dumping a full load of hay in the middle of the highway. When
his dad swerved to miss it, his truck flipped and he was killed
instantly.
Wilson cleared his mind and concentrated on the shack. He
and Matt had planned to use it for a clubhouse this summer, until
an old hobo moved in about a month before.
Gabby was always warning them to stay away from the
man. They�d been warned so many times Wilson could easily
close his eyes anytime of the day or night and picture Gabby
standing behind his desk pointing his stubby finger at them.
Well, if the man was so dangerous, why wasn�t anyone
trying to find out about him? Things like what his name was?
Why he was there? Was he running from the law? And if so, why
was he running?
Wilson had seen the hobo several times. The man's
scraggly long dark brown hair, beard and mustache blended
together nearly covering his face. He wore old beat-up boots, a
big black floppy leather hat, and a long black trench coat. Even
when it was blistering hot outside, the hobo wore his coat.
Wilson thought that was not only odd, but a little scary.
He could hide almost anything in those big pockets. Maybe even
a gun! If his dad were here he'd find out who the man was. He�d
find out what he was up to. But his dad wasn't here.
Wilson turned away from the window. "Man, it's hot
outside. How hot is it Gabby?"
Gabby readjusted the glasses on his nose and glanced at
him. "Well, the last report I heard on the radio said it was a
hundred and two degrees. However, that was over an hour ago.
Maybe it's cooled down a bit since then."
"No way. Everyone knows that three o'clock is the warmest
part of the day," said Wilson.
"Oh really?" Gabby smiled sarcastically, "I just love this air
conditioner, don't you?�
Matt smiled too. "Can we take it with us?"
Gabby shook his stubby finger at them. "Don't even think
about it."
Wilson eased himself into a chair next to Matt. "I wish we
could go swimming."
"Yeah," Matt agreed. "With the drought and the water
shortage the only place we can actually go is in Turner City,
twenty miles away."
"Mom says if I want to get wet I can always go stand in the
shower... but it's just not the same," Wilson sighed.
NEXT PAGE