part.”
“You never listen to me Duncan Culpepper.”
Dunc put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I always listen to you. Didn’t I help you get a good grade in Trasky’s class on your Civil War paper? Don’t I always try to help you get Melissa to notice you, even though she’d rather you would drop dead? Listening is one of my best points. I just need your cooperation in one tiny little area and after that we’re home free.”
Amos eyed him suspiciously. “I know I’m going to be sorry for asking you this, but what exactly do you have in mind?”
“I was hoping you’d ask. We have to get inside that house and look around.”
Amos shook his head. “I’m not dressing up like a girl again, so just forget that.”
“No, no, nothing like that. One of us willhave to distract the creep inside while the other one sneaks around back.”
“Let me just guess who gets to take on the creep.”
“I
would
do it Amos, really I would, but he’s already seen me. Besides, I’m only trying to help you.”
“Help me? How do you figure that?”
“Well, if this deal works out, like I’m sure it will, you’re going to play the most important part in rescuing a helpless little old lady from who knows what awful fate. Some girls really go for the hero type.”
“Some girls …”
“Melissa. Maybe.”
“Melissa …”
Dunc stopped then. He knew when he’d won.
“Do you remember what you’re going to do?”
“Of course I remember. How could anybody dressed like this forget what they’re supposed to do?”
Dunc looked his friend up and down. Amos was wearing a red jacket with a double row of black buttons down the front. On his head was a round red hat with black elastic holding it on under his chin. “I think you really look the part, but try to be careful with the hat and coat, okay? I borrowed them from Melissa Hansen’s mother. Her cousin used to do this for a living.”
“Melissa Hansen? You saw Melissa?”
“Just for a second. I remembered her mother telling my mother that she had a cousin who delivered singing telegrams, so I borrowed the suit. Roll up the sleeves a little.”
“You went to
Melissa’s
house without me?”
“I had to borrow the suit Amos. Don’t worry, maybe you can help me take it back. Let’s get down to business. Why don’t you practice your part one more time, okay?”
“Man, I can’t believe you actually went to her house and didn’t tell me …”
“Amos, pay attention. Let’s practice your part.”
“What did she say? Did she ask about me at all?”
“No, but I really wasn’t there all that long. Are you going to practice or what?”
“Okay, but only if you give me your solemn promise to let me take the suit back with you. Promise?”
“I promise. Now, do your part.”
“Dunc, I really don’t sing so hot. Can’t I just talk the guy a message?”
“No. We’ve been over and over this. Nobody interrupts a singer until he’s through. So just keep singing while I make my way around backand look for Mrs. Dell. Now come on. You have to practice.”
“Here goes nothing,” Amos shrugged.
Singing telegram for Mrs. Dell
Here it is clear as a bell:
We wish you a happy day
Because that is just our way.
On this day have lots of fun.
A strange look came into Amos’s eyes. He smiled, threw his arms out to the side and started to really get into the singing.
Spend some time out in the sun,
Open presents and eat cake,
Take a trip down to the lake,
Above all else, have a good time
Hope you like our little rhyme.
Amos wound up on one knee on the floor, his hands out, a happy smile on his face.
Dunc stared at him. “Ahh—that’s great Amos. Try to work on that shyness a little, all right?”
“How was the delivery?”
Dunc nodded. “Great. Great delivery.”
“Good. I want to give it my best, you know.”
It took the boys forty-five minutes to get across town to the Dell place. The rusty gate creaked as the boys went
“You never listen to me Duncan Culpepper.”
Dunc put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I always listen to you. Didn’t I help you get a good grade in Trasky’s class on your Civil War paper? Don’t I always try to help you get Melissa to notice you, even though she’d rather you would drop dead? Listening is one of my best points. I just need your cooperation in one tiny little area and after that we’re home free.”
Amos eyed him suspiciously. “I know I’m going to be sorry for asking you this, but what exactly do you have in mind?”
“I was hoping you’d ask. We have to get inside that house and look around.”
Amos shook his head. “I’m not dressing up like a girl again, so just forget that.”
“No, no, nothing like that. One of us willhave to distract the creep inside while the other one sneaks around back.”
“Let me just guess who gets to take on the creep.”
“I
would
do it Amos, really I would, but he’s already seen me. Besides, I’m only trying to help you.”
“Help me? How do you figure that?”
“Well, if this deal works out, like I’m sure it will, you’re going to play the most important part in rescuing a helpless little old lady from who knows what awful fate. Some girls really go for the hero type.”
“Some girls …”
“Melissa. Maybe.”
“Melissa …”
Dunc stopped then. He knew when he’d won.
“Do you remember what you’re going to do?”
“Of course I remember. How could anybody dressed like this forget what they’re supposed to do?”
Dunc looked his friend up and down. Amos was wearing a red jacket with a double row of black buttons down the front. On his head was a round red hat with black elastic holding it on under his chin. “I think you really look the part, but try to be careful with the hat and coat, okay? I borrowed them from Melissa Hansen’s mother. Her cousin used to do this for a living.”
“Melissa Hansen? You saw Melissa?”
“Just for a second. I remembered her mother telling my mother that she had a cousin who delivered singing telegrams, so I borrowed the suit. Roll up the sleeves a little.”
“You went to
Melissa’s
house without me?”
“I had to borrow the suit Amos. Don’t worry, maybe you can help me take it back. Let’s get down to business. Why don’t you practice your part one more time, okay?”
“Man, I can’t believe you actually went to her house and didn’t tell me …”
“Amos, pay attention. Let’s practice your part.”
“What did she say? Did she ask about me at all?”
“No, but I really wasn’t there all that long. Are you going to practice or what?”
“Okay, but only if you give me your solemn promise to let me take the suit back with you. Promise?”
“I promise. Now, do your part.”
“Dunc, I really don’t sing so hot. Can’t I just talk the guy a message?”
“No. We’ve been over and over this. Nobody interrupts a singer until he’s through. So just keep singing while I make my way around backand look for Mrs. Dell. Now come on. You have to practice.”
“Here goes nothing,” Amos shrugged.
Singing telegram for Mrs. Dell
Here it is clear as a bell:
We wish you a happy day
Because that is just our way.
On this day have lots of fun.
A strange look came into Amos’s eyes. He smiled, threw his arms out to the side and started to really get into the singing.
Spend some time out in the sun,
Open presents and eat cake,
Take a trip down to the lake,
Above all else, have a good time
Hope you like our little rhyme.
Amos wound up on one knee on the floor, his hands out, a happy smile on his face.
Dunc stared at him. “Ahh—that’s great Amos. Try to work on that shyness a little, all right?”
“How was the delivery?”
Dunc nodded. “Great. Great delivery.”
“Good. I want to give it my best, you know.”
It took the boys forty-five minutes to get across town to the Dell place. The rusty gate creaked as the boys went
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