Read Online Zeely by Virginia Hamilton - Free Book Online

“Well, Nat should have known better than to treat prize hogs the way he did.”
    “Will you still get your share?” asked Geeder.
    “Maybe I won’t take my share,” Uncle Ross said. “I never use that west field for anything.”
    Nat Tayber was a proud man. He told everyone he had made a good profit from the sale of his hogs, and perhaps he had. Later that day, he came by the farm and left the money with Geeder when Uncle Ross was in town.
    Now, only Nat came down the road to the west field to care for what animals remained. Geeder found no great joy in watching him each morning. She was pressed to find things to do. She decided to tell Nat about the photograph she had discovered and what she had come to believe about Zeely.
    Geeder leaned on the west-field fence, watching Nat feed baby pigs and brute hogs. “What if he laughs?” she wondered. “Worse, still, what if he turns on me—he can get mean with people.” It was no use. She could not work up the courage to talk to Nat about Zeely.
    She heard a car come down Leadback Road and turned from the field in time to see a green coupe stop in front of the farmhouse. Uncle Ross went out to the car. In a little while, the car drove off the way it had come. Geeder guessed that it was just some gentleman to see Uncle Ross. She didn’t even mention the car to Toeboy when he returned from playing at Bennie Green’s and came into her room.
    “We’re building a tree house at Bennie Green’s,” he said.
    Geeder made no comment about it.
    “I can take you to see it after we eat,” he said, but still Geeder showed no interest.
    “Geeder, what’s wrong with you?”
    “Toeboy, I’m thinking,” she told him, “and I’ll thank you not to bother me.”
    He left her alone, somewhat hurt by the change in her. He thought of writing a letter to his father about Geeder. She didn’t seem like Geeder at all. She was more like Elizabeth Perry, who she was, really. He hadn’t thought of her as Elizabeth all summer. Since Saturday, the day Nat Tayber sold his hogs, Toeboy had had to find others to play with from morning until night. All that Tuesday Geeder just stayed in her room. She never suggested that they sleep outside any more. He was glad of that. He wouldn’t sleep out of doors again and chance seeing the night traveller a second time for anything in the world. Something told him the night traveller would never come in the house to get him; but, of course, he couldn’t be sure. Still, it was funny that Geeder didn’t want to sleep out.
    No, since Saturday, she hadn’t been like Geeder at all. In fact, she was just like any other girl.
    He was thinking again about the night traveller and how he could protect himself from it when he found Uncle Ross in the dining room. Uncle Ross was seated, waxing the dining-room table with a white cloth. His arm moved in long, circular sweeps. He had the dining-room light on. The light hung from a single chain from the ceiling, just above Uncle Ross’ head. Its shade was shaped like a bell and was made of pretty colored glass which reflected in nice patterns on Uncle Ross’ arm. Toeboy sat down at the table to watch, careful not to touch the fresh wax.
    Uncle Ross didn’t say hello and neither did Toeboy. Toeboy never had to say anything to Uncle Ross if he didn’t want to. That was why he liked him so much. He could sit beside Uncle Ross forever and a Sunday and Uncle Ross would never make him talk. Sometimes, Uncle Ross would talk out loud and often he would tell about things Toeboy had never heard of.
    “Old oak tables,” Uncle Ross said quietly. “Round, with maybe a hundred years of people using them.” His hand swept in and out of the light. “They are like old people,” he said. “They need a care and a handling that is gentle, the way my mother used to stir a little love into her cooking.” Uncle Ross chuckled and fell silent again. The table gleamed with polish but still his arm swept around and