Shell Shocked by Eric Walters Read Free Book Online Page A

closer, turning my head to listen. Finally I stood right over her bed. I reached down and took the corner of the blanket and pulled it away. There were two pillows in the bed where she should have been.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    â€œ EARTH TO GEORGE .”
    I started at Jack’s voice. “Yeah?”
    â€œThe pancakes,” he said.
    I looked down at the platter of pancakes sitting beside me.
    â€œPass the pancakes, you little goof.”
    â€œJack, there’s no need for you to talk to your brother like that.”
    â€œWell, I wouldn’t have to if he’d passed them the first time I asked.”
    â€œSorry, didn’t hear you,” I said.
    â€œDid you sleep all right last night?” my mother asked.
    â€œI slept okay,” I lied. “How about you?”
    â€œI slept like a baby,” she said. “I was asleep soon after I got home.”
    I looked at her. That was a lie, but she was telling it sowell that if I hadn’t known it was a lie I never would have suspected.
    â€œReally? That’s great, because I know you usually have trouble getting to sleep right away when you’ve been on swing shift,” I said.
    â€œWell, last night was different.”
    â€œDid you take your sleeping powder?” Jack asked.
    â€œI didn’t need to. You boys worry too much about me. I’m the mother and you’re the children … remember?”
    â€œWe remember,” Jack said. “Speaking of which, I was thinking, if I could have my mother’s permission, I’d like to go to the Community Hall tonight and play bingo.”
    â€œSince when do you like playing bingo?” my mother asked.
    Exactly what I was wondering myself!
    â€œIt’s not really that I like bingo, but I promised some friends.”
    â€œWhat type of friends?” my mother asked. There was a smile in her voice.
    â€œJust friends.” Jack looked embarrassed.
    â€œGirl friends?”
    â€œThey’re girls who are my friends, if that’s what you mean,” he protested. “You told us we should make new friends.”
    â€œI did. Are these girls from school?”
    â€œI met them last night at the movies,” Jack said.
    I noticed how he’d answered her question without answering it. He looked over at me. He was wondering if I was going to give it away. I was pretty sure he didn’t want her to know that they were actual women who worked in the plant, not girls from his school.
    â€œSure,” Mom said, “go have fun tonight playing bingo with the girls who are friends but not necessarily girlfriends .” Wow, if I’d teased him like that I’d have gotten a punch in the arm. “Now, how about if you two do me a favour?” she asked.
    â€œThat depends on the favour,” Jack said.
    â€œI promised Mrs. Edwards down the street that I’d look in on her this morning. I’d like you to finish the dishes while I’m gone.”
    â€œThat we can do,” Jack offered.
    She gave him a little hug and then gave me a kiss on the top of my head. She took her jacket from the hook and was gone. Now it was just Jack and me, and I finally had a chance to tell him what had happened last night.
    Jack was already clearing off the table.
    â€œMom was lying,” I said.
    â€œShe’s not going to see Mrs. Edwards?”
    â€œI don’t know anything about Mrs. Edwards. I mean about going right to sleep last night.”
    â€œThat didn’t sound right to me, either,” Jack agreed. “Itusually takes her a long time to get to sleep … she was probably tossing and turning in her bed for hours.”
    â€œShe wasn’t in her bed,” I said. “She left the house about one-thirty and she didn’t get back for almost an hour.”
    Jack gave me a questioning look.
    â€œI couldn’t sleep either and I heard her go out. I stayed awake until she got home.”
    â€œAnd where did she