100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson Read Free Book Online

plaster. This time he hit it well into the field on the other side of the ditch.
    â€œYeah,” Henry said. “Not so much a bad dream. More a weird one.”
    â€œYou like it out here by the fields?” Frank asked.
    Henry nodded.
    â€œSo do I,” Frank said. “Helps me think.” Frank looked over at him. “You know, Henry, I’ve gained some worldly wisdom since we last spoke of tumblin’ weeds.” He raised his eyebrows. “I used to think a Japanese businessman and his money were soon parted. Now I’ve learned different. It’s only true if you’re from Texas.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWell, just an hour or two after the auction closed on my tumbleweed, some guy piles on there sellin’
    â€˜Genuine Texas Tumbleweed.’ He throws in a certificate of authenticity and a little framed photo of the weed where he found it. My buyers backed out and bought his stuff.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry, Uncle Frank.” Henry glanced at the blanket and the plaster and then looked quickly back at his uncle. “What’re you going to do with all the tumbleweed in the barn?”
    â€œSet it free.” Frank sighed. “It’s wild stuff anyway. Wasn’t meant to live in captivity. My heart breaks to see it in a cage and all that.” Three straight plaster chunks floated into the air. Frank only missed the last one.
    â€œDo we have to take it back?” Henry asked. “Back to the culverts?”
    â€œNope. I’ll just throw it in the yard. The wind’ll do what it always does, and the weeds will tumble until the world does what it does and they all drop into another culvert.”
    Frank braced himself with the bat and clambered to his feet. Henry followed him.
    â€œOr maybe they’ll roll free for a while,” Frank said. “I’d like to think they could see some things, make a few pilgrimages before they settle.” He turned and faced Henry. “Well, we got a busy afternoon ahead of us, so we better loosen up and head back.”
    â€œWhat do we have to do?” Henry asked.
    â€œI sharpened your knife up a bit last night, but I wanted to put a little better edge on it.” Frank held the bat up. “And I dug this out of the barn so we could play some baseball.” He stepped off through the tall grass. “And don’t forget your blanket,” he said over his shoulder. “You might want to shake it out. It’s lookin’ pretty gritty.”
    Henry did shake out his blanket, then nervously followed Uncle Frank back toward the barn.
    â€œHeard you fell down the stairs this morning, Henry,” Uncle Frank said. “You don’t seem too much worse for wear. I’ve been down those myself. Only I broke my collarbone.”
    â€œYeah,” Henry said. “It was early. I thought I’d slept in again.”
    â€œOh, don’t worry about that,” Uncle Frank said. “Boys should sleep in during the summer. I don’t know how else people expect them to grow. Dots says I got to get you a clock for your room, though. I don’t think I have anything in the barn. Not anything that works. We’ll see if she asks again.”
    Frank began whistling, glanced back again to make sure Henry was far enough behind, and then swung the bat through the grass. The barn loomed beside them.
    â€œDo you have any more old posters, Uncle Frank?” Henry asked. He was trying not to sound guilty. “In the barn, I mean? That I could hang up in my room?”
    Frank stuck his lower lip up toward his nose while he walked. “Not sure. I’ll look around, though.” He stopped at the back door. “Let’s start with your knife. We’ll take a little batting practice after lunch. Where is your knife? You must have grabbed it, because I left it on the counter.”
    â€œYeah, it’s up in my room. I’ll get it for you.” Henry ran