Read Online Deep Winter by Samuel W. Gailey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Samuel W. Gailey
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shaping up real nice. Looked like a robin Danny saw in the springtime. He felt pleased with himself. Thought it might be the best figurine he had ever made. Of course, he paid special attention to this giftâhe wanted it to be perfect.
Danny set the robin on his dresser and blew on it gently. It should be dry pretty quick, so he would be able to deliver it soon. He wasnât sure what time it was. Could never figure out how to tell time. Always got the big hand and little hand mixed up. The moon had been out for a while, and he felt hungry, so he thought it must be seven or eight oâclock. He opened a can of pork and beans and ate them cold because he didnât have anything to heat them up on. After he cleaned out the can of beans, he ate a tin of sardines and then an apple. Doc Pete said that an apple a day kept the doctor away. DocPete was nice enough. Was always real good to him and didnât charge him nothing for his checkups. But Danny didnât like the cold touch of the stethoscope on his skin, and it felt kinda funny to get all naked in front of someone. Doc Pete said that he saw everybody in Wyalusing naked. Called their nude bodies birthday suits. Danny would smile and nod, but he didnât understand that one bit. If he was in the naked, how could he be wearing a suit?
The wind whipped up pretty good outside, rattling all the windowpanes and sending cold air sneaking in under the wood, so Danny put on his jacket and the red wool cap that Mrs. Bennett had made special for him. The cap was made out of wool and felt kinda scratchy, but it covered his ears so he wouldnât catch a cold.
Danny had found the Sunday funny pages someone had thrown away in a trash can down in the laundromat and thought it would make nice wrapping paper. But before he gift-wrapped the robin, he looked at all the drawings of cartoon animals. Those were his favorite. He liked Snoopy the best because Snoopy was smart and didnât ever say nothing. And Snoopyâs doghouse reminded Danny of his own room. Small and safe, and nobody ever went inside it except for himself.
He touched the robin to make sure it was dry. No paint got on his fingers, so Danny put the figurine on the funny pages and wrapped it up tight. He didnât have any tape, so he just crumpled the edges together and shoved it deep inside his jacket pocket.
Down in the laundromat, the thump of wet clothes spinning in a dryer filled the quiet space. A woman with a big gut, thick thighs, and loose fat hanging from under her arms sat in front of one of the machines. Greasy, thin hair was plastered to her skull, and her thick ankles were discolored purple with large, bulging veins. She smoked a Salem 100 and sucked on an RC Cola while she stared at her clothestumbling around and around in the dryer, like she was watching a television set.
She jerked in her chair as Danny stepped into the laundromat from the back stairs. âHell. You scared the bejesus out of me, Danny.â
âDidnât mean to.â
She flicked some ash onto the floor. âI know you didnât. Just jumpy, is all. Getting close to closing time? You ainât gonna kick me out yet, are you, Danny?â
âNaw.â
She turned back to the dryer to watch her clothes spin some more.
Danny looked at the other washers and dryers to see if anyone else would be coming back. They were all emptyâshe was the only one left.
âYou got an extra quarter, Danny? Wanna get me another RC.â
Danny dug in his pocket and took out three quarters. It was all the money he had until Mr. Bennett paid him for the week. He stared at his quarters for a second before he handed her one.
âYouâre okay, Danny. Youâre A-okay.â
She struggled to her feet, let out a few hoarse grunts, then waddled over to the soda machine.
âWhere you goinâ anyways? Itâs late, ainât it?â
âI suppose. Just wanted to give Mindy a birthday
Danny set the robin on his dresser and blew on it gently. It should be dry pretty quick, so he would be able to deliver it soon. He wasnât sure what time it was. Could never figure out how to tell time. Always got the big hand and little hand mixed up. The moon had been out for a while, and he felt hungry, so he thought it must be seven or eight oâclock. He opened a can of pork and beans and ate them cold because he didnât have anything to heat them up on. After he cleaned out the can of beans, he ate a tin of sardines and then an apple. Doc Pete said that an apple a day kept the doctor away. DocPete was nice enough. Was always real good to him and didnât charge him nothing for his checkups. But Danny didnât like the cold touch of the stethoscope on his skin, and it felt kinda funny to get all naked in front of someone. Doc Pete said that he saw everybody in Wyalusing naked. Called their nude bodies birthday suits. Danny would smile and nod, but he didnât understand that one bit. If he was in the naked, how could he be wearing a suit?
The wind whipped up pretty good outside, rattling all the windowpanes and sending cold air sneaking in under the wood, so Danny put on his jacket and the red wool cap that Mrs. Bennett had made special for him. The cap was made out of wool and felt kinda scratchy, but it covered his ears so he wouldnât catch a cold.
Danny had found the Sunday funny pages someone had thrown away in a trash can down in the laundromat and thought it would make nice wrapping paper. But before he gift-wrapped the robin, he looked at all the drawings of cartoon animals. Those were his favorite. He liked Snoopy the best because Snoopy was smart and didnât ever say nothing. And Snoopyâs doghouse reminded Danny of his own room. Small and safe, and nobody ever went inside it except for himself.
He touched the robin to make sure it was dry. No paint got on his fingers, so Danny put the figurine on the funny pages and wrapped it up tight. He didnât have any tape, so he just crumpled the edges together and shoved it deep inside his jacket pocket.
Down in the laundromat, the thump of wet clothes spinning in a dryer filled the quiet space. A woman with a big gut, thick thighs, and loose fat hanging from under her arms sat in front of one of the machines. Greasy, thin hair was plastered to her skull, and her thick ankles were discolored purple with large, bulging veins. She smoked a Salem 100 and sucked on an RC Cola while she stared at her clothestumbling around and around in the dryer, like she was watching a television set.
She jerked in her chair as Danny stepped into the laundromat from the back stairs. âHell. You scared the bejesus out of me, Danny.â
âDidnât mean to.â
She flicked some ash onto the floor. âI know you didnât. Just jumpy, is all. Getting close to closing time? You ainât gonna kick me out yet, are you, Danny?â
âNaw.â
She turned back to the dryer to watch her clothes spin some more.
Danny looked at the other washers and dryers to see if anyone else would be coming back. They were all emptyâshe was the only one left.
âYou got an extra quarter, Danny? Wanna get me another RC.â
Danny dug in his pocket and took out three quarters. It was all the money he had until Mr. Bennett paid him for the week. He stared at his quarters for a second before he handed her one.
âYouâre okay, Danny. Youâre A-okay.â
She struggled to her feet, let out a few hoarse grunts, then waddled over to the soda machine.
âWhere you goinâ anyways? Itâs late, ainât it?â
âI suppose. Just wanted to give Mindy a birthday
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