Read Online Me & Jack by Danette Haworth - Free Book Online

what’s been going on with you?” she asked between bites. “What have you been up to?”
    â€œYou know, just hanging around.” Salt and vinegar potato chips—my favorite.
    â€œWhat about those boys you met? Have you been playing with them?”
    I thought of Ray, but then stupid Prater took over. “I only saw them that one day,” I said. “I’m kind of busy anyway. You know, with Jack and all.”
    â€œHmm.” Millie nodded slowly. She sipped her coffee, set it down, and grabbed her purse. Then she pulled out some money and handed it to me. “After lunch, I want you to go on over to Tysko’s. You know where that is?”
    I nodded; it was the corner grocery store just past Ray’s house.
    â€œI want you to get an ice cream cone. There’s enough there for two.”
    â€œYou want me to bring you back one?” That would be hard; it would melt and run down my hand.
    Millie laughed. “Not me, honey, I’m trying to lose weight! You go and treat your friend to ice cream.” She sat back in her chair.
    Great idea! Who could say no to ice cream? I stuffed the money into my pocket. “Thanks, Millie,” I said, smiling. She smiled, too, already back to her sandwich; I gobbled down the rest of mine. Maybe after ice cream, Ray and I could play basketball or something.
    I screeched my chair back and slid my dishes on the counter. “Is it okay, can I go now?”
    Millie held up one finger and swallowed. Then she said, “The turtle sundae is excellent.”

    I got on my bike and kept Jack on my right side. That way, I could keep him safe from cars. He trotted along; running was just about his favorite thing. There was no breeze today and no clouds, just the sun beating down on us. Heat rose from the tar. That ice cream was sure going to be good.
    As we coasted around the bend, I saw Ray yo-yoing in his driveway.
    â€œRay!” I shouted.
    An old lady with puffy hair sat on the porch of the house before Ray’s. She startled when I yelled. I caught a glimpse of black and white jumping off her lap—a cat, I think. “Sorry!” I called out but kept going. I pedaled faster and skidded to a stop in Ray’s driveway.
    â€œHiya!” he said. He patted Jack’s head, then stood, threw the yo-yo down, and whipped it around the opposite finger. The yo-yo landed on the string still spinning. “Man on trapeze.”
    â€œCool,” I said. “Can you do walk-the-dog?”
    Ray laughed. “Beginner’s trick.” But he did it anyway. Jack sniffed an imaginary trail left by the yo-yo before Ray pulled it up.
    â€œI can never do that with my yo-yo—it just comes right back up.”
    He cupped his yo-yo and nodded. “You probably have one of those yo-yos that’s tied around the axle. Mine’s got a slip string—”
    Just then the screen door banged and Prater barged out holding a basketball. Oh, man. Why does he have to be here?
    â€œHey, kid!” Prater called, clobbering down the stairs. “Shoot any squirrels lately?”
    Real funny. “About as many as you have.”
    He smirked but pulled up fast when he saw Jack.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” I asked. I couldn’t help myself—I wanted to mess with him after the way he acted the other day. I laid my bike down and walked closer to Prater with Jack.
    He shuffled backward. He didn’t take his eyes off Jack. His hand fumbled behind him, raking the air for the porch rail.
    All of a sudden, shame washed over me. I knew Prater’s weak spot, and I was using Jack as a weapon to hit it. That was wrong on both parts. Prater had been a jerk with the guns, but I remembered how he’d let me pet his horse—how he didn’t make fun of me when I thought the horse was going to bite me.
    I didn’t really want him to be afraid of Jack. I wanted him to like Jack. Besides, Jack was a good dog. I stooped,