Read Online Buddy by M.H. Herlong - Free Book Online

it’s fine but I have to pay him some for the gas. Tanya says I can use her markers to make my signs.
    The next day I sit down at the table and start making signs. Tanya wants to help, but she still makes some of her letters backwards so nobody can read anything she writes. Jamilla would have been a big help but there ain’t nothing I can do about that. So all by myself I make up a whole pile of signs that say I’ll mow a lawn for five dollars. I put our phone number on them. Then I start walking the streets looking for houses to leave them at.
    Most of the people, I know. I always knock on the door and if nobody answers, I just leave it in the mailbox. Sometimes somebody comes to the door. At J-Boy’s house, his mama comes to the door in her nightgown. I give her the note and she looks at it and says, “Ain’t you J-Boy’s friend?” and I say, “Yes,” and she says do I know where he is and I say no. Then she shuts the door.
    By the time I get home, two people have already called and all a sudden, I’m in business.
    â€œWhat are you going to call your company?” Granpa T says.
    â€œLi’l T’s Lawn Mowing Service,” I say.
    Granpa T nods. “Got a ring to it,” he says.

    The very next day I take the lawn mower out and tell Buddy good-bye and head off down the street. I mow three different lawns. I’ve got three five-dollar bills sitting in my pocket and every single one of those people said for me to come back next week. I’m rolling my lawn mower back to the house and I’m thinking maybe somebody else has called while I was gone when I look up and I see J-Boy walking up the sidewalk. We ain’t talked since school let out.
    â€œS’up?” he says. He don’t smile or nothing.
    â€œNot much,” I say.
    â€œSo are you mowing those lawns?” he says.
    I nod. The sweat’s rolling into my eyes and I wipe it out.
    â€œThat’s hard work for slow money,” he says.
    â€œMoney’s money,” I say, and look down at the lawn mower. It’s got new grass all stuck on the sides. The rubber gripping part under my hands is starting to work loose.
    J-Boy takes one finger and rubs it across under his nose. I can’t help it. I see he’s starting a mustache.
    â€œSo where is that dog?” he says.
    â€œHe’s in the back. Do you want to see him?”
    We stand there another second. J-Boy’s looking off down the street. He hikes up his pants a little.
    â€œYou don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I say.
    â€œI’ll come.” He follows me through the gate while I’m pushing the lawn mower to the back.
    We turn the corner around the house and there’s Buddy, standing in the door of the shed, his tail whacking back and forth.
    â€œHey, Buddy,” I say, and drop on my knees in front of him. “You miss me? You miss me, boy?” I’m rubbing his head. He’s licking my face. His whole body’s shaking, he’s so glad to see me. “This is J-Boy,” I say to Buddy. “From down the street.”
    J-Boy’s hanging back. His hands are shoved into his pockets.
    Buddy’s looking up at him and grinning.
    â€œHe likes you,” I tell J-Boy. “You can pet him if you want to.”
    J-Boy don’t move. He’s just looking at Buddy with his eyes squinched up.
    â€œIt’s okay,” I say. “He don’t bite.”
    â€œDid he get in a fight?” J-Boy says.
    I rub my finger across Buddy’s scar. “I guess,” I say. “That was there when we found him.”
    Buddy takes one limping step toward J-Boy and J-Boy steps back.
    â€œWhat happened to his leg?”
    â€œWhen we hit him with the car, it broke so bad, they had to cut it off.”
    Buddy’s tail is whacking against the door frame so I move over a little bit. Buddy limps along with me and now his tail’s free to swing