"Judith Lamb - A Good Boy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lamb Judith)

"Truck, you ain't listening. We're gonna count the take after she closes up. She ain't gonna know any money's missing before it's counted."

"Yeah, what if she catches Louie in the trailer?"

"We got twenty, twenty-five minutes. The Squeeze comes in at ten-fifteen, I give him his money, he's gone before Aunt...er...Sister Mary gets back."

"Yeah, sounds okay, I guess, but, jeez, Sister Mary..." Silence hung in the air like doom. Truck whispered, "She thinks you've got a vocation you know. She finds out about this..." He dragged a finger across his throat.

"Knock it off, Truck. My aunt thinks everybody's got a vocation." He looked at his watch. "Come on, let's go. It's almost ten."

They climbed out of the battered Plymouth and hustled through the schoolyard gates, Jack hip-hopping heel-toe, heel-toe, and Truck loping easily beside him on his long legs. They dodged past the lingering, laughing people crowding around the brightly lit booths. Good old St. Margaret's festival, Jack thought, a big magnet hauling in the cash. They'd never miss a lousy five hundred.

He was delighted to find the festival's office trailer parked in the dark shadows at the back of the schoolyard with only a dim light above the tin door. He knocked timidly. Sister Mary's booming, "Come in," made him jump. Oh, jeez. He wiped his sweaty hands on his pants before opening the door and stepping inside the stuffy trailer, Truck cringing behind him.

"Oh, good, Jack," Sister Mary said, "right on time."

"Hey, Aunt Mary."

Sister Mary heaved her bulk out of the stiff-backed wooden chair and engulfed Jack in a bear hug. His face was swallowed up in her massive bosom and the sour smell of her blue jumper assailed him for an instant before his breath was cut off. Her big hands pounded happily on his back. When she released Jack he stumbled back, gasping. She looked at Truck, who hurriedly scrambled backward.

"And how are you, Francis? Have you been listening for the Lord's call? It's time you thought about your vocation, don't you agree, Francis?"

Truck's mouth popped dryly as he croaked, "Yes, 'ster."

"Good, Francis. Serving God is the noblest of professions. Don't turn your back on God. And don't keep Him waiting."

"Yes, 'ster."

"All right, boys, I'm going to close up and when I get back you can help me count the money and get it ready for deposit in the morning." Sister Mary patted a large metal cash box sitting on the desk, her broad face beaming. "It's been a good weekend, thanks be to God."

"That's great, Aunt Mary. You go and take your time. Truc...er...Francis and I'll keep watch here."

"You're a good boy, Jack," Sister Mary said and went out the door.

"So, what do we..."

"Shut up," Jack hissed. He listened carefully as Sister Mary's heavy footsteps grew fainter. "Okay, keep your ear glued to that door in case she comes back for something."

"Hurry up, okay?" Truck urged, biting his lip to keep his teeth from chattering.

Jack opened the cash box. "Wow," he exclaimed, "look at all that money." "Come on, just take your dough."

Jack quickly took five hundred from the box and shut the lid. "Got it," he laughed.

Truck spun around and stared at the door. "Oh, God, someone's out there," he groaned.

Jack glanced at his watch. "That'll be Louie."

There was a loud bang on the door, then it flew open and Louie The Squeeze pushed his bulky body inside.