Tiger by the Tail by Eric Walters Read Free Book Online Page B

one time I hope you’re right.”
    Moving across the grass I was both reassured and unnerved. Reassured because there was no place for a tiger to hide but unnerved because we seemed so exposed.
    “HEY, MR. McCURDY!” Nick yelled.
    I jumped straight up into the air and then, without thinking, I reached over and clipped my brother on the side of the head.
    “What’s the big idea! I was calling Mr. McCurdy.”
    “He could be anywhere,” I replied.
    “He could be anywhere, but he is right there,” Nick answered.
    “Where? I asked as I trained my eyes on the house. The sun was directly over the house and I squinted to see more clearly. “I don’t see him.”
    “He’s right there, sitting in a chair by the back door.”
    I cupped one hand over my eyes and squinted harder. “Yeah, I think I see him. Why isn’t he moving?”
    “I guess he doesn’t see us because the sun is in his eyes,” Nick offered.
    “The sun is in our eyes. It’s behind his back and he’s in the shade,” I explained. “Anyway, he should have heard you yell.”
    “He’s old and probably a little deaf,” my brother countered.
    “He didn’t seem deaf to me.”
    As we continued to walk closer I could clearly make out Mr. McCurdy, sitting in a chair, a blanket draped over his shoulders, the end of his gun resting on his lap and poking out from the blanket. He wasn’t moving … at all.
    “Must be asleep,” Nick said.
    “But why would he be here in the first place and why would he be holding a gun?” I asked.
    Nick didn’t answer. My eyes were trained on Mr. McCurdy, sitting in the chair, not moving. I strained to see anything, a flick of a hand, a nod of the head or his chest going up and down. We stopped in our tracks a few metres away from him. Nick and I looked at each other. From my brother’s expression I knew he was expecting me to do something.
    “Mr. McCurdy?” I said quietly.
    There was no answer. No movement.
    “Try it louder,” Nick said, his voice barely above a whisper.
    “Mr. McCurdy!” I stated more forcefully. There was no change. I thought I could see his chest move, ever so slightly, but I knew I couldn’t trust my judgment.
    “Nicholas … do you think he’s D … E … A … D?”
    “Dead? How would I know? Nana was the first dead person I ever saw. And why did you spell it, anyway?”
    “I don’t know. I just thought it was … more polite, I guess.”
    “If he’s dead it doesn’t matter, and if he’s alive I bet he can spell. Give him a shake,” Nick said as he pushed me forward.
    I moved on tiptoes until I stood right over Mr. McCurdy. His head was slumped down on his chest and I still couldn’t tell if he was breathing beneath the blanket. Holding the muffin tray with one hand, I bent over and gently touched his shoulder with my other hand.
    “Mr. McCurdy …”
    “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” Mr. McCurdy screamed as he leaped to his feet. He knocked me backwards and the tray of muffins flew into the air as I fell to the muddy ground and the muffins landed all around me.
    “WHAT? WHAT? Oh it’s just you two,” Mr. McCurdy exclaimed as he stared down at me. “What are you doing sneaking up on a fella?”
    “We weren’t sneaking up. We came to visit. We brought you some muffins,” I stammered.
    “Muffins?”
    “Yes, muffins. They’re right there,” I said, pointing to the ground.
    “They look mighty tasty,” Mr. McCurdy said.
    “They are,” Nick chipped in, talking with his mouth full.
    “But how did you …?”
    “Caught it, mid-flight. Told you I’d get one,” he said as he popped the last piece of muffin into his already-stuffed mouth.
    “Nicholas Eric Fraser, you are just such a —”
    “This isn’t the time, Sarah,” he interrupted. “Don’t forget the tiger.”
    “The tiger! That’s right. Mr. McCurdy, Buddha is loose!” I said as I pulled myself to my feet.
    “Don’t be silly, Sarah, old Buddha’s all tucked in. I just checked his cage.”
    “But we