Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack Read Free Book Online

must have been telling the truth. I hope she knows what she’s doing but I doubt it.
    Boob’s feeling better now. Of course she’s still playing upbeing sick for all it’s worth. I asked her if she needed an iron lung. ‘What is it?’ Boob asked. ‘I want it I need it’ she said. Daddy is still in Los Angeles. He called her this morning to say he hoped she was feeling better and he’d be home at the end of the week. He’d be home sooner he said but he hadn’t been able to meet with the producers. They couldn’t leave their office because of the gunfire. Daddy said they were calling from underneath their desks.
    â€˜He didn’t call Booz’ Boob said. ‘He called me because I’m el numero uno. No calls for Booz. She’s a dumpster baby.’
    â€˜Shut up Boob’ I said. ‘He called you because you were home and you stayed home just so you wouldn’t have to get a shot.’
    â€˜Show me where they poked you’ she said. I pulled up my sleeve and showed her. My arm’s all bruised green and yellow and looks disgusting. It still hurts. ‘Booz can take my shot for me. A double shot for Booz.’
    â€˜And an Army physical for Boob’ I said, jumping on her bed. I grabbed the candle out of her candlestick on her bed table and rolled her over and sat on top of her back so she couldn’t get up. ‘Time to take Boob’s temperature’ I said. ‘Get the vaseline.’
    â€˜No’ Boob screamed and I shoved her face in her pillow. She started kicking her feet like she was swimming.
    â€˜It’s a very high fever’ I said and spanked her with the candle. ‘Jungle rot too. We’ll have to operate.’
    â€˜Get off’ Boob shouted and kept kicking. She almost stopped crying so I got off.
    â€˜Who’s numero uno’ I said.
    â€˜You’re looking at her’ Boob said and laughed.
    Mama knocked and came in and said ‘Oh darling I heard you two laughing are you helping poor Boob get better?’ she asked. ‘She’s trying to kill me’ Boob said. ‘My sweeties you’re both so comical what do you want to eat tonight?’ ‘Food’ Boob said. ‘Lots of food’ I said. ‘But then I have to study.’ ‘Oh yes you’re so smart you both are.’
    Boob put on her robe and sat at the kitchen table with me and Mama. She put away the food like we’d been starving her for years. I asked Mama if Daddy said anything about how the director liked this script when he called since I knew the director met him at the airport. ‘No my darling he was suspiciously vague about it’ she said. ‘That’s not good’ I said. ‘It’s not sweetie but you never know. I hope he comes home soon I’m scared with him out there with all those loonies.’ ‘How come nobody’s making movies now?’ Boob asked. ‘Everybody likes movies.’ ‘I know sweetie but everything’s in such an uproar. And movies cost so much money now and nobody has money even in Hollywood. They spent it like water and now they’re thirsty.’ ‘Everybody’s thirsty’ said Boob. Mama said ‘I know I know, your father says things aren’t really so bad but it just seems that way because it’s been so long since they’ve been good he has no basis for comparison anymore.’ ‘Are things getting worse?’ I asked. Mama nodded.
    We turned on the news and they were showing pictures of the fires in Beverly Hills. We watched but we didn’t see Daddy. They said no one was killed today. ‘Nobody important was killed today’ Boob said and smiled.
    MARCH 11
    Daddy called Mama today to say he was fine and there was no problems near his hotel. The producers finally got out of their office once the Guard came into the neighborhood. He was going to meet them this afternoon. He said he’d be