Read Online The Best People in the World by Justin Tussing - Free Book Online Page A

“Just find out what night would be good for him.”
    What, I wanted to know, were they thinking?
    â€œI doubt he’ll come.”
    â€œYou still need to ask him.”
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    Alice and I sat down with Shiloh and explained the situation to him.
    He said, “I can’t remember the last time I was invited to eat with regular people.”
    â€œDoes that mean you’d actually consider coming?” I asked.
    â€œI’m definitely coming.”
    â€œThey’re very nice,” said Alice. “His mother is very sharp.” And then, to me, “That was my impression at parents’ night.”
    I said, “It would probably be best if you cut your hair.”
    â€œMy hair?”
    â€œFran has said some unfavorable things about men with long hair.”
    â€œDo I know Fran?”
    â€œFran is his father.”
    Shiloh considered this for a moment. “And do I have opinions about how Fran deports himself?”
    â€œYou’ve said that the people who work at the power plant are fascists,” Alice reminded him.
    â€œWell, that’s a figure of speech.”
    â€œYou’re not going to do anything about your hair?” I asked.
    â€œWe’ll get him cleaned up,” said Alice.
    Shiloh looked at her, looked at me, nodded his head, a deal.
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    Fran put on the three-piece, gray, pinstriped suit that he wore to weddings or when he had to fire someone. He had on a purple rep tie and oxblood shoes and he looked like a greater version of himself.Mary wore a starched brown dress that made her hair look colorless. My pawpaw had on a yellow corduroy smoking jacket over a pajama top shirt and green civvies. Fran and Mary wanted me to change, to play the part of their son. I disappointed them by refusing to wear my only suit. Instead Fran tied a tie under the collar of a buttoned-up tennis shirt. We scurried around straightening up.
    I felt dread.
    Pawpaw went out to the back porch to smoke.
    I asked Mary what she planned on saying to Shiloh, but she disappeared into the bathroom and left me with Fran.
    â€œYour friend’s late,” was what my father said to me.
    I opened the refrigerator door and stared at all the food.
    â€œHe probably doesn’t own a watch,” added Fran.
    Mary came down. She wore lipstick and she had changed into a shimmery green blouse. “Don’t stand there like an Eskimo.”
    I closed the refrigerator.
    The back door opened and Pawpaw shuffled in with Shiloh.
    I watched Fran as he made sense of the stranger who’d appeared in his house.
    He stuck his hand out like he was drawing a pistol. “Shiloh, I take it.”
    Shiloh had shaved his beard. He had a baby face. He shook hands with Fran and Mary.
    â€œYou surprised us,” said Mary.
    â€œWe expected you’d come to the front door,” said Fran.
    â€œI try not to do things like everybody else.”
    â€œWelcome,” said Mary.
    â€œYes,” said Fran.
    Shiloh pulled a knapsack off his shoulder. He rummaged through the bag.
    â€œYou lose something?” asked Mary.
    â€œWait,” said Shiloh. “Are either of you drinkers?”
    â€œI wouldn’t say either of us is a drinker,” said Fran, who had opened the oven and was prodding a casserole with a fork.
    â€œOn special occasions,” said Mary.
    â€œWell,” said Shiloh. “An associate of mine laid this on me.” From inside the backpack he produced a bottle of wine.
    â€œLook at that,” said Mary, “wine.”
    â€œI guess it’s from Italy,” said Shiloh.
    â€œThomas’s grandfather has been to Italy,” said Fran.
    â€œThat’s right,” said Mary.
    â€œAre you from there, or were you traveling?” asked Shiloh.
    â€œThose my only choices?” asked Pawpaw, heading for the living room.
    â€œYou’re not still staying by the river, are you?” asked Fran.
    â€œI found a situation in town. My old