Read Our Souls at Night for Free Online Page B

carrots and beets and radishes—without exposing the roots. He liked that better. Then they shut the water off and went over to Addie’s house. They washed up in the bathroom off the dining room. She had the food on the table and they sat down to sandwiches and chips and glasses of lemonade.
    Can I play with my phone now?
    Yes, then I want us to lie down for a little while.
    The boy went up to his room and got his phone and lay on the bed.
    Louis said, I still better not come over yet tonight.
    Probably not. Maybe tomorrow. This morning went pretty well, don’t you think?
    Seemed all right to me. But I don’t know what’s going on in that little boy’s mind. It can’t be easy being away from home.
    We’ll see what happens tomorrow.
    —
    At night after he’d lain awake for a while he climbed out of bed and got his phone and called his mother in California. She didn’t answer. He left a message. Mom, where are you? When are you coming back? I’m at Grandma’s. I want to come where you are. Call me, Mom.
    He hung up and called his father. Gene answered after the boy had begun to leave a message.
    Jamie, is that you?
    Dad, when are you coming to get me?
    Why? What’s wrong?
    I want to be with you.
    You need to stay with Grandma for a while. I have to be gone every day. You remember we talked about that.
    I want to come home.
    You can’t right now. Later, when school starts.
    That’s too long.
    It’ll get better. Aren’t you having any fun? What did you do today?
    Nothing.
    Didn’t you do anything?
    We saw some baby mice.
    Where was that?
    At Louis’s house.
    Louis Waters. You went over there?
    In his shed. They were just babies. They don’t have their eyes open.
    Don’t touch them.
    I didn’t.
    Did you go over there with Grandma?
    Yes. Then we ate lunch.
    That all sounds pretty good.
    But I want to be with you.
    I know. This won’t be for long.
    Mom didn’t answer her phone.
    You called her?
    Yes.
    When?
    Just now.
    It’s late now. She probably was asleep.
    But you answered.
    But I was asleep myself. I woke up when I heard the phone.
    Maybe Mom was out somewhere with somebody. Maybe so. Now you need to shut off your phone and go to sleep. I’ll talk to you soon.
    Tomorrow.
    Yes, tomorrow. Goodnight.
    He hung up and put his phone back on the dresser where Addie had set it. But later in the night he woke afraid and began to cry and went into her room.

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    He slept part of that night with Addie again. In the morning they ate breakfast and then he went over by himself to Louis’s house and knocked on the front door.
    Here you are again, Louis said. Where’s your grandmother?
    She told me I could come over to see you. She said to say come to her house for lunch.
    Okay. What do you want to do?
    Can I see the mice?
    Let me put the dishes away and grab my hat. You need a hat too. It’s too bright out here without something on your head. Don’t you have a cap?
    I left it at home.
    Then we better get you one.
    They went out to the shed in the backyard and Louis lifted the lid from the box and the mother ranaway, out over the side, and the pink babies crawled over one another and whimpered. The boy bent down closer and looked at them. Can I touch one?
    Not yet, they’re too little. In a week or so.
    They watched the mice for a while. One of them crawled to the edge of the box and lifted its blind face.
    What’s he doing?
    I don’t know. Maybe he’s smelling. He can’t see anything yet. I better put the lid back over them.
    Can I see them tomorrow?
    Yes, but I don’t want you to come in here without me.
    They worked in the garden again, pulling weeds and watering the beets and under the tomatoes. At noon they went to Addie’s house and ate lunch. When the boy went upstairs to play with his phone Addie said, I think you could come over tonight.
    It’s not too soon?
    No, he likes you.
    He doesn’t say much.
    But you can see how he studies you. He wants your approval.
    I just think it’s pretty tough