watch.
Uriah gives Bo a questioning look. “Why don’t you just go to the courthouse to get stuff notarized?”
Bo makes a face. “Because Tallulah Moore is still the court clerk, and the only notary. She’s just as nasty as when she was a substitute teacher when we were kids and I avoid her at all costs. I’d rather go to Fancy. She’s tough, but she’s not nasty.”
“I understand that.” Uriah nods and his face scrunches at he looks skyward. “You had lunch?”
Now, Papa, I know you’re a cunning fellow, but this idea is sounding about as good as sticking my hand in a dark hole hoping to pull out a catfish. What if there’s a snake in there?
Bo looks at me and then at Uriah and then at me again. He’s thinking the same thing I am only he’s not hiding it as well. “I don’t know.”
“Oh come on. We’re friends, me and you. How many times did I help you tip the cows in your grandma’s field?”
Bo laughs at the memory. A memory I’m absent in. “All right. Where?”
Uriah looks at me. “Lady’s choice.”
“Tish’s. Just don’t want them cold ever again.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you two there.” Bo looks at his watch again and sprints in the direction of the Kettlefish and I walk around the front of the pickup and hop in. If I’m going, I may as well ride.
The truck rumbles as Uriah hits the gas pedal. It chugs along and he’s humming a hymn I recognize: All to Jesus I Surrender. There you go again, Papa. That finger you got seems to be extra sharp today. I rub the spot on my chest that’s directly over my heart. I hear the little voice that seems to be growing louder the longer I’m in town.
Papa says, “Sometimes my finger needs to be extra pointy; otherwise, no one listens.”
I can feel the tears burning to be released, but I blink a few times. That seems to quell the tide in my eyes, and I decide the silence isn’t what I want right now. “Why’d you invite Bo?”
Uriah stops humming. “Why not?”
“You didn’t see the looks he was giving me?”
“I saw them. I want him to confront them. I want him to see you and stop being jealous. I want him to move on and find someone who will love him. If we keep just tossing him aside, we let his anger grow and fester and we can’t do that. It’s not what Jesus, or Papa, would want.”
Well, dang. “Okay. Point taken.”
Chapter Twelve
Bo slides into the seat next to me. Uriah has ordered enough tacos I believe them to be in my foreseeable breakfast future. I slide a bag to Bo. “No lettuce this time,” I say.
He bumps me with his shoulder and smiles. “You know me so well.”
“So, what plans have you got for Friday?” Uriah directs the question to Bo.
Bo unwraps his taco and takes a bite before answering. “I thought I’d go to the town over and see a show. They’ve got a run of old movies playing.”
“The drive-in?”
“Yeah, should be fun. What are you doing?”
“I’d like to go with you if you’ve got the room.”
Bo looks taken aback. I look taken aback. We got abacks flying left and right. I look at them with wide eyes, eating my taco, keeping my mouth full.
“Well, you got someone special you’re taking or can I come?” Uriah chomps down on his chicken taco and a strip hangs down his chin. I can help but snicker as he pushes it in his mouth and gives me a smile.
“No, I’m not taking anyone special. You mean you aren’t spending every waking moment with Lilly?”
My strategy to keep food in my mouth backfires and I choke. I take a sip of soda to stop the hacking. Uriah comes to my rescue though and says, “Lilly needs Lilly time and I need guy time with someone I considered a good friend before I left for the service.”
Lilly needs Lilly time. I do have homework. Stupid homework.
Bo twists to look at me. “Well, she certainly can’t go. Judge Kringle has her on lockdown in Foaming Springs.”
“Told you bad girls don’t have options,” I say without looking at either of
Uriah gives Bo a questioning look. “Why don’t you just go to the courthouse to get stuff notarized?”
Bo makes a face. “Because Tallulah Moore is still the court clerk, and the only notary. She’s just as nasty as when she was a substitute teacher when we were kids and I avoid her at all costs. I’d rather go to Fancy. She’s tough, but she’s not nasty.”
“I understand that.” Uriah nods and his face scrunches at he looks skyward. “You had lunch?”
Now, Papa, I know you’re a cunning fellow, but this idea is sounding about as good as sticking my hand in a dark hole hoping to pull out a catfish. What if there’s a snake in there?
Bo looks at me and then at Uriah and then at me again. He’s thinking the same thing I am only he’s not hiding it as well. “I don’t know.”
“Oh come on. We’re friends, me and you. How many times did I help you tip the cows in your grandma’s field?”
Bo laughs at the memory. A memory I’m absent in. “All right. Where?”
Uriah looks at me. “Lady’s choice.”
“Tish’s. Just don’t want them cold ever again.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you two there.” Bo looks at his watch again and sprints in the direction of the Kettlefish and I walk around the front of the pickup and hop in. If I’m going, I may as well ride.
The truck rumbles as Uriah hits the gas pedal. It chugs along and he’s humming a hymn I recognize: All to Jesus I Surrender. There you go again, Papa. That finger you got seems to be extra sharp today. I rub the spot on my chest that’s directly over my heart. I hear the little voice that seems to be growing louder the longer I’m in town.
Papa says, “Sometimes my finger needs to be extra pointy; otherwise, no one listens.”
I can feel the tears burning to be released, but I blink a few times. That seems to quell the tide in my eyes, and I decide the silence isn’t what I want right now. “Why’d you invite Bo?”
Uriah stops humming. “Why not?”
“You didn’t see the looks he was giving me?”
“I saw them. I want him to confront them. I want him to see you and stop being jealous. I want him to move on and find someone who will love him. If we keep just tossing him aside, we let his anger grow and fester and we can’t do that. It’s not what Jesus, or Papa, would want.”
Well, dang. “Okay. Point taken.”
Chapter Twelve
Bo slides into the seat next to me. Uriah has ordered enough tacos I believe them to be in my foreseeable breakfast future. I slide a bag to Bo. “No lettuce this time,” I say.
He bumps me with his shoulder and smiles. “You know me so well.”
“So, what plans have you got for Friday?” Uriah directs the question to Bo.
Bo unwraps his taco and takes a bite before answering. “I thought I’d go to the town over and see a show. They’ve got a run of old movies playing.”
“The drive-in?”
“Yeah, should be fun. What are you doing?”
“I’d like to go with you if you’ve got the room.”
Bo looks taken aback. I look taken aback. We got abacks flying left and right. I look at them with wide eyes, eating my taco, keeping my mouth full.
“Well, you got someone special you’re taking or can I come?” Uriah chomps down on his chicken taco and a strip hangs down his chin. I can help but snicker as he pushes it in his mouth and gives me a smile.
“No, I’m not taking anyone special. You mean you aren’t spending every waking moment with Lilly?”
My strategy to keep food in my mouth backfires and I choke. I take a sip of soda to stop the hacking. Uriah comes to my rescue though and says, “Lilly needs Lilly time and I need guy time with someone I considered a good friend before I left for the service.”
Lilly needs Lilly time. I do have homework. Stupid homework.
Bo twists to look at me. “Well, she certainly can’t go. Judge Kringle has her on lockdown in Foaming Springs.”
“Told you bad girls don’t have options,” I say without looking at either of
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