Youth
Public Domain
Chapter 4
Slim started at the sound of footsteps and brightened when it turned out to be only Red.
He said, “No one’s around. I had my eye peeled, you bet.”
Red said, “Ssh. Look. You take this stuff and stick it in the cage. I’ve got to scoot back to the house.”
“What is it?” Slim reached reluctantly.
“Ground meat. Holy Smokes, haven’t you ever seen ground meat? That’s what you should’ve got when I sent you to the house instead of coming back with that stupid grass.”
Slim was hurt. “How’d I know they don’t eat grass. Besides, ground meat doesn’t come loose like that. It comes in cellophane and it isn’t that color.”
“Sure--in the city. Out here we grind our own and it’s always this color till it’s cooked.”
“You mean it isn’t cooked?” Slim drew away quickly.
Red looked disgusted. “Do you think animals eat cooked food. Come on, take it. It won’t hurt you. I tell you there isn’t much time.”
“Why? What’s doing back at the house?”
“I don’t know. Dad and your father are walking around. I think maybe they’re looking for me. Maybe the cook told them I took the meat. Anyway, we don’t want them coming here after me.”
“Didn’t you ask the cook before you took this stuff?”
“Who? That crab? Shouldn’t wonder if she only let me have a drink of water because Dad makes her. Come on. Take it.”
Slim took the large glob of meat though his skin crawled at the touch. He turned toward the barn and Red sped away in the direction from which he had come.
He slowed when he approached the two adults, took a few deep breaths to bring himself back to normal, and then carefully and nonchalantly sauntered past. (They were walking in the general direction of the barn, he noticed, but not dead on.)
He said, “Hi, Dad. Hello, sir.”
The Industrialist said, “Just a moment, Red. I have a question to ask you?”
Red turned a carefully blank face to his father. “Yes, Dad?”
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