Read Chance of a Lifetime for Free Online Page B

the long windows running along the south wall of his apartment. He could see the four-story apartment building where Emily lived. What he guessed were the lights from her apartment were still on. He wondered if she was reading or watching TV, or maybe washing up the dishes. If he were there, he’d help her clean up,or probably talk through whatever program she tried to watch, or sit silently beside her while they both read.
    It would be heaven to have someone to just be with. Not do anything. Maybe not even think. Just be.
    “If wishes were horses,” he said aloud, “beggars would ride.”

Chapter 5

S UNDAY MORNING
    B EAU Y ATES AND HIS FRIEND B ORDER B IGGS SPENT AN hour organizing their meal plan. Ronny, who had the duplex next to the Biggs boys, could be counted on for at least one meal a week and sweets delivered now and then. Border’s grandmother always made dinner for the boys on Sunday night at the bed-and-breakfast where she worked. It went unsaid that Beau would be invited. The meal was great, but they’d have to put up with Martha Q Patterson, the owner. Harley fed them on the nights they played at Buffalo’s and sometimes on the nights they just went in to rehearse. Only problem there was all he served was hamburgers and wings.
    So if they ate cereal for breakfast, snacked on whatever leftovers they found, supplemented with PB&J sandwiches, that meant they only had to buy two meals a week. Border thought they should go to the all-you-can-eat buffet onWednesdays at the truck stop. The downside to that was most of the food was left out until someone ate it. The second plan was to order two big meals, eat half, and bring home the leftovers for another meal.
    This plan had one flaw. Border always ate all his meal and usually claimed he ate Beau’s leftovers in his sleep.
    So they went to the third plan. Eat at the Blue Moon Diner. The nightly specials were cheap, and the food good.
    The boys split their earnings down the middle. Border was saving for a bigger bike. Beau simply wanted to save all he could. “For a rainy day,” he’d said. “’Cause it’s been raining most of my life.”
    They were full and in good moods when they got back from their Sunday meal at the bed-and-breakfast with Grandma Biggs. She’d made a chocolate cake in a square pan and iced it with white frosting. When they’d fought over it, she’d sliced it down the middle and served each half. Border ate his half, but Beau added most of his cake to the stack of take-out boxes Mrs. Biggs always packed.
    While Border went in to put up the leftovers, Beau sat down on the porch of the duplex and began to play. Like they always did, the words to a song seemed to dance in time with the music. He’d been working on the beginning of a song about living through the rainy times and learning to dance in the storm.
    Last night, when he played the beginning for the Biggs brothers and Ronny, she cried and said it was the most beautiful song she’d ever heard so Beau figured he’d finish it. Tonight her half of the duplex was dark, which was unusual. Most nights her desk light would be shining, telling them that she was studying.
    “Wonder where Ronny is.” Border voiced Beau’s question. “I noticed her car is parked out back so wherever she went, she walked.”
    Beau looked out into the street. He’d seen her walk at night sometimes when the nights were warm, but tonight was cold. As he watched, a boat of an old Dodge drove by soslowly they should have tried to charge it for parking. “Well,” Beau whispered, “we know she’s not visiting her mother. The old bag is circling the place.”
    Border laughed. “I swear she circles nightly. She’s disowned Ronny, but she’s still trying to keep up with her like Ronny’s a girl and not a full-grown woman.” He waved and the Dodge sped up. “Go home, Dallas Logan, and pester someone else.”
    Beau went back to his song. Border listened for a while and then went inside, complaining