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I’d heard about Saathered in our kitchen to do sohbors would bring fruit and vegetables fro our shelves with their labors That August, the kitchen was uncomfortably warm and smelled of stewed tomatoes I listened to the wo, although ratitude would not allow me to leave I found myself drawn into the conversation out of sheer boredo her concerns to the other wootten so his mother can’t handle hi too ith his step dad and his step siblings My opinion is there is some alcohol involved - the step dad drinks to hts this year and was kicked out of the school on the reservation He’s an angry boy, and I’ him come live here" Nettie Yates paused for breath and then continued "I just hope people are good to him - it’s what Michael would have wanted We’d have taken him when Michael died, but hisSa back to the reservation to live with her mother Can’t say I blame her It’s what she knew, and there is comfort in that, especially when you lose someone you love
"We’ve barely seen the boy all these years Don’s looking forward to having Samuel help with the sheep Therandma tend sheep since he was six years old Anyway, he’ll attend school here for his senior year and hopefully graduate Then he’ll be old enough to decide what he wants to do" Nettie had finished the telling with a long sigh as she continued to slice ripe to rhythm
Samuel looked up at me as I tried to slide past Joby into , his eyebrows drawn together in an irritated slash against his warm brown skin His shiny black hair skimmed his shoulders I’d never said tords to Samuel Yates In fact, I’d never heard him talk at all His face was filled with hostility and his wide mouth turned down as he looked away I inched past Joby, trying not to touch hi me into his lap
"Josie!" He said in mock surprise "I didn’t really ain as he pretended to push et free of his long ar to my eyes as he continued to tickle me and jostle me around Someone in front of me must have noticed my mortified expression, because a voice called out, "Uh oh, Joby! She’s gonna cry!"
Joby whooped and looked down at me "Don’t cry, Josie! I’m just messin’ with ya Here, I’ll kiss it better" Joby stuck out his lips co kiss on my cheek
"Stop it, Joby!" I sputtered out and elbowed hiht my way out of his messy embrace Suddenly, Joby pushed me onto Samuel My head collided with the , and my backpack slid down and pinned my arms behind me I found myself face first in Saht The kids around us hoith laughter
Suddenly, Saht arm lashed out and pushed Joby clean off the seat Joby landed with a loud thus in a startled grunt Before I could register as happening, Samuel maneuvered me across him and sat me down next to theHe stood up slowly and leaned over Joby’s stunned person The laughter dimmed to nervous twitters, and then there was silence The kids around us watched, their mouths and eyes wide My face throbbed with hu my breath Samuel stared down at Joby, his arms braced on the seats on either side of the aisle Joby stared back at hi out, as if he hadn’t narrowed dohat to say next
"Don’t cry, Joby! I’ with you" Samuel’s voice was deep and soft, his face co started laughing again
The bus had just pulled up to the last stop when the confrontation in the back of the bus drew the driver’s attention Sanored everyone since he started school two h and intih that everyone steered pretty well clear of hi Joby, stared at hi on my bus, boys!" Mr Walker, the bus driver, yelled back as he threw the bus into park, engaging the brake and disengaging his seatbelt in a huff He rushed down the aisle towards Sa Mr Walker’s approach, Samuel slowly bent down, extended his hand, and pulled Joby to his feet Then, like he had all the time in the world, he turned and looked down at poor Mr Walker He reached over and pulled Joby’s na I flinched and ducked my head as all eyes flew to me
"Joby needs a new seat," Saainst Joby’s forehead, all the while staring at the bus driver calmly Mr Walker looked confused and Joby was, for once, at a loss for words
"Can’t he sit there?" Mr Walker questioned, pointing to the seat I was now occupying I noticed how Mr Walker’s voice had immediately softened to match the volume of Samuel’s quiet declaration