The crabby real estate lady brought over some bright red flowers suggesting that Maddy plant them alongside the front walk.
“A little color like this will distract the eye from the shabby…less attractive features of the house,” she smiled.
Maddy had thanked her and the woman said the open house would be in a few days.
“This is the big show. All the agents from the area will be here and I’ll have refreshments for them. This is the day we must make a great impression. So…a little cleaning or, should I say, a lot of cleaning will be in order. Yes?”
Maddy nodded and sighed.
Mac and Suzie offered to plant the flowers while Maddy cleaned the bathrooms. They thought that was a great trade.
Mac heard the boys before he saw them. It was Rhett and his gang, riding up on their bikes. The gang seemed to be larger this time.
“Hey, orphan boy. Now you’re planting some pretty little flowers?” Rhett was getting closer and closer.
“Get out of here, Rhett.” Mac turned back to his digging and planting, stabbing the ground with his metal trowel.
“You know what your real name is, orphan boy? Coward. You say you can jump trashcans? Well I am gonna let you show all of us how you do that. Saturday. Plunkett’s Field.
The jump of death. Two steel drums. And guess what, orphan boy?”
Mac sighed and stood up.
“What, crap eater?”
“The jump of death…the barrels have oil in them. We’re gonna set them on fire. Wanna back out now?”
“I would love to jump but I don’t have a bike. Maybe some other day when hell freezes over.”
“Not a problem. I have an extra one. I’ll have it there for you Saturday. Now what’s your excuse?”
Mac looked over at William’s yard and realized that William was watching the whole thing.
Mac swallowed hard, working to hide his fear. “I’ll be there ten o’clock. If you can stomach it.”
Rhett laughed. “Oh, I’ll be there. And so will everyone from school. Okay, orphan boy.
I’ll see you there. And I’ll see you burn!”
After they left Suzie stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. “No way, poop for brains…” she thunked him on the head with her fist, “too dangerous.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.” He went back to digging--stabbing the ground even hard-er.
“Yes, I can, moron.”
“No, you can’t, idiot…”
Mac picked up a clump of muddy dirt and ran after her.
“Don’t you dare, don’t you do it!” She laughed and ran.
But he was too fast and tackled her, mushing the dirt down the back of her shirt and smearing it around.
She got up laughing, crouching, her hands like claws. “It’s a shame you’re so ticklish…”
He giggled and wiggled. “No! Come on! No!”
She jumped on him, tickling him, knowing this was his one weakness.
Just then Maddy opened the door and looked out. She laughed.
“Gosh, I though you two might be playing around.”
They giggled and went back to their planting.
“No, we’re almost finished,” laughed Suzie.
Mac smiled, something he didn’t do much of.
“Good. Supper in half-hour. Spaghetti.”