Read Without for Free Online Page A

days. She walks with me and Scarlett almost
every afternoon. She helps me with things, you know.”
    “How does she get to your house?”
    “She lives about five miles away, so she drives,” said Emma.
“That old goat scares me to death behind a wheel, but they keep renewing her
license.”
    “She’s not driving anymore,” I said. “It’s not just the
power that’s out. Cars, busses, trains, anything with a motor has stopped
working.”
    “Well, isn’t that peculiar,” said Emma. “When do you think
they’ll get ‘em going again?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “I’m sure they’ll get everything working fine soon. They
always do. Thank you again for saving my Scarlett. At least she’s working.”
    Emma strained to bend over and put Scarlett on the ground.
She strained again, holding the dog back from pulling her down the trail.
    Help her .
    Okay, Sam. Okay .
    “Ms. Emma,” I said. “Would you allow me the pleasure of
walking you and Scarlet home?”
    “Oh, no, young man,” said Emma. “I’m sure you have other
things to do besides walk an old woman home. It’s not far. We’ll be fine.”
    “It would make my day, Ms. Emma. It really would.”
    “Well, then. I’m all yours,” said Emma, not hesitating a
second time.
    Emma offered me the leash, and I offered her my arm. Taking
care, stepping over the roots, we made our way back to the road.
    “This is nice,” said Emma as we approached her house.
    Nice ? This old woman had no clue what’s happening
around her .
    “It’s been a long time since I’ve had an escort. And by such
a handsome young man. You know, I have a son about your age. Just as handsome,
too.”
    “Does he live close?”
    “Oh, I apologize,” said Emma, shaking her head. “Sometimes I
get a little jumbled up with my words. No, I lost my boy ten years ago. He got
very sick, you know. My poor angel.”
    “I’m sorry, Ms. Emma. Your kids should never go before you.”
    “Ain’t that the truth? But I still have my other two angels,
Helen and Sophia. Both my girls are doing so good, and to think they have
babies of their own now. Where does the time go? Lord, but those tiny, little
faces make me smile. Oh, listen to me go on and on. Tell me about yourself. Do
you live near here?”
    “I live in Midtown,” I answered as Emma patted my arm. “But
I’m heading for my parents’ house in the mountains. I plan on waiting this
thing out up there.”
    “You’re walking all the way to the mountains?”
    “Right now it’s the only way to get around.”
    “Child, that’s a hundred miles away. How long is that gonna
take you?”
    “Five or six days.”
    Emma stopped walking.
    “Where are you gonna stay tonight?”
    “I’m not sure,” I said. “I put twenty miles under these
shoes today. I’m a little beat. I have plenty of supplies, so I may just borrow
your woods tonight if that’s okay.”
    “No, sir, you won’t,” said Emma, furrowing her brow. “My
home is yours tonight. You’re going to let me cook you a nice hot meal, and I
have two spare rooms. No, sir, you’re staying right here.”
    “Ms. Emma, you have to be careful with your generosity.
There are going to be people looking to take what you have. Do you understand?”
    “I do, handsome. I’m old, but I didn’t survive eighty-three
years being a fool. I know something has gone terribly wrong with this world
and it won’t get better anytime soon. I can feel it in the air.”
    “Then you do understand,” I said. “Most people won’t until
it’s too late.”
    “Do you plan on taking what I have?”
    “No, ma’am.”
    “Good enough for me,” said Emma. “I’ll be more careful with
my generosity tomorrow. But you would be making an old woman feel very useful
today if you let me make you dinner and give you a place to rest. You can leave
in the morning after a good night’s sleep on a full stomach. How does that sound?”
    “It sounds wonderful, Ms. Emma. Thank you.”
    With the argument