Read Online Project X by Jim Shepard - Free Book Online

Slim Jims. Hermie gets Sugar Babies. We sit out on the curb eating and watching the idiots come and go.
    â€œI found that kid Budzinski,” Hermie goes.
    â€œYou kick his ass?” Flake asks. He’s trying to get his mouth around an end of the burrito and the beans are sliding down his hand.
    â€œSorta,” Hermie says.
    â€œSorta?” I go.
    â€œHe kicked mine,” Hermie says.
    â€œYou look okay to me,” I go. “What’d he use, a pillow?”
    â€œHe beat up a little kid like you?” Flake says. “People’re fucked up.”
    â€œFuck you,” Hermie goes.
    My dad’s car pulls in and almost runs over our feet. My dad gets out. He stands there with his hands on his hips. He’s got his jacket and tie on.
    â€œYour dad’s here,” Flake goes.
    My dad locks the car and walks over to us.
    â€œNice ride, Homey,” Hermie tells him.
    â€œWho’s this?” my dad asks. He points at Hermie.
    â€œFriend of ours,” I tell him.
    â€œHe have a name?” he asks.
    â€œHermie,” I go.
    â€œHerman,” Hermie says.
    My dad heads into the convenience store, shaking his head. He must’ve just gotten out of class. We all watch him do his thing inside. When he comes out he’s got a gallon of milk. “Now you’re hanging around parking lots?” he asks me.
    â€œLibrary’s closed,” Flake goes.
    â€œGet in,” my dad says. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
    â€œI just ate,” I go. I show him the Slim Jim wrapper behind me.
    â€œGet in,” he says.
    â€œWe get a ride, too?” Hermie wants to know.
    â€œSay good-bye to the boys,” my dad goes.
    â€œSo what’ve you two been up to?” my mom says at dinner. She’s glopping out mashed potatoes onto everybody’s dish.
    â€œNothing,” I tell her. “Can I have more?”
    â€œYou’re always planning something,” she says.
    I look at her. “Why’d you say that?” I go.
    â€œI don’t know,” she says. “I hear you up there in your room, murmuring away. Planning on getting even with this guy or that guy.”
    â€œWe’re not planning on getting even with anybody,” I go.
    The bell rings and she gets up and takes the corn bread out of the oven and brings it to the table. We have to let it cool.
    â€œOr doing your photosynthesis project,” she goes. “Roddy’s mother told me about that.”
    â€œIt’s a real project,” I tell her.
    â€œWell, I look forward to seeing it,” she says.
    We eat our dinner. Gus sings a song to himself.
    â€œWhat’ve you learned so far?” she asks. “About photosynthesis?”
    â€œSome strange shit,” I go.
    â€œDon’t swear in front of your brother,” she says.
    â€œSorry,” I tell her.
    â€œHe can swear,” Gus goes.
    â€œNo, he can’t,” my dad says.
    â€œCan I swear?” Gus asks.
    â€œNo, you can’t,” my dad goes.
    My mom’s looking at me like we’re sharing a secret. It weirds me out. She looks tired and worried.
    â€œWe got a nice call from the vice principal,” my dad goes.
    â€œMom?” Gus goes.
    â€œWhat’d he want?” I go.
    â€œHe wants us all to meet,” my dad goes.
    â€œMom?” Gus goes.
    â€œSo we’ll all meet,” I go.
    â€œI thought we talked about this,” my dad goes. My mom remembers the corn bread and starts cutting it up and dishing it out.
    â€œMom?” Gus goes.
    â€œYou have a headache again?” my dad goes.
    â€œYeah,” I tell him. I must’ve been rubbing my forehead.
    â€œYou’ve been getting a lot of those lately,” my dad goes. “Maybe we’ll have to have that looked at.”
    â€œSomebody should look at something,” I go.
    â€œMom?” Gus goes.
    â€œYeah, honey?” my mom goes.
    His little brain locks. You can