far away.)
    Walt silently finished his mashed potatoes.
    “You better answer me, Egbert. You know what’ll happen if you don’t.”
    Maudie came in, big and black, and took their plates, depositing them in the sink. She crossed to the icebox door and brought out two large bowls of chocolate pudding. “Surprise,” she said as she set the bowls in front of them.
    “Oh boy,” Walt said. “Oh boy.” Maudie turned and left the room. Walt picked up his spoon.
    “Wait!” Arnold said.
    Walt looked over at him, spoon poised.
    “Don’t touch that. There’s something wrong with it.”
    “Oh, you don’t fool me, Arnold. Not this time, you don’t.”
    “I’m not trying to fool you.”
    “You just want my pudding, I know. Well, you can’t have it.”
    “I don’t want your pudding, Berty. I don’t even want mine.” He pushed his plate a few inches away.
    “Why don’t you?”
    “Because there’s something wrong with it.” He sniffed his pudding. “It’s spoiled or something. Smell it yourself if you don’t believe