Red Clover by Florence Osmund Page B

incentives to get as many of them as I can to sign a long-term lease in the new building, and everybody wins.”
    “But how did you get it for nothing?” Abigale asked.
    “Because I played hardball in the beginning and gave them the impression I could back out of the deal without much provocation.”
    His father went on and on relaying a story that only proved to Lee just how manipulative his father could be when it came to money.
    Henry stared at Lee. “If only you had inherited some of your—”
    “Henry.”
    “Yes, dear.” Henry got up and headed toward the stairs. “I’m turning in. This was a good day.”
    Lee’s mother waited for her husband to be out of earshot before saying to Lee, “You might want to sleep in tomorrow...give us a chance to slip out before he remembers the real reason for our stopping by.”
    Lee really liked it when it appeared his mother was on his side.
     
     

10 | Learning to Drive
     
     
    Lee waited for his parents to leave the next morning and then typed the letter to Stonebugger. He kept it brief, thinking it wise not to divulge too much information—”the smaller the target, the less chance of being shot down”—one of his father’s favorite sayings.
    He felt somewhat transformed as he drove to the post office. Not completely grown up—after all, he still internally referred to his trustee as “Scrooge,” and he didn’t support himself, another factor he suspected disqualified him from bona fide adulthood. But at least he didn’t feel like he was merely drifting along through life waiting for the next thing to happen.
    I think I’m finally in the driver’s seat. Now all I have to do is learn how to drive.
    * * *
    Stonebugger called him one evening the following week with a list of questions, all asked in the same dreadful monotone he had used in their first meeting. Lee answered as best he could and was told he would hear back from him by letter. As soon as he got off the phone, he told Shaneta he wouldn’t be home for dinner and headed for Deer Bottom Inn.
    Lee chose the route to the inn that took him by his property. When he was a half-mile from its nearest border, he saw a car pulling an enclosed trailer move from the shoulder onto the road. He slowed down and then followed the car to the corner of Attenberg Road and Route 173 where they both stopped for the Stop sign. As the other car turned left, Lee glanced inside and saw that the driver looked a lot like Sheriff DeRam.
    Lee considered turning left and following the car, but thinking he was probably being paranoid about the sheriff, he decided against it and turned right, toward Rockton.
    The inn was crowded. He half-listened to the song blaring from the jukebox while he waited for CJ to notice him.
    “Hey, Socrates. What’s cookin’?”
    The sound of her voice calmed him. He acknowledged her question with a nod and smile.
    She put her hand on the Bud tap and gave him an Is-this-what-you-want? look.
    Lee nodded and mouthed, “And a menu.”
    She handed him the beer and said, “You don’t need the stinkin’ menu. You’re having pizza.”
    “CJ?”
    “Soc?”
    “I’ve never had pizza before.”
    She stared at him. “You’re shittin’ me.”
    “Nope. Never had it. I wouldn’t even know how to order it.”
    “What planet are you from, Dexter?”
    “That’s a provocative question.”
    “Ha! I’d respond to that if I knew what it meant.”
    “It means stimulating...but it can also mean aggravating.”
    “That’s what I hate about big words—they have more than one meaning. Now, had you said that question was interesting, everyone would know what you mean. Looks like I’m gonna have to teach you to be more real, Soc.” She walked away to wait on another customer.
    Twenty minutes later, CJ brought him another beer and a pizza...fully loaded. He wished the light was better in the bar so he could identify what was on it.
    “Don’t look at it like it’s a damn science project. Just pick up a