Read Online The Son of Someone Famous by M.E. Kerr - Free Book Online Page A

little early to decide that, Brenda Belle?”
    â€œA little too Ella Early?” she said. “Not where mater is concerned. Old mater is afeared I am a trick of nature.”
    â€œDon’t cry,” I said.
    â€œThat’s why I have this scabby mustache. I was trying to correct nature’s nasty.”
    â€œBrenda Belle,” I said, “I’m nothing too.”
    â€œAt least you know what sex you are.”
    â€œI know what sex you are, too,” I said. “Brenda Belle, please don’t cry. I have an idea. We could make a pact.”
    â€œWhat kind of a pact?” she whined.
    â€œWe could stick by each other. We could stick by each other and be friends to all the nothings. We could establish Nothing Power.”
    â€œWe could go steady.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI said, could we go steady?”
    â€œWhy not?” I shrugged. “We could say we were going steady.”
    â€œWe could ?”
    â€œSure,” I said.
    â€œThen we’re really going steady?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œNothing Power!” Brenda Belle said. “What a neat idea!”
    â€œWe’ll start a campaign,” I said. “We’ll give Nothing Power to everyone who’s miserable.”
    â€œWe’ll write a mash note to Ella Early from anonymous,” she said.
    â€œWe’ll tell that crabby bus driver he’s great!” I said.
    â€œYou mean Rufus Kerin?” she said.
    â€œSure. Is that his name, the one who always shouts, ‘Have your money ready, dumbbells!’?”
    â€œThat’s Rufus! Oh my Glory, no one’s ever had a kind word for Rufus Kerin!”
    â€œWe’ll shower him with affection,” I said. “We’ll fawn over him!”
    â€œAnd Marilyn Pepper, because she has acne so bad!”
    â€œAbsolutely!” I said.
    â€œWe’re going steady,” she said. “This is the happiest Christmas of my entire life!”
    â€œYou have Nothing Power!” I said.
    â€œYou have to give me something,” she said. “A ring or something. What do you have?”
    The telephone rang.
    â€œJust a minute,” I said as I went out to the kitchen to answer the phone. I lifted the receiver and a man’s voice said, “Is your grandfather Charlie Blessing?”
    â€œYes,” I said. “Is he all right?”
    â€œHe’s got a load on, but he’s all right. We threw him in a cab. He’s broke. He owes a bar bill of a little over eight bucks.”
    â€œWho is this?” I said.
    â€œThis is Sampson’s Bar on Swift Avenue. The old man’sbeen sopping it up for hours. We threw him in a cab.”
    â€œI hope you didn’t throw him in a cab,” I said. “I hope you walked him gently to a cab, since he was your customer!”
    â€œSome customer!” the man said. “He owes a bar bill here!”
    â€œSo what?” I said. “You sold him the booze on credit, didn’t you?”
    â€œLook, buddy, we didn’t have to take care of Charlie. We could have left him to freeze in a snowdrift, wouldn’t be the first time he’s slept outdoors, but it’s Christmas Eve, so we thought we’d help the old—”
    â€œThanks and go to hell!” I hollered. I was still shaking after I slammed down the receiver.
    Behind me, Brenda Belle said, “Who did you say that to?”
    â€œA good Samaritan,” I said snidely. “My grandfather’s coming home in a taxi. I have to get some money ready.”
    â€œIs he drunk again?”
    â€œWhy the hell do you have to say that?” I said. “He could have been run over, or had a heart attack—any number of reasons!”
    â€œIt’s just that he’s often drunk,” Brenda Belle said.
    â€œYou’re like everyone else in this stinking town!” I said. “The damn bartender gives him drinks on credit, lets him get soused, then looks down