The Wild Culpepper Cruise by Gary Paulsen Read Free Book Online Page A

she’s bound to be impressed.”
    Melissa Hansen was the girl Amos loved. He adored her, but she didn’t know he existed. He spent half his life trying to get her attention. Somehow, he never quite got it.
    Amos stuffed the brochure back in his pocket. “I think she tried to call me again yesterday. I’m pretty sure it was her. I have her ring memorized.”
    Dunc nodded. He knew Melissa wouldn’t be caught dead calling Amos. But he never told Amos that.
    “It didn’t work out too well, though. She really shouldn’t call me when I’m at the dentist.”
    “She called you at the dentist?”
    “Yeah. But like I said, it didn’t work out so hot. I was leaning back in the chair, and Dr. Fulbright was filling a cavity way back here.” Amos opened his mouth to show Dunc the tooth.
    “Anyway, he had the light in my face, like he always does, and that little table over me with all his tools and stuff. Lisa—she’s the new dental assistant—she was sucking up the spit in my mouth with that sucker thing, when I heard the phone.”
    “What made you think Melissa was calling you at the dentist’s office?” Dunc asked.
    “It surprised me too. I don’t know how she knew I was there. Maybe she followed me or something. But it was her ring, all right.”
    “What happened?”
    “Well, naturally when I knew it was Melissa, I jumped out of the chair to answer it.”
    “Naturally,” Dunc said.
    “I accidentally hit the tray of dental tools, and they flew up into the light. One long silver thing got stuck up in there. They got the fire out pretty fast, though.”
    “Fire?”
    “That long silver thing made a lot of sparks.They flew around the room and caught the fake plant in the corner on fire. It was really more smoke than fire. A lot of the patients thought it was a real fire, though, and ran outside hollering. But that’s not the bad part.”
    “There’s more?” Dunc asked.
    “Dr. Fulbright didn’t get the drill turned off, and he drilled right through his new dental chair. While he was doing that, Lisa got the spit sucker caught in his hair. I always thought that was his real hair. Didn’t you?”
    Dunc nodded.
    “By the time I made it out to the receptionist’s desk, Melissa had already hung up. She likes for me to get it on that all-important first ring. She doesn’t like to wait.”
    Dunc nodded again.
    “Dr. Fulbright asked my mom if we would please find a new dentist. I really hate to see a grown man cry like that.”
    “Amos, you’re amazing.”
    “What? Oh, you mean because I won the cruise. Yeah, sometimes I even amaze myself.” Amos headed for the door. “Well, I have to go. I’ll be back later to help you pack.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “I need to get home. Melissa may have heard about the cruise by now. She’s probably been trying to call.”
    Dunc smiled.

“I can’t believe it. We are actually standing in the Miami airport. Tomorrow we’ll be cruising around in the Caribbean. It’s unreal. What’s the name of the hotel we’re staying at tonight?” Dunc asked.
    Amos was watching the luggage carousel go around. “I don’t remember. It’s one of those big ones. The Tilton, I think.”
    “There’s mine.” Dunc grabbed his suitcase.
    “I wonder where mine went. I tied one of Amy’s new red hair ribbons on the handle so I’d be sure and recognize it.”
    “It’ll turn up. Be patient. We have plenty of time. Your folks went to see if the cruise line sent a car for us.”
    “There it is,” Amos said. “No wonder I didn’t see it before—the ribbon came off. Oh, well. Let’s go find my parents.”
    The ride was a blur. The driver of the minibus broke land speed records getting them to the hotel.
    Amos’s dad tried to get him to slow down so they could see some of Miami, but the man did not understand English. Mr. Binder attempted to ask him to slow down in Spanish, but it came out, “Please, sir, can I have a drunk tortilla?”
    The driver looked at him