Read Online Rum Spring by Yolanda Wallace - Free Book Online Page B

never a teacher myself.”
    “But if I asked you to teach me Pennsylvania Dutch, do you think you could?”
    “Why would you want to learn that?”
    “So I can finally understand what Dylan mutters under her breath when she’s pissed at me about something,” Willie said, taking a good-natured swipe at Dylan. “I love languages. The more, the better. I want to spend my junior year of college abroad. I keep trying to convince Dylan to come with me so we can take France by storm, but she seems to have found a reason to stay.”
    Rebecca felt guilty. Was Dylan holding herself back because of her? She didn’t want to keep Dylan from fulfilling her dreams.
    “How many languages do you speak, Dylan?”
    “I know parts of six, but I’m fluent in three—English, Gaelic, and Spanish. My Pennsylvania Dutch is still spotty, but it’s a lot better than it used to be, thanks to you. My French and German are pretty good, but not as good as Willie’s.”
    “How many languages do you speak, Willie?”
    “Four, not including English. I know Spanish, French, German, and a little bit of Italian. Right now, I’m teaching myself American Sign Language. It’s just for fun but you never know when it might come in handy.”
    “German and Pennsylvania Dutch are very similar, so I wouldn’t have very much to teach you.”
    “Why don’t we give it a try and let me be the judge of that?”
    Rebecca wanted Dylan’s friends to like her. She was overjoyed she and Willie were getting along so well. If Willie was serious about the lessons, Rebecca now had something else to look forward to. She rose with the rest of the crowd after the Phillies’ lead-off hitter smacked a home run to tie the game.
    “How much are you planning on charging?” Dylan asked after they sat down again.
    “Nothing.” Rebecca wouldn’t consider charging any of Dylan’s friends for any services rendered. And definitely not for something like this. If someone wanted to learn about her way of life, she would gladly show them for free.
    “It’s pro bono,” Willie said.
    “Kind of like charity work?” Dylan said.
    “So that’s why she’s with you.”
    “Ha ha.”
    “Did someone order cheese steaks?” Mr. Mahoney handed a steaming sandwich and a bag of chips to each of the girls. Mrs. Mahoney passed out the drinks.
    Rebecca picked up her sandwich. Her fingers sank into the soft roll as she bit into the layers of chopped steak, sautéed onions, and melted cheese.
    “Careful,” Dylan said. “It’s hot.”
    Before Dylan could complete her warning, intense heat hit the roof of Rebecca’s mouth. The melted cheese seared her soft palate as if it were molten lava turning hard pavement into bubbling tar.
    “Here. Drink this.”
    Rebecca sucked at the proffered straw and filled her mouth with ice-cold soda. She burped loudly after the carbonated liquid forced her stomach to expand.
    “That was a good one, dude.” Willie raised her right hand, the palm facing Rebecca. “You’re not going to leave me hanging, are you?” She lifted Rebecca’s right hand and slapped their palms together. “That is what we English call a high five.”
    “A high five?”
    “It’s primarily used in team sports,” Dylan said. “To celebrate a good play or to pick up a teammate when she’s down.”
    Rebecca looked at her hand as if it no longer belonged to her. She had been one of the smartest people in her school. In the real world, though, there was still much for her to learn.
    “I’ll never get the hang of this.”
    Rebecca pounded the steering wheel in frustration. She had just hit the gas instead of the brakes, causing the truck to veer off the road and lurch to a stop in a ditch.
    “Sure you will. Like everything, it just takes a little practice. Remember, your right foot is the gas pedal and your left foot is the brake pedal. Right means…”
    “Go,” Rebecca said, filling in the blank.
    “And left means…”
    “Stop.”
    Dylan grinned. “See, it’s