Read Online The Long Ride by Bonnie Bryant - Free Book Online

going to make money. I’ll be rich, rich, rich!”
    â€œYou mean you’ll be able to pay for your insurance, insurance, insurance,” Lisa teased.
    â€œWell, that, and maybe a little bit more. People give tips, you know.”
    â€œFor good service,” Lisa said.
    â€œYou’re being the voice of reason, and I’m not at all sure I like that.”
    â€œI’ll try to do better,” Lisa said. She stood up and threw her trash in the can. The two of them headed for the door. “When do you start?”
    â€œTonight—five o’clock sharp,” Stevie said. She reached for the door.
    The manager hurried out of his office. “Oh, Stephanie, I forgot to give you this,” he said. He handed her a package. “It’s your uniform.”
    â€œUniform?”
    â€œWell, really, just a hat and a T-shirt. You can wear your own jeans or skirt—whatever you want. But when you’re knocking on strangers’ doors, you must have something to identify yourself as the delivery person from Pizza Manor.”
    â€œSure,” Stevie said. She opened the package. The T-shirt was simple enough. It had the store’s logo, a cartoon character dressed as a medieval knight. That was why it was called Pizza Manor. The hat, however, was not so simple. It was like the one the little cartoon character wore. It was made of felt, with a brim that was rolled up along the edges but pointed in front—like something Robin Hood might have worn on a bad hair day. Worst of all, feathers sprouted from the headband.
    â€œIsn’t it cute?” the manager asked.
    â€œVery,” Stevie said, hoping she was keeping her voice even. She didn’t want him to sense her rising panic.
    â€œSee you later!” he said cheerfully. He retreated to his office before Stevie could reply. She turned to Polly Giacomin, who was still standing patiently behind the counter.
    â€œNobody told me about this!” Stevie exploded.
    â€œDidn’t you wonder why he was so worried about having to make the deliveries himself tonight?” she teased.
    Lisa began giggling. “Put it on,” she said. Stevie donned the hat and slipped the elastic band under her chin. She grimaced.
    Lisa adjusted the hat to a jaunty angle. “It’s you!” she declared. Polly grinned.
    â€œIt’s a good thing there aren’t any mirrors in this place,” Stevie said. “I have a feeling I’m better off not knowing how I look. Now, Polly, tell me—are there any other nasty surprises in store for me?”
    â€œNo,” Polly said. “We make good pizza, so people are usually happy to have it. And they do give good tips, so all of our delivery people in the past have been pleased with that—Oh, there is one thing.”
    â€œUh-oh,” said Stevie.
    â€œNot that bad, but I just ought to warn you. Mr. Andrews is a really nice guy, but he’s totally gung ho about this place—like it’s his life. He’s always worried that one of us is going to do something to upset a customer. That’s when he tells us to ‘Mind your Pizza Manors.’”
    â€œI’m not sure I need insurance this badly,” Stevie said.
    â€œOh, yes you do,” Lisa said.
    â€œYou’re just afraid Alex will have to pay all of it,” Stevie accused her.
    â€œNo. I’m just afraid you’re going to want to borrow money from me and Carole,” Lisa said. “Well, we’re both broke, so you are going to have to wear a dumb hat and earn it. Or let Alex have the car all the time, which might be okay, too. Come on. I have to get home. Say good-bye to Polly, um, politely,” she said.
    Stevie turned to Polly, slid the silly hat off her head with her right hand, brandished it gallantly, then placed it over her heart while she bowed, her left foot in front of her right one. “Milady,” she said.
    â€œAnd you haven’t even taken the