The Ears of Louis by Constance C. Greene Read Free Book Online

evil?”
    â€œPlenty,” Louis said.
    She hugged him. “Well, then, I hope you wear your good luck charm until you’re an old man.” She took the car keys out of her pocket. “Let’s go,” she said.
    â€œWhere?” Louis asked.
    â€œFor a haircut.”
    Louis tucked his amulet carefully inside his shirt and patted the bulge it made there.
    â€œTell him to cut off just a little, O.K.?” he said.
    â€œO.K.” his mother answered.

12
    Next morning Louis went downstairs in his pajamas.
    â€œI don’t feel good,” he said.
    â€œWe’re having waffles. Too bad. Go back to bed and I’ll bring you up some milk toast,” his mother said.
    Louis got dressed so fast he put his sweater on inside out. He ate three waffles and could’ve polished off a few more. His baby sister sat in her high chair industriously stuffing her slipper full of oatmeal, as a cook would stuff a Thanksgiving turkey.
    â€œHow do you stand her?” Louis said to his mother.
    â€œNononono,” his sister said, stuffing away like mad.
    â€œNext time, somebody better teach that kid to say ‘Yes,’” Louis said.
    Miss Carmichael was pleased when Louis handed in his picture of a giant genie coming out of a tiny bottle as his contribution to the paper.
    â€œVery nice, Louis,” she said. “This shows a great deal of imagination.” Calvin Leffert gave her a picture he’d made of an electric light fixture made of banana peels.
    â€œVery interesting, Calvin,” Miss Carmichael said. She never played favorites.
    Amy Adams handed in a sheaf of poems.
    â€œAmy dear,” Miss Carmichael said, “I think we have enough poetry at the moment. Why don’t you take these home and if we need more, I’ll call on you.”
    â€œFake out,” Louis said to Amy.
    At lunch time, Matthew exchanged a package of Hostess Twinkies for a hard-boiled egg. John gave Louis two apple slices covered in cinnamon and sugar.
    â€œYou don’t even have to give me anything for them,” John said. There weren’t too many people Louis knew who would do things like that.
    â€œYou going to play football today?” Matthew asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Louis answered. He’d been debating whether or not he’d go to the playground. Yesterday had been bad. On the other hand, the day before yesterday had been good. He decided to give it one more try.
    â€œHey, you, you with the big ears,” a big guy said to Louis. “Want to play right guard? We’re short a couple of guys. You got in the game a couple of days ago, right? Get over there next to Harry and remember, you have to cross the goal line and touch the ball on the ground for it to count as a touchdown.”
    Louis was astonished. The way he’d said “You with the big ears” didn’t even bother him. It was the tone of voice, the way he said it, like “You with the red hair” or “You with the brown pants.” Louis put on his helmet and ran out to the field.
    â€œO.K., guys, time for the huddle.” Louis got squashed. He didn’t really know what was going on. All he knew was he’d never been so happy. He ran from one end of the field to the other.
    â€œTime for one more play,” the kid named Jim who everybody listened to, said. “Let’s make it a good one.”
    Louis stood alert, at the ready. Jim called the signals.
    â€œHey, get it, Ears! That’s the boy! Run it all the way!” Louis heard a whole bunch of voices calling. He looked up just in time: whoof! The ball landed in his arms and he ran with it. His legs churned so hard his knees almost reached his chin. He crossed the goal line and fell on his face. He still had the ball. He hadn’t dropped it. He hadn’t been stopped. He had made a touchdown.
    Jim scraped him off the ground.
    â€œYou all right, kid? Nothing broken?” Jim said.
    Louis