Andy (13 page)

Read Andy Online

Authors: Mary Christner Borntrager

Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Juvenile Fiction, #Religious, #Christian, #test

BOOK: Andy
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Page 104
Kind, lass allein 
    was nicht ist dein. 
(Child, leave alone 
    what you don't own).
For a moment Andy felt a sharp pang of guilt. But only for a moment. The sweet juicy taste of the early harvest won out, and soon he ate two more.
After all
, he thought,
didn
'
t Jesus
'
disciples pluck and eat ears of corn as they walked through afield?
He was thirsty. Well, he would keep walking. Andy reasoned that he would find water somehow, perhaps when he crossed a stream.
His shoe rubbed a blister on his heel. Nighttime couldn't come soon enough. At least then he could give his feet a rest.
Andy left the woods and the dirt trail he had been following as he reached a dusty gravel road. The house he saw in the distance didn't look familiar. He began talking to himself again.
"I wonder now if it would be safe to stop and ask for a bite to eat, like Cloyce did at our place. At least maybe I could get a drink of water." His mouth was dry, and the apples didn't quite satisfy him.
"I'm going to chance it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The least they can do is say no."
A barking dog came to meet this stranger. He wagged his tail all the while, so Andy knew he must be friendly. "Hello, old boy," he said, patting him.
In answer to Andy's knock, a plump lady gingerly opened the door and looked him over. "Yes, what do you want?"
 
Page 105
"I was wondering if you could give me a little something to eat and a drink of water?"
"Well, I don't have much," she claimed, in hope of discouraging Andy. She had never seen an Amish boy before and was skeptical. He was dressed in a quaint style and had such a strange haircut. It was shaped like a round bowl.
"Ach," said Andy, "I don't need much. A piece of bread and butter will do. And a drink of water," he added as though it were an afterthought.
Why
,
he even talks funny
, thought the woman.
I wonder where he
'
s from
.
Maybe he broke out of an institution
.
But I suppose the quickest way to be rid of him is to feed him
.
"If you sit out under the large maple, I'll fix you something," she promised warily.
"Could I have a glass of water first?" Andy asked. "My
Hals
I mean, my throat is so dry."
Now she was alarmed, but she decided it was best to cooperate.
"I'll get it and set it on the porch for you. Just sit under the tree. You can come and get it after I put it out."
It dawned on Andy that she didn't trust him. That unsettled him, until he remembered how his mother felt about drifters.
The lady opened the door wide enough to set a tall glass of water out for Andy. She quickly closed it again.
Pausing only a second, Andy walked over to get the water, tipped it up, and drank it all down. It was so cool and refreshing. Then he waited.
As he was ready to give up any hope for food, the door opened once more and the woman set a plate of food out on the edge of the porch.
 
Page 106
"Here, Boomer," she called to her dog.
"Watch," she commanded, as though Boomer were a fierce guard dog.
Obediently the dog went to the side of his mistress. But Andy laughed to himself. It struck him as funny that Boomer would scare anyone. Not with that tail wagging!
"Leave the plate and glass on the porch," the woman said as she retreated into the house.
"Danki
er, thank you," Andy stammered as the door closed. He wanted to ask for more water, but kept quiet because he didn't want to make her uneasy any more than necessary.
Andy was used to giving thanks at each meal, so he bowed his head in silent prayer before he ate.
He felt odd, though. Would God hear him since he was running away? Had he done so wrong? But surely God knew how he was hurting. His dog was dead. Others made fun of him. And did his dad care?
The plate of food contained an egg sandwich and, of all things, an apple. Andy ate the sandwich gratefully but put the apple with the others.
He set the empty glass and plate on the porch and left. As he turned onto the road, he saw the curtain flutter at the window, so he knew he was being watched.
So this is the life of a rover!
he thought.
Well
,
tonight I
'
ll try to hop a freight
.
There has to be a town I
'
ll reach before long
,
a place where trains stop
.
Things will be better tonight
, Andy assured himself.
 
Page 107
20
Hopping a Freight
It took another day and a half of walking before Andy came to a town. The first thing he noticed was the railroad crossing and the water tower. To him, this was a welcome sight.
Along the way, Andy narrowly escaped an angry bull who charged him as he cut through a pasture field. A dog took a piece from his one pant leg, and once as he sat on a stump to rest, a bunch of yellow jackets attacked.
He was ready for some of the good life Cloyce had told him about. His three dollars wouldn't last very long, and he had eaten about all the apples he could handle. He knew he needed to find food to be ready for what lay ahead.
Tonight he would try to ride the train as far as it would go. Maybe then he could find work for several weeks, at least.
Andy made his way into the small town and found a
 
Page 108
little diner. The sign in the window said,
Hamburgers
15 cents
French Fries
10 cents
Large Root Beer
5 cents
Andy didn't know what French fries were, but he decided to find out. Stepping inside, Andy was greeted by the delicious smell of food and a swarthy-faced proprietor. The place was empty except for a surly-looking man back in the corner.
"Howdy," the owner addressed Andy. "What can I get you?"
"Hi," Andy responded. "I'd like a hamburger, some fries, and a glass of water."
"How you want that hamburg done?"
"Cooked."
"You tryin' to be sassy?"
"No," said Andy. He didn't know what this fellow meant. Andy had never been in a restaurant before, and he was used to eating things as they came.
"Well, how do you want it: well, medium, or rare?"
Figuring he might as well get his money's worth, Andy replied, "All three."
Taking Andy by the shirt collar, the man shook him and barked, "I'm not askin' again. Either you tell me how you want it, or I'll get Lefty here to throw you out in the street."
"Well," Andy blurted out.
"That's more like it. Now sit down and stay put until I get your food ready."
The irate cook didn't know that Andy was going to
 
Page 109
say, "Well, that's all right. I've changed my mind." He didn't let Andy get past the word
well
.
The fellow called Lefty got up and sat next to Andy. "Where you from?" he asked.
"Rosemont." Andy wished Lefty had stayed in the corner where he was.
"Never heard of the place. I knew you weren't from around here. How come you wear them silly-looking clothes?"
"These are all I have." Andy didn't want to continue the conversation.
"Yeah? Well, where you goin'?"
Andy hated to face so many questions. "I'd like to go to Kansas or Iowa," he answered.
"Boy, that's a fur piece. How you 'spect t'git there?"
"I'd like to go by train."
"Oh, hoppin' the freight!" Lefty laughed like it was a joke. "Hey, Pop," he called to the owner. "Hey, Pop, this one wants to take the freight to Iowa or Kansas. Some greenhorn. Don't even know these trains run north or south."
Pop chuckled as he brought the greasy food and set it on the small counter.
Andy started to bow his head, then changed his mind and began to eat hurriedly. He wanted to get away from this place. As different as the food was, Andy ate with relish. He paid his bill and prepared to leave.
"Hey, Greenhorn," Lefty blared out. "If you play your cards right, you could make the 9:45 to Alabama. I hear tell they're takin' on a lot of cotton pickers. Might earn you enough fer other clothes." He roared
 
Page 110
with that rowdy laugh again.
Andy gave him a little wave but didn't answer as he left. Lefty had given him information he was seeking. At last he knew what time the freight would come through and where it was going.
Andy waited on the edge of town behind a ramshackle building with a sign that read FIX-IT SHOP. He felt better since his supper. The bee stings were still uncomfortable, however.
He wished for a bath or even just a place to wash his face and hands and brush his teeth. Well, soon he planned to be in Alabama picking cotton. Once he made some money, he could buy things he needed.
Darkness began to settle over the land. Most everything was quiet after a few noisy children were called in from their play. A dog barked, a door slammed, and the town seemed to go to sleep.
"But I must not go to sleep," Andy told himself. "No siree. I have to catch that 9:45 freight."
He pulled out his pocket watch and for the umteenth time checked it. Only ten after eight. Andy stretched out on the grass and dozed off.
Then in the distance he heard the lonesome whistle. Picking up his pack and stretching his legs, he waited. Now he could hear the rumble as the engine light came into view. Andy stayed in the shadows and crept closer. Black smoke belched from the stack as the train groaned to a stop.
"Open 'er up, Jake," the engineer called to the brakey as they dismounted. They got ready to take on water. The billy began to check each car and shone his flashlight under the car and behind the wheels, too.

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