Words of Stone by Kevin Henkes Read Free Book Online Page A

laugh. “Not tonight,” he said, joking.
    â€œNo, really, are you going to?”
    Glenn lowered his voice. “It’s too early to tell. But I know that we have a lot in common. We have a good time when we’re together, too.” He paused. “I’ve known Claire for a year at school now . . .” His voice trailed off. And he smiled a big smile again.
    Blaze thought it was a goofy smile, like the smiles he drew with crayons when he was three. It made Blaze feel good to see Glenn so happy. And at the same time it was scary. What if Glenn did marry Claire Becker? What would their life be like? How would it change?
    Blaze watched the passing clouds, searching for different shapes in them: a car; a cow; a wizened, bearded man. It had only been hours since he had told Claire about the fire, and already he regretted it. Why had he revealed so much to a near stranger? Claire was pretty; was that why? At least he hadn’t told her everything. He hadn’t told her about the skin grafting or how hard he had cried. And he hadn’t told her why he had been waiting in line for the Ferris wheel.
    â€œDo you mind if we stop at the grocery store?” Glenn asked. “I should pick up a few things.”
    â€œOkay,” said Blaze.
    Glenn hummed in the parking lot. He raced Blaze up and down the aisles. And, laughing musically, he plucked oranges from a display and tossed them to Blaze directly in front of a sullen-faced man who shook his head and clucked his tongue disapprovingly.
    After grocery shopping they stopped for ice cream. Sitting on the curb in the muggy afternoon air, spumoni dripping down his wrist, Blaze wished that he could see the future. He wished that he could see ahead to the end of summer, to Christmas, to the following summer. He wished that he could know for sure what would be happening to his family. He wished he knew what was happening now.
    Blaze’s mind was muzzy. He was thinking about his mother. He rolled over on his stomach and his bed squeaked. Sometimes he would forget exactly what his mother looked like, and he would have to study a photograph. Sometimes what he could remember was clouded. Sometimes he and Glenn would look at old photographs and mementos together, and it would make Blaze feel calm and edgy at the same time.
    After a few minutes, Blaze flipped over on his back again. He thought of the fire and the Ferris wheel and Claire and what he hadn’t told her. . . .
    Reena rode the Ferris wheel with Blaze shortly before she died. It was the last thing they did together before Reena went to the hospital for the final time. They were at the fairgrounds on the Fourth of July. Glenn watched and waited while they rode. It was a small Ferris wheel, part of a small fair that came to town every July. There were rides and game booths and bright billowy tents where food was sold. Two weather-beaten wooden soldiers marked the entrance. They looked like the unwanted toys of a giant, dropped into the trees and forgotten.
    The next year he wanted to do it by himself. For her. It was something he had to do. It was very important to him. He begged Glenn to let him try it. It was a small Ferris wheel, made for children, so Glenn said yes, bought him a ticket, and watched and waited again.
    But Blaze needed the help of a friend. So he made one up. Benny was his name. Blaze whispered to Benny while he moved closer and closer to the man taking tickets. That was the year of the fire. Of course, he didn’t go through with it that year. So he buried Benny. And then came Ajax.
    Good-bye, Benny.
    The following year Blaze had to ask to go to the fairgrounds. “Are you sure you want to go?” Glenn asked. Blaze was sure. “We can just walk around,” said Glenn.
    Blaze hadn’t heard Glenn and Nova talk about insurance money and doctor bills for a long time. And Glenn told Blaze that a different company was running the fair now. The big wooden