             ,,TOM ,,SAWY]
               ,,*APT] ,I

  8,TOM60
  ,NO ANSW]4
  8,,TOM60
  ,NO ANSW]4
  8,:AT'S G"O ) T BOY1 ,I WOND]8 ,Y
,,TOM60
  ,NO ANSW]4
  ,! OLD LADY PULL$ H] SPECTACLES D[N &
LOOK$ OV] !M AB ! ROOM2 !N %E PUT !M UP
& LOOK$ \ "U !M4 ,%E SELDOM OR N"E LOOK$
,,"? !M = S SMALL A ?+ Z A BOY2 !Y 7 H]
/ATE PAIR1 ! PRIDE ( H] HE>T1 & 7 BUILT
= 8/YLE10 N S]VICE--%E CD H SE5 "? A
PAIR ( /OVE-LIDS J Z WELL4 ,%E LOOK$
P]PLEX$ =A MO;T1 & !N SD1 N FI]CELY1 B /
L\D 5 =! FURNITURE 6HE>3
  8,WELL1 ,I LAY IF ,I GET HOLD ( Y
,I'LL--0
  ,%E DID N F9I%1 = 0? "T %E 0 B5D+ D[N
& PUN*+ "U ! B$ )! BROOM1 & S %E NE$$
BR1? 6PUNCTUATE ! PUN*ES )4 ,%E
RESURRECT$ NO?+ B ! CAT4
  8,I N"E DID SEE ! B1T ( T BOY60
  ,%E W5T 6! OP5 DOOR & /OOD 9 X & LOOK$
\ AM;G ! TOMATO V9ES & 8JIMPSON0 WE$S T
3/ITUT$ ! G>D54 ,NO ,TOM4 ,S %E LIFT$ UP
H] VOICE AT AN ANGLE CALCULAT$ = 4T.E &
%\T$3
  8,Y-O-U-U ,,TOM60
  ,"! 0 A SLI<T NOISE 2H H] & %E TURN$ J
9 "T 6SEIZE A SMALL BOY 0! SLACK ( 8
R.DAB & >RE/ 8 FLI<T4
  8,"!6 ,I MI<T 'A ?"\ ( T CLOSET4 ,:AT
Y BE5 DO+ 9 "!80
  8,NO?+40
  8,NO?+6 ,LOOK AT YR H&S4 ,& LOOK AT YR
M\?4 ,:AT ,,IS T TRUCK80
  8,I DON'T "K1 AUNT40
  8,WELL1 ,I "K4 ,X'S JAM--T'S :AT X IS4
,=TY "TS ,I'VE SD IF Y DIDN'T LET T JAM
AL"O ,I'D SK9 Y4 ,H& ME T SWIT*40
  ,! SWIT* HOV]$ 9 ! AIR--! P]IL 0
DESP]ATE--
  8,MY6 ,LOOK 2H Y1 AUNT60
  ,! OLD LADY :IRL$ R.D1 & SNAT*$ H]
SKIRTS \ ( DANG]4 ,! LAD FL$ ON ! 9/ANT1
SCRAM#D UP ! HI< BO>D-F;E1 & 4APPE>$ OV]
X4
  ,8 AUNT ,POLLY /OOD SURPRIS$ A MO;T1 &
!N BROKE 96A G5TLE LAU<4
  8,HANG ! BOY1 C'T ,I N"E LE>N ANY?+8
,A9'T HE PLAY$ ME TRICKS 5 L T = ME 6BE
LOOK+ \ = HM 0? "T8 ,B OLD FOOLS IS !
BI7E/ FOOLS "! IS4 ,C'T LE>N AN OLD DOG
NEW TRICKS1 Z ! SAY+ IS4 ,B MY GD;S1 HE
N"E PLAYS !M ALIKE1 TWO "DS1 & H[ IS A
BODY 6"K :AT'S -+8 ,HE 'PE>S 6"K J H[
L;G HE C TOR;T ME 2F ,I GET MY D&] UP1 &
HE "KS IF HE C MAKE \ 6PUT ME (F =A
M9UTE OR MAKE ME LAU<1 X'S ALL D[N AG &
,I C'T HIT HM A LICK4 ,I A9'T DO+ MY
DUTY 0T BOY1 & T'S ! ,"L'S TRU?1 GD;S
"KS4 ,SP>E ! ROD & SPILE ! *1 Z ! ,GD
,BOOK SAYS4 ,I'M A LAY+ UP S9 & SU6]+ =
U BO?1 ,I "K4 ,HE'S FULL (! ,OLD
,SCRAT*1 B LAWS-A-ME6 ,HE'S MY [N D1D
SI/]'S BOY1 POOR ?+1 & ,I A9'T GOT !
HE>T 6LA% HM1 "SH[4 ,E "T ,I LET HM (F1
MY 3SCI;E DOES HURT ME S1 & E "T ,I HIT
HM MY OLD HE>T MO/ BR1KS4 ,WELL-A-WELL1
MAN T IS BORN ( WOMAN IS ( FEW "DS &
FULL ( TR\#1 Z ! ,SCRIPTURE SAYS1 & ,I
RECKON X'S S4 ,HE'LL PLAY HOOKEY ? EV5+1
99 & ,799 ,S\?WE/]N = 'AFN07'
  ,I'LL J 2 OBLEEG$ 6MAKE HM "W1 TO-
MORR[1 6PUNI% HM4 ,X'S MI<TY H>D 6MAKE
HM "W ,SATUR"DS1 :5 ALL ! BOYS IS HAV+
HOLI"D1 B HE HATES "W M ?AN HE HATES
ANY?+ ELSE1 & ,I'VE ,,GOT 6D "S ( MY
DUTY 0HM1 OR ,I'LL 2 ! RU9,N (! *40
  ,TOM DID PLAY HOOKEY1 & HE _H A V GD
"T4 ,HE GOT BACK HOME B>ELY 9 S1SON
6HELP ,JIM1 ! SMALL COLOR$ BOY1 SAW
NEXT-"D'S WOOD & SPLIT ! K9DL+S 2F SUPP]
--AT L1/ HE 0 "! 9 "T 6TELL 8 ADV5TURES
6,JIM :ILE ,JIM DID ?REE-F\R?S (! "W4
,TOM'S "Y] BRO!R 7OR R HALF-BRO!R7 ,SID
0 ALR "? ) 8 "P (! "W 7PICK+ UP *IPS71 =
HE 0 A QUIET BOY1 & _H NO ADV5TUR\S1
TR\#"S WAYS4
  ,:ILE ,TOM 0 EAT+ 8 SUPP]1 & /1L+ SUG>
Z OPPORTUN;Y (F]$1 ,AUNT ,POLLY ASK$ HM
"QS T 7 FULL ( GUILE1 & V DEEP--= %E
WANT$ 6TRAP HM 96DAMAG+ REV1L;TS4 ,L _M
O!R SIMPLE-HE>T$ S\LS1 X 0 H] PET VAN;Y
62LIEVE %E 0 5D[$ )A TAL5T = D>K &
MY/]I\S DIPLOMACY1 & %E LOV$ 63TEMPLATE
H] MO/ TRANSP>5T DEVICES Z M>VELS ( L[
CUNN+4 ,SD %E3
  8,TOM1 X 0 MI4L+ W>M 9 S*OOL1 W>N'T
X80
  8,YES'M40
  8,P[];L W>M1 W>N'T X80
  8,YES'M40
  8,DIDN'T Y WANT 6G 9 A-SWIMM+1 ,TOM80
  ,A BIT (A SC>E %OT "? ,TOM--A T\* (
UNCOM=TA# SUSPICION4 ,HE SE>*$ ,AUNT
,POLLY'S FACE1 B X TOLD HM NO?+4 ,S HE
SD3
  8,NO'M--WELL1 N V M*40
  ,! OLD LADY R1*$ \ H] H& & FELT ,TOM'S
%IRT1 & SD3
  8,B Y A9'T TOO W>M N[1 ?\<40 ,& X
FLATT]$ H] 6REFLECT T %E _H 4COV]$ T !
%IRT 0 DRY )\T ANYBODY "K+ T T 0 :AT %E
_H 9 H] M9D4 ,B 9 SPITE ( H]1 ,TOM KNEW
": ! W9D LAY1 N[4 ,S HE =E/ALL$ :AT MI<T
2 ! NEXT MOVE3
  8,"S ( U PUMP$ ON \R H1DS--M9E'S DAMP
YET4 ,SEE80
  ,AUNT ,POLLY 0 VEX$ 6?9K %E _H
OV]LOOK$ T BIT ( CIRCUM/ANTIAL EVID;E1 &
MISS$ A TRICK4 ,!N %E _H A NEW 9SPIR,N3
  8,TOM1 Y DIDN'T H 6UNDO YR %IRT COLL>
": ,I SEW$ X1 6PUMP ON YR H1D1 DID Y8
,UNBUTTON YR JACKET60
  ,! TR\# VANI%$ \ ( ,TOM'S FACE4 ,HE
OP5$ 8 JACKET4 ,8 %IRT COLL> 0 SECURELY
SEW$4
  8,BO!R6 ,WELL1 G ,8L;G ) Y4 ,I'D MADE
SURE Y'D PLAY$ HOOKEY & BE5 A-SWIMM+4 ,B
,I =GIVE YE1 ,TOM4 ,I RECKON Y'RE A K9D
(A S+$ CAT1 Z ! SAY+ IS--BETT]'N Y LOOK4
,,? "T40
  ,%E 0 HALF SORRY H] SAGAC;Y _H
MISC>RI$1 & HALF GLAD T ,TOM _H /UM#D
96OB$I5T 3DUCT = ONCE4
  ,B ,SIDNEY SD3
  8,WELL1 N[1 IF ,I DIDN'T ?9K Y SEW$ 8
COLL> ) :ITE ?R1D1 B X'S BLACK40
  8,:Y1 ,I DID SEW X ) :ITE6 ,TOM60
  ,B ,TOM DID N WAIT =! RE/4 ,Z HE W5T \
AT ! DOOR HE SD3
  8,SI4Y1 ,I'LL LICK Y = T40
  ,9 A SAFE PLACE ,TOM EXAM9$ TWO L>GE
NE$LES : 7 ?RU/ 96! LAPELS ( 8 JACKET1 &
_H ?R1D B.D AB !M--"O NE$LE C>RI$ :ITE
?R1D &! O!R BLACK4 ,HE SD3
  8,%E'D N"E NOTIC$ IF X _HN'T BE5 =
,SID4 ,3F.D X6 ,"S"TS %E SEWS X ) :ITE1
& "S"TS %E SEWS X ) BLACK4 ,I WI% 6GEE-
M9Y %E'D /ICK 6"O OR T'O!R--,I C'T KEEP
! RUN ( 'EM4 ,B ,I BET Y ,I'LL LAM ,SID
= T4 ,I'LL LE>N HM60
  ,HE 0 N ! ,MODEL ,BOY (! VILLAGE4 ,HE
KNEW ! MODEL BOY V WELL ?\<--& LOA!D HM4
  ,)9 TWO M9UTES1 OR EV5 LESS1 HE _H
=GOTT5 ALL 8 TR\#S4 ,N 2C 8 TR\#S 7 "O
:IT LESS H1VY & BITT] 6HM ?AN A MAN'S >E
6A MAN1 B 2C A NEW & P[];L 9T]E/ BORE !M
D[N & DROVE !M \ ( 8 M9D =! "T--J Z M5'S
MIS=TUNES >E =GOTT5 9 ! EXCITE;T ( NEW
5T]PRISES4 ,? NEW 9T]E/ 0 A VALU$
NOVELTY 9 :I/L+1 : HE _H J ACQUIR$ F A
NEGRO1 & HE 0 SU6]+ 6PRACTISE X
UNDISTURB$4 ,X 3SI/$ 9 A PECULI> BIRD-L
TURN1 A SORT ( LIQUID W>#1 PRODUC$ 0T\*+
! T;GUE 6! RO( (! M\? AT %ORT 9T]VALS 9
! MID/ (! MUSIC--! R1D] PROBABLY
REMEMB]S H[ 6D X1 IF HE HAS "E BE5 A
BOY4 ,DILIG;E & ATT5;N SOON GAVE HM !
KNACK ( X1 & HE /RODE D[N ! /REET ) 8
M\? FULL ( H>MONY & 8 S\L FULL (
GRATITUDE4 ,HE FELT M* Z AN A/RONOM]
FEELS :O HAS 4COV]$ A NEW PLANET--NO
D\BT1 Z F> Z /R;G1 DEEP1 UNALLOY$
PL1SURE IS 3C]N$1 ! ADVANTAGE 0 )! BOY1
N ! A/RONOM]4
  ,! SUMM] EV5+S 7 L;G4 ,X 0 N D>K1 YET4
,PRES5TLY ,TOM *ECK$ 8 :I/LE4 ,A /RANG]
0 2F HM--A BOY A %ADE L>G] ?AN HMF4 ,A
NEW-COM] ( ANY AGE OR EI SEX 0 AN
IMPRESSIVE CURIOS;Y 9 ! POOR LL %A2Y
VILLAGE ( ,/4 ,PET]SBURG4 ,? BOY 0 WELL
DRESS$1 TOO--WELL DRESS$ ON A WEEK-"D4
,? 0 SIMPLY A/.D+4 ,8 CAP 0 A DA9TY ?+1
8 CLOSE- BUTTON$ BLUE CLO? R.DAB 0 NEW &
NATTY1 & S 7 8 PANTALOONS4 ,HE _H %OES
ON--& X 0 ONLY ,FRI"D4 ,HE EV5 WORE A
NECKTIE1 A B"R BIT ( RI2ON4 ,HE _H A
CITIFI$ AIR AB HM T ATE 96,TOM'S VITALS4
,! M ,TOM />$ AT ! SPL5DID M>VEL1 ! HI<]
HE TURN$ UP 8 NOSE AT 8 F9]Y &! %A2I] &
%A2I] 8 [N \TFIT SEEM$ 6HM 6GR[4 ,NEI
BOY SPOKE4 ,IF "O MOV$1 ! O!R MOV$--B
ONLY SIDEWISE1 9 A CIRCLE2 !Y KEPT FACE
6FACE & EYE 6EYE ALL ! "T4 ,F9,Y ,TOM
SD3
  8,I C LICK Y60
  8,I'D L 6SEE Y TRY X40
  8,WELL1 ,I C D X40
  8,NO Y C'T1 EI40
  8,YES ,I C40
  8,NO Y C'T40
  8,I C40
  8,Y C'T40
  8,C60
  8,C'T60
  ,AN UNCOM=TA# PAUSE4 ,!N ,TOM SD3
  8,:AT'S YR "N80
  8,8,TISN'T ANY ( YR BUSI;S1 MAYBE40
  8,WELL ,I 'L[ ,I'LL ,,MAKE X MY

  BUSI;S40
  8,WELL :Y DON'T Y80
  8,IF Y SAY M*1 ,I W40
  8,M*--M*--,,M*4 ,"! N[40
  8,OH1 Y ?9K Y'RE MI<TY SM>T1 ,,DON'T
Y8 ,I CD LICK Y ) "O H& TI$ 2H ME1 IF ,I
WANT$ TO40
  8,WELL :Y DON'T Y ,,D X8 ,Y ,,SAY Y C
D X40
  8,WELL ,I ,,W1 IF Y FOOL ) ME40
  8,OH YES--,I'VE SE5 :OLE FAMILIES 9 !
SAME FIX40
  8,SM>TY6 ,Y ?9K Y'RE ,,"S1 N[1 ,,DON'T
Y8 ,OH1 :AT A HAT60
  8,Y C LUMP T HAT IF Y DON'T L X4 ,I
D>E Y 6KNOCK X (F--& ANYBODY T'LL TAKE A
D>E W SUCK E7S40
  8,Y'RE A LI>60
  8,Y'RE ANO!R40
  8,Y'RE A FI<T+ LI> & DASN'T TAKE X
UP40
  8,AW--TAKE A WALK60
  8,SAY--IF Y GIVE ME M* M ( YR SASS
,I'LL TAKE & B\NCE A ROCK (F'N YR H1D40
  8,OH1 ( ,,C\RSE Y W40
  8,WELL ,I ,,W40
  8,WELL :Y DON'T Y ,,D X !N8 ,:AT D Y
KEEP ,,SAY+ Y W =8 ,:Y DON'T Y ,,D X8
,X'S 2C Y'RE AFRAID40
  8,I ,,A9'T AFRAID40
  8,Y >E40
  8,I A9'T40
  8,Y >E40
  ,ANO!R PAUSE1 & M EY+ & SIDL+ >.D EA*
O!R4 ,PRES5TLY !Y 7 %\LD] 6%\LD]4 ,TOM
SD3
  8,GET AWAY F "H60
  8,G AWAY YRF60
  8,I WON'T40
  8,I WON'T EI40
  ,S !Y /OOD1 EA* )A FOOT PLAC$ AT AN
ANGLE Z A BRACE1 & BO? %OV+ ) MI<T &
MA91 & GL[]+ AT EA* O!R ) HATE4 ,B NEI
CD GET AN ADVANTAGE4 ,AF /RU7L+ TILL BO?
7 HOT & FLU%$1 EA* RELAX$ 8 /RA9 )
WAT*;L CAU;N1 & ,TOM SD3
  8,Y'RE A C[>D &A PUP4 ,I'LL TELL MY
BIG BRO!R ON Y1 & HE C ?RA% Y ) 8 LL
F+]1 & ,I'LL MAKE HM D X1 TOO40
  8,:AT D ,I C>E = YR BIG BRO!R8 ,I'VE
GOT A BRO!R T'S BI7] ?AN HE IS--& :AT'S
M1 HE C ?R[ HM OV] T F;E1 TOO40 ,7,BO?
BRO!RS 7 IMAG9>Y47'
  8,T'S A LIE40
  8,,YR SAY+ S DON'T MAKE X S40
  ,TOM DREW A L9E 9 ! DU/ ) 8 BIG TOE1 &
SD3
  8,I D>E Y 6/EP OV] T1 & ,I'LL LICK Y
TILL Y C'T /& UP4 ,ANYBODY T'LL TAKE A
D>E W /1L %EEP40
  ,! NEW BOY /EPP$ OV] PROMPTLY1 & SD3
  8,N[ Y SD Y'D D X1 N[ LET'S SEE Y D
X40
  8,DON'T Y CR[D ME N[2 Y BETT] LOOK \40
  8,WELL1 Y ,,SD Y'D D X--:Y DON'T Y D
X80
  8,0J+O6 ,= TWO C5TS ,I ,,W D X40
  ,! NEW BOY TOOK TWO BROAD COPP]S \ ( 8
POCKET & HELD !M \ ) DERI.N4 ,TOM /RUCK
!M 6! GR.D4 ,9 AN 9/ANT BO? BOYS 7 ROLL+
& TUMBL+ 9 ! DIRT1 GRIPP$ TGR L CATS2 &=
! SPACE (A M9UTE !Y TU7$ & TORE AT EA*
O!R'S HAIR & CLO!S1 PUN*$ & SCRAT*$ EA*
O!R'S NOSE1 & COV]$ !MVS ) DU/ & GLORY4
,PRES5TLY ! 3FU.N TOOK =M1 & "? ! FOG (
BATTLE ,TOM APPE>$1 S1T$ A/RIDE ! NEW
BOY1 & P.D+ HM ) 8 FI/S4 8,HOLL] 'NUFF60
SD HE4
  ,! BOY ONLY /RU7L$ 6FREE HMF4 ,HE 0
CRY+--MA9LY F RAGE4
  8,HOLL] 'NUFF60--&! P.D+ W5T ON4
  ,AT LA/ ! /RANG] GOT \ A S"M$
8',NUFF60 & ,TOM LET HM UP & SD3
  8,N[ T'LL LE>N Y4 ,BETT] LOOK \ :O
Y'RE FOOL+ ) NEXT "T40
  ,! NEW BOY W5T (F BRU%+ ! DU/ F 8
CLO!S1 SO2+1 SNU6L+1 & O3A.N,Y LOOK+
BACK & %AK+ 8 H1D & ?R1T5+ :AT HE WD D
6,TOM ! 8NEXT "T HE CAU<T HM \40 ,6:
,TOM RESPOND$ ) JE]S1 & />T$ (F 9 HI<
F1!R1 & Z SOON Z 8 BACK 0 TURN$ ! NEW
BOY SNAT*$ UP A /"O1 ?REW X & HIT HM 2T
! %\LD]S & !N TURN$ TAIL & RAN L AN
ANTELOPE4 ,TOM *AS$ ! TRAITOR HOME1 &
?US F.D \ ": HE LIV$4 ,HE !N HELD A
POSI;N AT ! GATE = "S "T1 D>+ ! 5EMY 6-E
\TSIDE1 B ! 5EMY ONLY MADE FACES AT HM
"? ! W9D[ & DECL9$4 ,AT LA/ ! 5EMY'S "M
APPE>$1 & CALL$ ,TOM A BAD1 VICI\S1
VULG> *1 & ORD]$ HM AWAY4 ,S HE W5T
AWAY2 B HE SD HE 8,8L[$0 TO 8LAY0 = T
BOY4
  ,HE GOT HOME PRETTY LATE T NI<T1 & :5
HE CLIMB$ CAUTI\SLY 9 AT ! W9D[1 HE
UNCOV]$ AN AMBUSCADE1 9 ! P]SON ( 8
AUNT2 & :5 %E SAW ! /ATE 8 CLO!S 7 9 H]
RESOLU;N 6TURN 8 ,SATUR"D HOLI"D
96CAPTIV;Y AT H>D LABOR 2CAME ADAMANT9E
9 XS FIRM;S4


