Read Online Who I'm Not by Ted Staunton - Free Book Online Page A

got Matt’s bike. Griffin was still sitting in his car, maybe waiting for somebody. He didn’t look my way, so I rode on.
    When I got back to Shan’s, it was still early. I ditched Matt’s bike at the side of the house and went in. It seemed like a good time to think about Meg.
    â€œWho’s that?” It was Roy’s voice, from the living room.
    â€œIt’s just me,” I called. I opened and shut the refrigerator to stall for a second, getting Danny together, then I went on into the living room, making sure to toe out.
    Roy was in his recliner, still in his work clothes. “It’s a hot sucker out there,” I said.
    Roy grunted. “How come you’re home so early?”
    I shrugged. “I got my work done, so I could go. How come you’re home?”
    â€œI put my back out at work. It hurts like hell.”
    â€œBummer.”
    â€œMatt’s bike was gone when I got home. He’s not allowed to take it to school. You take it without asking?”
    â€œNo,” I said. “You sure? The sucker was there just now when I came in.”
    He looked at me sourly. “Get me a ginger ale, will ya? It’s a bugger to get up.”
    I got a can out of the fridge and handed it to him.
    â€œDude,” he said, “I heard the bike hit the side of the house when you got back.”
    I did my confused thing, then the Danny smirk. “I bumped into it. So what?”
    Roy shook his head. “You really haven’t changed, have you? Shoplifting, getting kicked out of school…Listen, Danny ”—he bit down hard on the name—“don’t take things that don’t belong to you without permission. Got it? That’s the second damn bike I’ve had to buy for Matt. And don’t make things hard for Shan either, ’specially by lying. She’s got enough problems with your mom and that dickwad Ty. You don’t like it here, see how you like it at Carleen’s—and I don’t care what your social worker says.”
    â€œSure, Roy. Okay.” I nodded and bounced and Danny-smiled. Then I promised myself I’d flush his dope down the toilet before I left.

SIXTEEN
    At dinner that night, Roy, who was propped up with cushions, said he thought I should get a part-time job so I’d “learn responsibility” and wouldn’t have so much time on my hands. I said that sounded good to me. I’d never had a straight job, and maybe Danny never had either, but I figured I could hack it, and I needed the money. Shan called a friend and arranged for me to start work for Dave the Garden Fairy that Saturday.
    Thursday and Friday, I went to Open Book. Partly I had to—well, I had to leave the house, anyway, because Roy was home with his sore back. Mainly, though, I wanted to guarantee my good luck, whatever it cost.
    Gillian was there ahead of me both days. I sat down beside her on Thursday morning. Right away, without even looking up, she said, “Did you take the money back?”
    â€œSoon as the library opens,” I said. At ten o’clock I walked over to the library, signed out a book and, when the clerk turned away, dropped the five-dollar bill on the floor behind the counter. I hung around by the doors until I saw her notice the money and pick it up, then went back to Gillian. “Done,” I said, sitting back down. “Go ask them if they found five dollars, if you don’t believe me. When do you want to go for coffee or something?” At lunchtime she let me buy her tea.
    Friday, she insisted on buying me something, which was good because I was out of money and didn’t want to take anymore right away. I was hoping the Garden Fairy would pay me Saturday, the same day I worked. Gillian said she was just going to be at Open Book until she and her mom and sister moved.
    â€œWhen’s that?” I didn’t want to lose my luck.
    She shrugged. “Whenever we sell the