Dead Man Running by Barry Davis Read Free Book Online

Braunkisha .  She be o ' ly five year old but she wants to a x you a question.  Go ahead child . "
    Wiley's eyes travelled from the old woman to the face of the child.
    " Reverend Wiley, my daddy keeps hurting Mommy?  Can you help me? "
    Wiley stare d at her with a blank look.  " Bring ya momma in and I'll heal her too! "
    The old woman stood open mouthed .  Wiley lift ed his head and quickly walk ed off.
    The young child jumped up and down, tear s coming out her eyes.  " You see, granny, t he c ongressman gonna help Mommy!"
     
    Jan reached the scene of the accident.  The crowd wa s still buzzing.
    " Has anybody seen Congressman Wiley? "
    A shopkeeper hear d the question.   " Have we seen him?  Who hasn't? "  He shove d a Droid in her face and she watche d the YouTube video of his miraculous resurrection. 
    " Where did he go? " she asked as she handed the man back his phone.
    " I don't know.  He got hit by a car, got thrown up in the air thirty feet , broke his leg, then he broke it back and took off. "
    " What direction did he go? " she tried again.
    About a half dozen people point ed south.  Jan sprint ed in that direction. 
    A few block s later, the avenue led onto a bridge.  Jan g ot to the crown of the bridge , her breath ragged.  She look ed in all directions.  No sign of Wiley.  There we re few buildings around.  Mostly vacant lots except for a small school building on the opposite end of the bridge.
     
    Jan rushe d inside the school, bolting to the visitor's desk.  An older woman stood behind the desk.
    " Excuse me but I'm looking for Congressman Wiley.  Have you seen him ?"
    " He walked past here about fifteen minutes ago.   Are you from his staff?"
    "Yes," Jan said.  She smiled, collected herself.  " He didn't say anything, did he? "
    " Sounded like he was talking to someone about nuts, but I don't hear too well , " said the woman.
    " Oh, God.  Do you know where he went? "
    " I think he's in Mrs. Tolliver's class. "
    " Where? "
    " Down the hall, second door on the right. "
    Jan sprint ed out the room.
    " But you need a hall pass... , " the old woman called after her.
    Jan g ot to the room.  As she approache d , she heard the singing.  "T he itsy bitsy spider came down the water spout, out came the rain and washed the spider out! "
    Jan enter ed the room.  There wa s Wiley, holding hands with an adult female who had to be Mrs. Tolliver.  Linking hands with that pair were nearly a dozen children.  The group was singing and acting out the song.  Wiley's arms spread out as they all sang "O ut came the sun and dried out all the rain! "
    As she release d his arm, Mrs. Tolliver and her class ma d e a climbing motion with their fingers .  "A s the itsy bitsy sp ider climbs up the spout again!"
    Jan wa s stunned as Wiley ma de the climbing motion along with them.  He seem ed to be evolving – somehow becoming more aware – more human.  As the music end ed , the class cheer ed .
    Mrs. Tolliver quieted her class.  " Okay children , what do you want to sing next with Congressman Wiley? "
    'Hokey Pokey' someone shouted. 
    " Okay, everybody get in a circle! "
    The dozen or so children assemble d in a circle.  Wiley look ed around and slowly shuffle d into place.  The singing beg an again. 
    "P ut your right leg in! "
    The students put their legs in.  Wiley follow ed along.  Jan watche d , astonished.
    "P ut your right leg out! "
    Again, all participate , including the dead man .
    Jan walk ed over to Mrs. Tolliver.
    "T hen you shake it all around! "
    " Can I help you? " asked the teacher.
    " Yes, I'm part of the c ongressman's staff.  I'm afraid to say we lost track of him.  How long has he been here? "
    " About twenty minutes.  What a surprise!  He just showed up.  He stood there staring into the classroom.  I recognized him, of course.  I invited him in.  He was little quiet, so I suggested that we sing some songs with the children. "
    " Amazing. "
    " I didn't know he was such