and looked at
Theo again.
'The principal of our school is in Memphis, but I talked to him long distance before I drove over here.' He pushed the folded
paper toward Theo. 'We both think you'll be happy with this.'
He stood and nodded to Cherry. 'I can't keep Billie waiting any longer, and I sure thank you for letting me interrupt your
upper hour. Theo, I look forward to seeing you at our practice tomorrow. Mike knows the where and when.'
He handed Theo the legal-sized papers he'd placed next to the folded note, shook his hand as he told him it was a pleasure
talking with him, and then worked his way through the boys to the door. He paused at the doorway. 'You wouldn't happen to
have a teacher's certificate, would you, Theo?'
'No.'
'I didn't think so, but I thought I should ask. It's all right. You needn't worry. The board of education will work with us on this,
you being a special circumstance and all. Good night, everybody.'
Theo didn't rush after Freeland to set him straight. He decided he could wait until practice the next day to explain things. Without the chaos that surrounded him in the small kitchen, calmer heads would prevail.
'Mama, when are we gonna eat?' John Patrick asked.
'I'm putting it on the table right this minute.'
'We should be going,' Theo said to Michelle.
'You'll stay to supper?' Cherry asked. 'We've got plenty.'
He shook his head. 'Ordinarily I'd take you up on your offer, but the fact is my stomach isn't up to a meal just yet. I ate some
of Jake's gumbo, and it was a little too spicy for me. My stomach's giving me fits.'
It was a lie, but Michelle thought he'd told it well. Cherry was nodding in sympathy. Daryl looked a little suspicious.
'We always have enough to feed our guests.'
'He's from the big city, Daryl,' Michelle reminded him as though that explained everything.
'I forgot about that,' he said. 'I guess Jake's gumbo would upset your stomach if you weren't used to hot food.'
'I could make you a cup of my special tea,' Cherry offered. 'It should settle you down in no time at all.'
'I sure would appreciate that.'
Daryl nodded. 'Fix him up then, Cherry. Mike, do you mind changing this bandage for me while you're here?'
And so Theo drank hot, bitter tea in a hot, muggy kitchen while Michelle rebandaged Daryl's hand and Cherry fed her children. John Patrick insisted on moving his plate next to Theo, and by the time the child finished eating, Theo's stomach was growling.
It took extreme discipline not to grab one of the homemade biscuits out of the kid's hand.
They left the family after Theo had finished his third cup of tea. John Patrick took hold of Theo's hand and officially walked him onto the front porch. The little boy tugged on Theo's shirt and said, 'Tomorrow's my birthday. Are you gonna get me a present?'
'That depends,' Theo replied. 'You have anything specific in mind?'
'Maybe you could come back with a bigger gun.' He let go of Theo's hand and looked over his shoulder. 'Don't tell Mama I
asked you for a present.'
Michelle had already gone down the steps and was waiting for Theo by the car.
'That kid,' Theo remarked as he backed the car onto the road. 'I've got a feeling we'll be reading about him in about fifteen years.'
'He's an angel.'
'He's bloodthirsty,' he countered. 'I don't get it. He's got at least four older brothers… right?'
'Yes?'
'So how come they don't tell this Lois to leave him the hell alone? I used to look out for my younger brothers and sisters. I wouldn't let anyone mess with them. That's what big brothers are supposed to do.'
'Do you still look out for them?'
'Do your brothers still look out for you?'
'They try,' she said. 'Fortunately, Remy is in Colorado, so he can't interfere in my life too much these days, and John Paul has always been a bit reclusive. Of course, he still shows up at the most unexpected times. I think Daddy sends out an SOS every once in a while.'
John Patrick was frantically waving to them. Michelle rolled down her window and waved back to the little boy.
Theo put the car in drive and headed toward Bowen. Glancing back at the child, he shook his head and said, 'I'm telling you,
that kid's just not normal.'
She laughed. 'He's a perfectly normal little boy.'
'Lois isn't a neighbor, is she?'
'So you noticed there aren't any other houses on this stretch. No wonder you work for the Justice Department. You're very observant.'
'Hey, I'm on vacation,' he countered. 'I'm allowed to be a little slow. So tell me, what exactly is Lois? A possum? No, I bet it's
a raccoon. God, it's not a snake, is it? They can dig holes and-'
'Lois is an alligator.'
He slammed on the brakes and damn near wrecked the car, narrowly missing a big oak when he swerved off the road. Even though he knew alligators lived in the swamp-hell, he read
And who in his right mind named an alligator Lois? 'Are you telling me there's a full-fledged, live alligator living in that kid's backyard?'
The expression on Theo's face was priceless. He looked as though he'd just found out there really was a bogeyman.
'That's exactly what I'm telling you. The females are very territorial. Lois has decided their backyard belongs to her. She chases anyone who goes out there… or at least she did, until my brother moved her. And, by the way, I would appreciate it if you didn't mention this to Ben Nelson. Alligators are protected, and my brother could get into trouble.'
'Do you people name all your alligators?'
'Just some.'
He rubbed his forehead. 'Jeez,' he whispered.
'You ready to go back to Boston?'
'Not before I go fishing. So tell me, how do I get back to your place?'
She gave him directions, and before he knew it, they were in St. Claire, where there were actually sidewalks. When he turned
the corner at an honest to goodness traffic light, he could see the golden arches looming in the distance.
'Ah,' he sighed. 'Civilization.'
'I'm still going to cook a healthy dinner when we get home,' she said. 'But I figured…'
'What?'
'You deserved a treat.'
