Read Online Cave Under the City by Harry; Mazer - Free Book Online Page A

moved. I was leaning against the car’s fender and he walked right by me and didn’t say a word.
    When I came to the edge of the lot, I threw the bundle over. Then I slid over the side, fell straight down into the bushes, and lay there. I heard a milk wagon pass, heard the steady clop clop clop of the horse’s hooves. The foggy sky was going soft and gray. A bird on a telephone pole sang. Sang and sang, the same thing, over and over again. Tolley, what are you doing? … Tolley, what are you doing? … Tolley …

19
    Bubber wasn’t in the cellar room. “Bubber?” I couldn’t see anything. I felt the bed. I felt under the newspapers. “Bubber.” I could hardly say his name. I struck a match. Then another one. They kept going out. I felt around the cot again. I heard something, the sound of breathing, that dog’s breath. Bubber was underneath the bed. He lay in the dirt staring at me.
    I lit another match. “What are you doing?” There were cobwebs on his face. “I just went to get our stuff from the house.”
    He stared at me. “What do you want?” I said. “I’m here. What did you wake up for, anyway?”
    â€œIs Momma home?”
    I pulled him out. “Not yet.”
    â€œIs Poppa home?”
    â€œNo!”
    His arms fell to his sides and he started to cry. I hated him when he cried. He cried with his eyes shut and his mouth open with drool coming out of it. “What can I do about it? Wipe that drool off your face. Here’s your stupid rabbit.”
    Bubber held the rabbit on his lap and he was talking to it silently, just moving his lips. He shook the rabbit’s head and it talked back to him. I was sure they were talking about me. “What did you say?”
    Bubber shook his head. “Rabbit says.”
    â€œWhat does rabbit say?”
    â€œTolley’s too rough. Tolley tore my ear off.”
    â€œI did not. That rabbit was torn when I got it.”
    Bubber put his arm around the rabbit. “Rabbit doesn’t like Tolley’s loud voice. He says poor Bubber woke up and mean Tolley was gone.”
    â€œOkay, next time I’ll wake both you and your rabbit up. Neither of you is that perfect, either. How about all the times I had to look for you?”
    â€œWhat times?”
    â€œWhat times! What have you got, a mind or a hole in your head? You’re always wandering off. ‘Where’s Bubber? Tolley, go find Bubber.’ I don’t get mad at you and hide under the bed and not talk.”
    â€œYou hit me.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œAll the time. You yank my arm. You push me.”
    â€œNot that hard.”
    â€œIt hurts, you always hurt me.”
    â€œI don’t do it on purpose.”
    â€œIt hurts!”
    â€œForget it, will you! From now on, you be the big brother. I resign.” I lay down, pulled a blanket over me. “Big brother Bubber, where are you? I’m hungry. I have to go doo-doo.”
    Bubber pushed me. “Stop it.”
    â€œThat hurts. You hurt me. You always hurt me.”
    â€œDon’t!” Bubber put his hand over my mouth.
    â€œBig Brother Bubber.” I popped my finger in my mouth. “I want some bread and butter. Butter, Bubber, for your baby brudder.”
    He pulled the finger out of my mouth. “No sucking, you dope.”
    â€œI’m hungry,” I whined. “Feed me. Feed meee.” I threw myself around. “Tolley’s little tummy hurts.”
    â€œI don’t say that, you liar.” He whacked me.
    â€œOwwww! Bubber hit me. Bubber hit me. Owwww! Feed me. You’re supposed to take care of me.”
    He got the can of salmon. “Where’s the can opener?”
    â€œNo can opener?” I’d forgotten the can opener. I threw the can against the wall. Then I got the hammer and a nail and punctured the top all the way around and pried the lid off. I didn’t know how hungry I was