
     ,,f|r
  ,ryan--,! ,skeptic
  8,yr r1l "n's ,ray=d80 ,ryan ,daley squ1l$ at 8 be/ fr4 8,we've "kn ea* o!r h{ l;g1 & ,i n"e knew t60
  ,raymie ,/eele smil$ & %ook 8 h1d4 8,don't make s* a big d1l ab x4 ,o!rwise ,i'll tell "eybody yr mi4le "n60
  ,! boys _h gr{n up on ! same /reet1 "o liv+ on ea* 5d4 ,!y _h 2gun k9d}g>t5 tgr1 & n{ !y 7 bo? twelve & 9 ! six? grade4 ,!y 7 z close z bro!rs4 ,ryan 0 an only *1 & ,raymie may z well h be54 ,8 only si/}1 ,*loe1 0 ei<t ye>s old} & _h be5 away at college two ye>s alr4
  ,ryan & ,raymie _h a lot 9 -mon4 ,ea* _h a "f :o 0 too busy = hm4 ,~! guys ne$$ ea* o!r4 ,ryan 0 a ll %ort} & ?ick} ?an ,raymie1 :o 0 sl5d} & tall & d>k l 8 "f4 ,ryan 0 a blond &! bett} a?lete (! two4
  ,l any close frs1 !y squab#d a lot4 ,once 9 a :ile !y ev5 sd na/y ?+s 6ea* o!r1 & v{$ n"e 6talk 6ea* o!r ag4 ,! next "d "o wd call ! o!r or j g 6his h|se1 & !y wd />t 9 ": !y _h left (f1 be/ frs4 ,no apologies1 no m5;n (! >gu;t4 ,j frs1 ag4
  ,!y _h alw gott5 a kick | ( h{ close _! f/ "ns w}e4 ,t 0 :at _h />t$ ! 4cus.n ( _! r1l full "ns4 ,ryan sd he _h be5 "nd af ?ree fam|s ,*icagoans4 8,my f/ "n -es f ,dan ,ryan4 ,i don't ev5 "k :o he was1 b "!'s an expressway "nd af hm4 ,& my mi4le "n1 promise y'll n"e tell a s|l1 -es f "s old mayor f way back :5 :o got assass9at$40
  8,:at's 8 "n80
  8,i don't want 6tell y4 ,i don't tru/ y40
  8,if y c't tru/ me--0
  8,,ok1 ,i tru/ y4 ,b y gotta promise40
  8,i promise40
  8'y've got 6tell me a secret y don't want anybody 6"k40
  8,i w40
  8,all "r10 ,ryan sd4 8,! mayor's "n 0 ,anton ,c}mak40
  ,raymie ,/eele _h d|#d ov} lau<+4 ,ryan cdn't resi/ lau<+ too4 8,s10 ,raymie sd :5 he cau<t 8 br1?1 8is yr mi4le "n ,anton or ,c}mak80
  8,c}mak10 ,ryan mum#d4
  8,no60
  8,yes6 ,isn't t aw;l8 ,& my la/ "n's ! same z a =m} ,*icago mayor too40
  8,i "k4 ,h{'d yr mi4le-"n guy get assass9at$80
  8,my mom made me look x up4 ,= "s r1son he 0 9 a p>ade 9 ,florida ) ,presid5t ,roosevelt :5 "s guy tri$ 6%oot ! presid5t1 miss$1 & hit ,c}mak40
  8,: ,roosevelt80
  8,i don't "k4 ,0 "! m ?an "o80
  8',c|rse10 ,raymie sd4 8,t$dy & ,frankl940
  8,probably ,t$dy1 ,i guess40
  8,:5 0 ?80
  8,9 ! #aicj's1 ,i ?9k40
  8,!n x _h 6be ,frankl940
  8,:at"e1 ,raymie4 ,h{ d y "k all t /uff80
  8,i don't "k4 ,i j l 6/udy1 & ,i rememb} a lot ( x40
  8,s x's yr turn 6tell me "s?+ y don't want anybody else 6"k40
  8,all "r1 ,ryan1 z l;g z we're talk+ ab "ns1 ,i'm actu,y a 'junior40
  8,yr "n is ! same z yr dad's80
  8,yup40
  8,s 8 "n is ,raymond8 ,y're actu,y ,raymond ,/eele80
  8,nope4 x's ,ray=d40
  ,n{ x 0 ,ryan's turn 6lau<4 ,!y swore 6ea* o!r t !y wd n"e tell any"o else4 ,b :5 !y 7 al"o1 !y />t$ call+ ea* o!r ,ray=d & ,c}mak4 ,x usu,y made !m smile4
  ,"o (! r1sons _! fr%ip "w$ s well 0 t 9 spite ( all _! simil>ities1 !y al _h 9dividual /r5g?s & w1k;ses4 ,raymie 0 ! /ud5t1 ! "o :o seem$ 6"k "ey?+ & 0 usu,y "r4 ,x drove ,ryan crazy t ,raymie actu,y 5joy$ s*ool4
  ,ryan w5t 6s*ool mo/ly 6play4 ,he 0 ! a?lete (! two4 ,y "n ! sport1 he 5joy$ x & 0 gd at x & play$ ) all 8 mi<t4 ,he 0 ! fa/e/ runn}1 ! hi<e/ jump}1 ! be/ hitt} & ?r{} & ev5 ! be/ basketball %ot 9 8 class4 ,raymie sd he 3sid}$ hmf a klutz 9 sports b t he 5joy$ wat*+ ,ryan & 0 pr|d 6be 8 fr4
  ,ryan lik$ x :5 ,raymie /ay$ ov}ni<t at 8 h|se or he /ay$ at ,raymie's4 ,secretly1 ,ryan 2liev$ ,raymie _h ! be/ dad4 ,raymie's dad 0 ,ray=d ,/eele ,sr41 an airl9e pilot4 ,he alw call$ x 8driv+0 ! planes1 &! planes he drove 7 ! big "os1 ! #gdg's4
  ,ryan _h gott5 6g 96! cockpit (a #gdg once :5 ,mr4 ,/eele _h tak5 hm & ,raymie 6,o',h>e4 ,!y wat*$ ! planes take (f & l&1 & ,capta9 ,/eele gave !m pilot caps1 w+ p9s1 & ev5 old -put} pr9t|ts ( w1!r 3di;ns & r|te logs4
  ,:5"e ,ryan /ay$ at ,raymie's1 he hop$ ,capta9 ,/eele 0 home & wd tell hm airplane /ories4 ,mr4 ,/eele 9si/$ t 8 job 0 actu,y q r|t9e & bor+4 8,! important ?+ is t we d x "r & d x safely10 he sd4 ,he _h n"e cra%$1 : 4appo9t$ ,ryan 2c he ?"| "! wd 2 a grt /ory 2h "s?+ l t4
  ,! only ?+ ,ryan didn't l ab 2+ at ,raymie's h|se 0 t ,mrs4 ,/eele seem$ s religi|s4 ,%e alw made !m pray 2f !y ate1 & %e (t5 talk$ ab ,god & ev5 told ,bi# /ories4 ,ryan 5joy$ "s ( ~?1 b x made hm n}v|s :5 ,mrs4 ,/eele made ,raymie say 8 pray}s 2f go+ 6sleep4 ,*ur* & pray} & ,bi# /ories _h n"e be5 "p ( ,ryan's life4
  ,8 "f 0 no?+ q z dramatic z an airl9e pilot4 ,ryan's dad 0 a sales manag} =a big plumb+ fixture -pany4 ,ryan 0 pr|d t 8 dad 0 su3ess;l & seem$ 6make gd m"oy4 ,8 dad seem$ a ll upset t1 z he sd1 ,i probably don't make z m* z yr fr's dad1 ! pilot1 b ,i'm n f> 2h40
  ,ryan's "m al "w$1 s he (t5 came home al"o af s*ool4 ,he wasn't suppos$ 6h any"o 9 ! h|se :5 8 p>5ts w}5't "!1 b = _m ye>s he & ,raymie *1t$ on t4 ,!y wd play & eat & wat* televi.n1 alw keep+ an eye | = ,mrs4 ,daley4 ,:5 %e pull$ 96! driveway1 ,raymie wd hurry 6! front door & slip | z %e came 9 ! back4 ,once %e 0 9 ! h|se1 he knew x 0 safe 6r+ ! doorbell z if he _h j gott5 "!4
  ,t kept ,ryan | ( tr|#4 ,b "o "d1 a few mon?s 2f1 t _h all *ang$4 ,=a few "ds1 ,raymie _h excuses = :y he cdn't -e ov} af s*ool4
  ,f9,y ,ryan ask$ hm "r |4 8,:at's ! d1l1 ,raymie80
  8,well1 y're n suppos$ 6h anybody ov} )|t "o ( yr p>5ts "!1 "r80
  8,hello60 ,ryan sd4 8,we've be5 br1k+ t rule =a l;g "t4 ,my mom has n"e ev5 suspect$40
  8,t / doesn't make x "r40
  8,we'll n"e get cau<t1 ,raymie60
  8,/1 i'm n talk+ ab gett+ cau<t4 ,i'm talk+ ab :e!r x's "r40
  8,s1 if %e cat*es u1 we'll tell h} x 0 ! f/ & only "t40
  ,raymie _h %ak5 8 h1d & ,ryan 0 fru/rat$4 8,s y'd make x worse 0ly+10 ,raymie sd4
  8,:o c>es80
  8,i d60 ,raymie sd4
  8,:y all (a su4580
  8,i ne$ 6talk 6y ab t40
  8,!n -e on ov} & we'll talk ab x40
  8,ryan1 y j don't get x4 ,i'm n go+ 6yr h|se anymore :5 yr mom isn't "!1 ,,ok8 ,y don't h 6agree1 b t's h{ x's go+ 6be40
  8,y're "r4 ,i don't get x4 ,:at's got 96y80
  8,:y don't y -e 6my h|se & ,i'll tell y8 ,didn't yr mom say t if y w}5't home :5 %e got home1 ! only o!r place y 7 all{$ 6be 0 my h|se80
  ,ryan agre$4 ,a few m9utes lat} !y 7 talk+ 9 ,raymie's g>age4 ,bo? ,raymie's p>5ts happ5$ 6be home4 ,raymie />t$ "r in4 8,we />t$ go+ 6a new *ur*1 & we've be5 le>n+ a lot ( new ?+s40
  8,oh no1 n ? ag6 ,>e we gonna w9d up pray9'80
  8,no10 ,raymie sd4 8,? is di6}5t4 ,re,y4 ,at |r old *ur* we 2liev$ 9 ,god &! ,bi# & "ey?+--0
  8,don't ,i "k x40
  8,y1h1 b we 7 gett+ k9d ( bor$1 especi,y my mom40
  8,yr ,mom8 ,i ?"| %e lik$ all t /uff40
  8,%e did1 b %e sd "s?+ 0 miss+4 ,"sbody 9vit$ h} 6? new *ur*1 & we />t$ go+1 & we le>n$ a lot m40
  8,l :at80
  8,y re,y want 6"k80
  8,no1 b "s?+ tells me y're go+ 6tell me anyway1 s let's get x ov} )40
  ,ryan _h hop$ t wd 9sult ,raymie j a ll & !y cd get on 6play+1 b ,raymie plung$ ah1d4 8,at ? new *ur*1 ,new ,hope "r "h 9 t{n1 !y h ? re,y nice old pa/or--0
  8,wait1 ! *ur* is call$ :at80
  8,new ,hope ,village ,*ur*40
  8,weird "n =a *ur*40
  8,anyway1 ,pa/or ,bill+s is a re,y nice old guy1 b he doesn't j r1d | (! ,bi# & !n talk ab /uff 9 g5}al l ! guy at |r o!r *ur*4 ,pa/or ,bill+s has "eybody look up ! v}ses & foll{ al;g ) hm1 & he tells u we %d r1d ! ,bi# e "d at home1 too40
  8,e "d8 ,yuck60
  8,no1 x's grt4 ,x's l we c *eck up on hm & make sure we "u/& & agree & all t40
  8,b all t bor+ religi|s /uff60
  8,t's :at ,i us$ 6?9k too1 ,ryan4 ,i lik$ ! /ories 9 ,sun"d s*ool1 b :5 ,i _h 6sit 9 ! s}vice1 ,i hat$ x4 ,i ?"| ,i wd hate x "h1 too1 b ,i don't4 ,pa/or ,bill+s says "!'s m 62+ a ,*ri/ian ?an j go+ 6*ur* & try+ 6be gd4 ,y want 6"k :at he says80
  8,no1 b keep go+4 ,y're gonna 2 a pr1*} yrf "s"d60
  8,he says we c "k ,god40
  8,oh1 -e on60
  8,no6 ,t's :at he says4 ,he %{$ u f ! ,bi# t ,god loves "ey"o & wants !m 6"k hm4 ,t's ! r1son ,jesus came 6e>?4 ,he 0 actu,y ,god &--0
  8,y1h1 & he tau<t u h{ 6live & "ey?+1 ,i "k40
  8,no1 x's m ?an t4 ,he wants p 6become true ,*ri/ians 0 foll{+ hm1 n j do+ :at he sd b lett+ hm live 9 |r lives40
  8,n{ y've lo/ me40
  8,i wi% ,i cd expla9 x l he does4 ,y h 6-e ) me "s"t40
  8,i don't ?9k s40
  8,-e on4 ,if y told me "s?+ 0 grt & important1 ,i'd at l1/ li/540
  8,gd = y4 ,y ?9k ,i'm go+ 6foll{ ,jesus or let hm1 :at did y say1 live 9 '''0
  8,live 9 yr life40
  8,too /range40
  8,i'm j n expla9+ x "r4 ,my mom "ks4 ,let's ask h}40
  8,no6 ,i've he>d 5|<1 ,,ok8 ,y "k ,god n{1 is t x80
  8,well1 y1h'''0
  8,& t makes y want 6foll{ all ! rules & d "ey?+ "r4 ,:y8 ,s y c get 6h1v580
  8,no6,t's :at ,i us$ 6?9k4 ,:5 ,i'd d "s?+ ,i knew 0 wr;g--l br1k+ yr mom's rules & "ey?+--,i felt bad 2c ,i ?"| t mi<t 2 5 6s5d me 6hell4 ,i ?"| if ,i did 5 "r ?+s 6make up =! wr;g ?+s1 maybe ,i'd make x 6h1v54 ,b ,i n"e knew = sure40
  8,n{ ,i'm re,y n gett+ x40
  8,t's :y y %d talk 6my mom4 ,we've bo? rcvd ,*ri/ &--0
  8,rcvd ,*ri/8 ,y're n gonna 2 l ~? p t g >.d knock+ on "eybody's door1 >e y80
  8,"s"ts ,i'd l to1 ,ryan40
  8,s1 if do+ "ey?+ "r is n h{ y get 6h1v51 :y did y all (a su45 2come s p}fect80
  8,i didn't4 ,i want 6d "r ?+s 2c ,i "k t's :at ,god wants4 ,b ,i'm j do+ t 6?ank hm = =giv+ me & sav+ me & promis+ me h1v5 "s"d4 ,"k :at ,i m1n80
  8,no60
  8,& y don't want 6talk 6my mom80
  8,no1 ?anks4 ,:at ab yr dad80
  8,well1 we're pray+ = hm40
  8,s he doesn't g = all ? /uff80
  ,raymie look$ emb>rass$4 8,n re,y40
  8,well1 maybe "sbody 9 ? family / has a bra94 ,:at ab yr big si/}80
  8,we're pray+ = ,*loe too40
  8,s ,i'm n ! only p}son y "k :o ?9ks ? is a lot ( bal"oy40
  8,t's :at y ?9k80
  8,n re,y1 ,raymie4 ,x j s.ds weird1 t's all4 ,& ,i don't ?9k y ev5 "u/& x m*40
  ,raymie %ru7$4 8,t's true1 b ,i "u/& 5|<40
  8,>e we d"o n{80
  8,i guess40
  8,c we play ) t model ( yr dad's plane80
  8,i'll get x40
  ,:5 ,raymie left ! g>age & trott$ up ! /airs 6his room1 he left ! door t l$ 96! h|se op54 ,su45ly ,ryan f.d hmf li/5+ 9 on a /range 3v}s,n4 ,mr4 & ,mrs4 ,/eele 7 talk+ ab "s?+ ev5 weird} ?an ,raymie _h4 8,c y imag9e1 ,rafe80 %e 0 say+1 8,jesus -+ back 6get u 2f we die80
  ,ryan he>d ! rattle (a newspap}4 ,mr4 ,/eele sd1 8,y1h1 boy1 t wd kill me40
  ,n{ ,mrs4 ,/eele s.d$ mad4 8,if ,i didn't "k :at wd happ5 6me10 %e sd1 8,i wdn't 2 s glib ab x40
  8,i d "k :at wd happ5 6me10 ,mr4 ,/eele sd4 8,i'd 2 d1d & g"o4 ,b y1 ( c|rse1 wd fly "r up 6h1v540
  ,t seem$ 6%ut h} up4 ,ryan he>d ,mr4 ,/eele rise4 8,-e on1 ,ir5e10 he sd4 8,tell me ?|s&s ( p wdn't j keel ov}1 if !y saw ,jesus -+ back = all ! gd p40
  ,n{ %e 0 cry+4 8,i've told y & told y4 ,sav$ p >5't gd p1 !y're--0
  8,j =giv51 y1h1 ,i "k40
  ,ryan he>d ,raymie b.d+ back d{n ! /airs1 j z ,mr4 ,/eele 0 say+1 8,if x makes y feel any bett}1 ,i'm happy = y t y c 2 s sure40
  ,raymie's "m answ}$ s(tly4 8,i only 2lieve :at ! ,bi# says40
  ,~! p 7 crazy1 ,ryan decid$4 ,he want$ 6ask ,raymie :at 8 p>5ts m1nt1 talk+ ab ,jesus -+ back = p 2f !y di$4 ,b he j want$ 6play & ?9k ab "s?+ else4 ,he ?"| t maybe "s"d he wd g al;g ) ,raymie 6t new *ur* & see :at all ! excite;t 0 ab4
  ,b he n"e did4
