Read Online The Namesake by Steven Parlato - Free Book Online

stuff.”
    He said, “Name one thing.”
    So I told him, “You’re an awesome artist.”
    He started crying and said, “Father Fran likes you best.”
    I said that’s not true. It’s just I’ve known Father since I was a kid, but Tony started SCREAMING, “IT’S NOT FAIR! WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO STEAL HIM FROM ME?”
    Before I knew it, I was shaking him, yelling TAKE IT BACK, YOU TAKE IT BACK!
    Then, this lady came out of Card Shoppe to ask if everything was okay. I jolted at the question, like I’d been asleep. Tony pulled away and said, “I better go. See you on the bus Monday.”
    When I got home, Dad said he was sick of playing secretary. I got 7 phone calls: 1 from Melody, and 5 from “that Pettafordi kid.”
    I said, “That’s only six.” And then he blew my mind .
    He said, “Right, Father Fran called. Said it was important.”
    I didn’t return any of the calls. Now it’s 3 A.M. and I feel like the living dead .
    I’m sweating, and I think my intestines just unspooled around my ankles.
    “Alexis, I can’t read anymore.”
    “You’ve got to! There are answers in here, I know it.”
    “I’m not sure I can deal with them, whatever they are.”
    “I’ll help you, Evan.”
    “Look, maybe there are answers, but I don’t need to know them. Besides, all we’ve learned is that Mr. Pettafordi had an inferiority complex. What does that have to do with my father killing himself like thirty years later?”
    “I think you owe it to him to find out.”
    “I’m done.”
    “Fine, let me take it home. I’ll do the reading and give you a full report.”
    “You’re joking, right?”
    “Well, then we only have one choice. We go straight to the source and ask the horse.”
    “You mean Pettafordi?”
    “Of course, of course.”
    “You’re insane.”
    “I know. But it’s sort of liberating.”
    “What are we supposed to do, ask him why he freaked and stopped being friends with my dad? Won’t that seem odd, considering their friendship’s like a big, dark secret?”
    “No way, Evieboy. We’ll be discreet. Besides, you’re still in mourning. Personal crises are like a free pass for odd behavior.”
    “You should know.”
    “Yeah.” Lex rocks forward, studying her feet, and begins drawing tiny purple circles, like bruises, on the back of her hand.
    I reach over, ease the gel pen from her fingers.
    “I’m sorry, Lex. I’m an idiot. I didn’t mean that.”
    “It’s okay. You are an idiot. But it’s true. I’m the expert on personal crises and odd behavior. Another gift from Dear Old Stepdad.”
    “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “You haven’t. Really. It was a long time ago, and I’m past it. Now forget it, okay?”
    “But Lex, I — ”
    “But nothing, comrade. Back to the plan at hand: The Subtle Interrogation of Anthony J. Pettafordi. Nice ring, don’t you think? I may write a
Lifetime
movie about it one day.”
    “Great.”
    “So here’s the deal. We tell him in art we want to discuss college choices. We’ve got Mods 13 and 14 free. We meet in his office, ask a few questions, and before he realizes what’s happening, we’ve shined a searchlight into the past. What do you say?”
    “Uh … gee … let’s see … no.”
    “Come on! Life is short, be a sport!”
    “You know I hate it when you rhyme.”
    “Evan, Evan. Big, fat seven. Kick your butt straight up to heaven.”
    “You are so queer.”
    “But that’s why you love me.”
    “Fine, I’ll do it on one condition: I do the talking. You’re just there as a witness, got it?”
    “Whatever.”
    “Promise?”
    “Jeez, okay!”
    “Good. Repeat after me: I, Alexis Philomena Bottaro, do solemnly swear to keep my big trap shut. And to do everything in my power to keep from embarrassing my friend, Evan Gifford Galloway, who is all good and deserving of all my love.”
    “I think it’s so cool your initials spell egg.”
    “Say it, Philomena.”
    “Shut up!”
    “Say it.”
    “All right, all right! I, Alexis