Thicker Than Blood by Matthew Newhall Read Free Book Online

anyway." "Don't wanna try, Kento," Joe replied. "I can meet you in an hour at our cafe on Sunrise Highway," Kento suggested. "Sounds good. See you there," Joe said. Joe didn't move, listening to the dial tone. He didn't usually have bad dreams. What was that all about? Dead doctors, opaque windows, explosions, zombie patients? It was an unusual setting and cast for Joe's night show. I have stop taking afternoon naps, Joe thought. His thoughts were interrupted by the prerecorded instructions on how to use a telephone, blaring in his right ear. He pressed the button on his receiver, and quickly dialed. He glanced at one of his band posters hanging from the slanted ceiling. Joe stared at the image of musicians leaning up against a wall. "Hello?" Lucy's voice interrupted his thoughts.
    "Hi," Joe said. "Joe, how's it going? Are you coming down to the warehouse today?" "Maybe later?" Joe asked himself out loud. "Did you talk to Kento?" "I need to borrow the van. I'm meeting him over at the cafe," Joe said. "Oh." "I won't crash it, Lucy." Joe spoke as deliberately as he could. "Are you sure you're ready? I could drop you off." "How would I get back? He rides. Remember?" "Oh... I guess I could work from home today. You had better get him on board." "Hey. I talk smooth!" Joe said. "Yeah, right." "I'll see you in a few," Joe said. "Okay. Finny will be happy to see you." Joe could hear Lucy smile as she talked. Joe hung up the phone and put his favorite boots on. He hustled downstairs, anxious to see Finny again. His father was sitting in the living room with his checkbook and a calculator. "Hey Joe. You owe me three hundred dollars. I'm sorry to ask now, but the bills are due." "No problem, Dad. I'll have it for you next week," Joe said. "I need it tomorrow." Joe wondered when he became more responsible than his dad. His dad wouldn't need to lean on him, if he didn't drink his problems away. Three hundred was so little. Maybe it would pay for a few hours at the bar. Joe's heart sank. His dad was totally gone. He felt anger building up inside of him. "I might be able to get it tonight," Joe lied. He headed for the front door. He was frustrated he couldn't tell his dad how bright his future looked right now. He felt alone. "Good night son." His dad looked distant and embarrassed. Joe's emotional roller coaster was plunging from rage to guilt. It was time to go.
Chapter 9
    Joe zipped up his coat tightly as he walked through the chilly evening air. He shu?ed past a small strip of stores as he transversed the empty suburban blocks to Lucy's house. His thought of Kento's misfortune as he walked. His high school friend had worked on the final generation of general purpose computing chips at Charles Peterson United, before Moore's law totally broke down. Business and science news often blamed the hard times directly on projections of it's demise. It's funny how those same channels praised Gordon Moore just a few years ago. If only they could fabricate chips beyond the safe harbor of a vacuum. Oh wait. They can. Joe walked wide eyed thinking of the depth of his discovery. He was in it now. A strange man's voice called to Joe, "Sir, do you have a fifty?" Joe turned his head to the voice. A homeless man was hidden in shadow beside the last store. There was a conspicuous hole in the six foot fence between the stores and a house. Joe wondered if he was squatting in the dark abandoned house. The man looked clean, but scruffy and old. The remnants of his jacket, dress shoes, and slacks looked as if they had been worn three years too many. He wondered if the house was once the homeless man's. Squatting in a house you once owned was not unusual. Saddened, Joe walked toward the man, making sure to keep himself outside of the shadows in case it was a trick. Joe couldn't face his aunt if he got hurt again. He pulled out his wallet and handed the man a hundred-dollar bill. The man took the money and smiled graciously. "Thank you. I can eat tomorrow." "Every