Read Online My Brother's Keeper by Adrienne Wilder - Free Book Online

try.”
    “No,” Ellis said.
    “But I could hit the ducks.”
    “No, Rudy.” Jon gave Ellis a look. Ellis said, “No. This is one thing I will not back down on.”
    “But, Ellis, I didn’t touch.”
    “It’s not about that, Rudy, it’s just…” It might have been nothing but a plastic gun, but the idea of it in Rudy’s hands scared Ellis. “Let Jon play again, he’ll win you something.” He pointed to the lines of stuffed animals. That seemed to distract him for a moment.
    Jon reloaded the gun and shot another round. Other customers tried to copy how Jon held the gun. Another row of ducks bit the dust. Jon slid the gun back in the holster.
    The booth owner walked over. He didn’t smile. “Which one do you want?”
    Jon nudged Rudy. “You pick it, it’s yours.”
    “Any of them?”
    “Yup. Twenty in a row means anything you want.”
    Five minutes later, Jon carried a giant bear on his shoulders as Ellis guided Rudy through the crowds.
    “Can we eat now?” Rudy said, “I want hotdogs, and cotton candy, and maybe a caramel apple.”
    “Let’s start with the hotdog.”
    Jon moved the bear under his arm. It was ridiculously big and the ugliest shade of pink Ellis had ever seen.
    “I’m going to run this to the car.” Jon tossed his thumb in the direction of the parking lot.
    “Okay, I’ll take Rudy to the hotdog stand. We’ll be at one of the tables.”
    “I’ll find you.” Jon leaned closer then stopped. He shook his head like he was answering something only he could hear.
    Ellis had a pretty good idea what that something was. “I wouldn’t advise doing that in public.”
    “Yeah, that might cause a scene. I’ll be back.” Jon put the bear back on his shoulders. He merged with the crowd and the bear danced across a wave of people.
    Ellis led Rudy over to the hotdog stand.
    “Can I have two?”
    “Let’s start with one.”
    “But I can eat two. It’s not very many. I can eat two slices of pizza.”
    “If you want everything else on your list, it’s one hotdog.” He’d be sick to his stomach by the time he finished the cotton candy. But the wide-eyed expression on Rudy’s face as he watched everything around them, made it all worth it.
    The line at the concession stand was chaotic so Ellis found an empty picnic table. “Sit.” Rudy obeyed. “Now, I’m going to go over there and get us some hotdogs. You are going to stay right here.”
    “Right here.”
    “I mean it Rudy. Right here.”
    “I won’t move.”
    “Rule number two, don’t wander off. Remember that.”
    “I will. I’ll stay right here.” Rudy folded his hands on the table. “Right here. I won’t move. I promise.”
    Ellis walked back into the pack of hungry customers. He stood in the outside line so he had a clear view of Rudy.
    “What will your order be, sir?”
    Ellis leaned closer to the speaker in the Plexiglas window. “I need three hotdogs and three sodas. Also, extra napkins.” Ellis stole another look at Rudy. He watched the balloon vender as he went past.
    The woman returned to the window. “Did you want French fries?”
    “No, uh wait. Yeah, that will be fine.”
    “Three orders?”
    “Yeah, three.”
    The crowd between the concession stand and the picnic area thickened. Ellis held up a hand to shield his eyes from the glare of the bald light bulbs lining the walkway and stood on his toes. At first, the picnic table looked empty.
    Rudy, you better not have…
    The tall, thin man with hair down to his narrow shoulders stepped to the side. Rudy was still there, but he’d moved all the way to the other end of the bench and his cheeks were shiny with tears. The man beside him cast a look in Ellis’s direction.
    Lenny narrowed his cold grey eyes.
    Ellis pushed his way through the people to the picnic bench. “Get away from him.” He went around Lenny, and pulled Rudy away from the table. “I didn’t move off the bench. I didn’t. I didn’t touch anything. I didn’t. I promise.” He