"James McCann - Kith 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCann James)

CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER TWO

SEPTEMBER 25, 1975

The next morning Trent woke, as usual, by six. His alarm was set to go off at six-
fifteen, but he never needed it. He had another, more reliable alarm. Right in the middle
of a dream his German shepherd, Cosmo, leapt up onto the bed and sat on his stomach.
He opened his eyes and scratched the dogтАЩs ears, laughing at the content growl the canine
made. As Trent felt around the ear Cosmo cocked his head and got a glossy look in his
eyes, but Trent had learned to keep this moment short. The dog had not, after all, woken
him solely for attention.
тАЬNeed go outside?тАЭ Trent said in a voice most people reserved for small children.
The dog perked, and leapt from the bed. Trent groaned from the impact as one of
CosmoтАЩs hind legs landed in his bowel, bringing attention to the fact that both owner and
beast had to go.
тАЬRowf!тАЭ Cosmo spoke, sensing his masterтАЩs hesitation.
тАЬShh! YouтАЩll get us both in trouble!тАЭ Trent grabbed his housecoat and ran down the
stairs, nearly tripping over the canine who had taken the rush as a race. Trent rounded the
corner at the bottom, laughing, but never winning. Cosmo leapt up into a circle and,
pushing its owner back, it darted for the rear door. Trent fell to the ground.
тАЬSome people donтАЩt have to get up this early!тАЭ
тАЬSorry Mom,тАЭ he answered, walking into the kitchen and grabbing the leash. After
snapping it onto his dogтАЩs collar he opened the door.
Once the morning тАЬbathroom ritualтАЭ ended Trent went up to the human toilet, where
beasts desiring privacy could do their тАЬthingтАЭ. Cosmo guarded the doorway, which was
something Trent always found amusing. Even though the dog was a German shepherd it
was still only about six months old, and it would sooner lick a perpetrator to death before
biting one. Trent remembered the time Jen, his neighbour and best-friend, had strolled
into the yard, unaware of the new addition to the Powers family. Trent had gone inside,
and, come to think of it, he was going to phone her. When Cosmo laid his two beady eyes
on his frightened enemy heтАЩd let out a low growl, sending Jen into a panic. After she
screamed Cosmo yelped, leaping behind a tree for safety. That had made her laugh. As
with everything, her voice soothed the тАЬgreat beastтАЭ into coming out with its ball. When
Trent returned to the backyard, heтАЩd found the two of them playing together as the best of
friends.
Trent was ready for school by seven and always left at twenty-after to pick up Jen. He
figured it had taken him no more than five minutes to get from his home to hers, even
with a brief good-bye to his parents and a fond farewell to his dog, so when she finally
strolled into the living room after twenty-five minutes his patience was exasperated. He
recalled a time when she used to be punctual, but lately the only time she was ever on
time was when heтАЩd given her a few days notice. No more spontaneity. His mother said it
was because she had a crush on him, but that was absurd. At least, he hoped it was absurd
тАж they were more like siblings than friends.
 Kith тАУ 9 тАУ
тАЬтАШbout time. What took you so long?тАЭ
тАЬI had to.тАжтАЭ
Together they said, тАЬ...put on my face.тАЭ Then Trent solo, тАЬNext time put it on earlier.
WeтАЩre going to be late.тАЭ
тАЬYou could have called.тАЭ