Read Online Dunk by David Lubar - Free Book Online Page B

anything inside the living room.
    â€œYou can stack them over there,” Malcolm said, pointing to the bare wall opposite the couch.
    Jason put down his box and stood for a moment, breathing like he’d run all the way back from the U-Store. “You okay?” I asked.
    He nodded. “I’m fine. Just kind of hot.”
    â€œSit down,” Malcolm said. “Chad and I can get the rest of it.”
    â€œYeah.” I hated to agree with him, but he was right. Jason looked washed out. “We can handle it from here.”
    Jason shook his head. “I’m fine.” He jogged down the stairs and grabbed another box from the Blazer. Then, I guess to show how fine he was feeling, he stacked a second box on top of the first.
    I only took one for myself. Even that turned out to be almost too much. Jason was halfway up the steps, and I was right behind him, when he collapsed.

11
    I BARELY MANAGED TO DROP MY BOX AND REACH UP IN TIME . Jason’s damp T-shirt smacked against my palms. As I toppled backward under his weight, I shot out my right hand and grabbed the railing. I couldn’t hold him without falling, so I moved down a couple steps and tried to lower him gently.
    Malcolm rushed out to the porch. “Hang on!” he cried, racing down to meet us. He pulled the two boxes off Jason, tossing them up to the porch, then helped get him to a sitting position on the steps. The box I’d dropped had already tumbled to the ground.
    â€œGuess I slipped,” Jason said. He leaned against the railing.
    â€œYou’re sweating like crazy,” I said. “I think you’re sick.”
    Jason shook his head. “Just hot. That’s all.”
    â€œI’ll get you a cold drink,” Malcolm told him. He went back upstairs.
    â€œWhat happened?” I asked. “Something’s wrong. You’re about as pale as beach sand.”
    â€œI’m fine,” Jason insisted. “I must have a bug or something. No big deal.”
    Malcolm came back. “Go inside and sit,” he said as he handed Jason a carton of orange juice.
    I watched Jason get up, ready to grab him if he stumbled, but he kept his balance. I flinched when I thought about where he would have landed if I hadn’t been there to catch him. Or where we both would have landed if my vision had been blocked by a second box.
    â€œThis ever happen to him before?” Malcolm asked me when we reached the bottom of the steps.
    â€œNope. Jason’s so healthy he makes me sick sometimes.”
    Malcolm gave me a puzzled look.
    â€œYou know what I mean.” I wasn’t in the mood for friendly chatter. I grabbed the box I’d dropped, and shook it to see if anything had broken. In answer, I heard tinkling. I opened the flap. The box was crammed with books and magazines, but there was also a diploma in a thin black frame wedged between the books. It was from some place I’d never heard of, called Juilliard. The glass was cracked and a couple pieces had fallen off. “This broke,” I told Malcolm as he walked past me.
    He glanced down, then said, “It’s not important.”
    Fine with me. I put the diploma back, closed the box and carried it upstairs. “You gonna live?” I asked Jason, who was sitting on the edge of the couch.
    â€œAbsolutely,” he said. “I feel fine. Honest. I must have slipped or something.” He stood up.
    â€œJust stay there,” I said. He really was looking better, but I figured he shouldn’t take any chances. I gave him a light push. He plopped back down on the couch without any resistance.
    We finished unloading. Then Malcolm drove the Blazer back to Jason’s house.
    After we’d all stepped out, Malcolm pulled two tens from his pocket. “Here you go.”
    I didn’t want his money. But it would be more of a hassle to turn it down than to take it. “You should rest up,” I told Jason.
    â€œYeah, maybe