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

place has a problem with humidity.”
    â€œHe means it’s underwater,” I said.
    â€œI think that’s awful,” said Mary.
    â€œThere are worse things.” He pulled a corkscrew out of his knapsack and opened the bottle. He poured glasses for my parents and Pawpaw.
    â€œYou’re not going to have some?” asked Mary.
    He shook his head. He carried the glass out to Pawpaw and took a spot beside him on the sofa. With his bent legs and bug eyes, he looked like a frog. “I didn’t expect you’d get dressed up for me.”
    â€œWell,” said Mary, pushing me before her. She didn’t finish her sentence.
    There were mud stains on the cuffs of Shiloh’s pants and cockleburs sticking to his straw shoes. But somehow, maybe by coming in the back door, Shiloh had managed to make an end run around my parents’ defenses. My parents were treating a stranger like a friend. They were doing it for me.
    Fran and Mary drank their wine. Pawpaw chased his with blackberry brandy in a cordial glass. Shiloh and I had tap water. At one point, as the conversation was flowing back and forth, he winked at me. It happened so fast, I couldn’t be sure I’d seen him do it. What did it mean?
    Shiloh told an off-color story about a parrot that was liberated from a brothel and then took up roost across from a church. Marylaughed so hard that she covered her mouth to hide her bridgework. I’d never known these lighthearted people.
    And I had no idea that Shiloh would want my parents to like him. He seemed almost desperate to please them. Out of the blue he said, “What’s Thomas told you about his love life?”
    â€œWe know he’s got his eyes on someone,” volunteered my mother.
    â€œShe’s a class act,” said Shiloh. “It’ll be educational to find out whether she sees him as grade-A material.”
    Pawpaw came to my defense. “If Thomas has the good sense to remain quiet on the subject, I don’t see how spilling the beans makes you his pal.”
    â€œI’m not telling any secrets,” said Shiloh.
    Pawpaw said, “I’m not so old that I need people telling me what I’ve heard.”
    Mary patted Shiloh’s arm. “I shouldn’t have been prying.” She turned to me. “Sorry.”
    I told her there was no harm.
    â€œHe’s afraid we’d embarrass him,” said Mary. “He doesn’t think she’d like us.”
    â€œSure she likes you,” said Shiloh.
    â€œWait,” said Mary. “Have I met her?” She looked at me, confused.
    â€œFrom what Thomas has told her about you, she thinks she’d like you.”
    â€œI’m going to have a cigarette,” said Pawpaw. He got up from the table and headed out the back door.
    Fran said, “How old are you, Shiloh?”
    â€œYou don’t have to answer,” said Mary.
    Shiloh shook his head. “I don’t actually know my birthday. I have, basically, an educated idea of about when it was.”
    Mary bit her lip.
    â€œWhat, thirty-five?” asked Fran
    â€œI don’t like to get caught up with a number,” said Shiloh.
    â€œIt’s not a number,” said Fran. “It’s your age.”
    We could hear Pawpaw carrying the food into the dining room.
    Mary said, “I’m afraid my husband and I are typical nosy parents.”
    â€œLet me tell you,” said Shiloh, “nosy parents beats no parents.”
    Mary did the most amazing thing. She got up from her seat and went over and gave Shiloh a little hug. He tried to pass me a look, but he didn’t seem to have control over his face. “Mrs. Mahey,” he said, “please don’t touch me.”
    â€œHow presumptuous of me, honey. I’m sorry.” She dashed into the kitchen.
    I’d never seen a person eat so much at one sitting. He just kept shoveling it in. When it was clear that the casserole