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

smiled. His chin had a big scrape on it. His nose started to bleed.
    â€œDid I score?” he said.
    â€œIf we were keeping score, you would’ve scored,” Jim said. “You’re all right, Ears. In a couple of years, you’ll be lots better. You’re a gutsy little guy, Ears, and that’s half the battle.”
    Jim and Harry and Steve and Louis walked off the field with their arms around one another. Louis was in the middle. He had to reach way up to touch their shoulders, so far up that his arms were stretched as far as they could stretch. It was uncomfortable, walking that way. But he made it. Louis could’ve walked that way for miles, if he’d had to.

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    â€œAll of a sudden I caught the ball and I ran and ran until I thought I’d burst and then I went over the goal line and I made a touchdown and they told me I was a gutsy kid.”
    Tom’s eyes were wide.
    â€œThat means you’re a hero,” he said. “If you make a touchdown, you’re a hero.”
    â€œOnly if you make the winning touchdown,” Louis said. “Then you’re a hero.”
    â€œIf you score a touchdown, you’re a hero,” Tom said stubbornly.
    â€œOh well,” Louis said.
    â€œIf Tom wants to think you’re a hero, better let him,” Louis’ mother said. “I think it’s wonderful and I’m proud of you, Louis, but I’m worried about you playing with children so much bigger and stronger than you. You might get hurt.”
    She washed his face and put Mercurochrome on his chin.
    Louis finished his snack. “I’m going to see Mrs. Beeble,” he said. “I want to tell her what happened.” He was quite sure his amulet had been partly responsible. Maybe not all but part. That and the bar bells.
    â€œTake her an onion, will you?” his mother said. “I owe her one. And here’s a jar of apricot jam I made. She’s a good old soul. I worry about her living there alone.”
    â€œShe’s a superior poker player,” Louis said. He didn’t like hearing Mrs. Beeble described as an old soul.
    His mother raised her eyebrows. “Is she? You’re pretty young for poker.”
    â€œWe only use candy mints for chips. Mostly she wins and she gets to eat all the pink ones.”
    â€œThat’s good,” his mother said. “It’ll keep our dentist’s bills down.”
    Louis knocked on Mrs. Beeble’s door. She answered almost immediately.
    â€œI’ve missed you,” she said. Louis was glad to see she had his ring on her little finger. “Come on in and we’ll play a hand or two.”
    â€œI came to tell you what happened,” Louis said, handing her the onion and the jam.
    She looked at his bruised chin. “You fell down the stairs or something?”
    â€œNo,” Louis said, “I played football with the sixth graders and I made a touchdown,” Louis said. “That never happened before. They said I was gutsy.”
    Mrs. Beeble shuffled the cards.
    â€œI shouldn’t be surprised,” she said.
    â€œAnd Jim called me Ears and I didn’t even care. He said it like he was calling me a nice name. He said it like it didn’t matter how big my ears were. He said it like he liked me.”
    â€œHow could he help it?” Mrs. Beeble dealt a hand. “I told you a man with good-sized ears is a man with character. You’ve got character, Louis. That’s extremely important and extremely rare.”
    Louis dipped down inside his shirt front and brought up his charm. “I think this really is a good luck charm, like you said. It brought me good luck. It and the bar bells. I lift them every morning and every night. My muscles don’t look any bigger,” he pulled up his sleeve for her to see, “but they feel bigger.”
    â€œThat’s what counts,” Mrs. Beeble said, inspecting his arm.
    Louis picked up his cards and