"Steven Gould - Wildside" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gould Stephen Jay)

Rick smiled, then, and the others looked at him, puzzled. "So, what are you going to tell us,
Charlie?" I could see that some of the possibilities were occurring to him.

"How'd you like enough money for college, without working for your dad in Dallas this summer?
All of you. How'd you like enough money for college at any school in the country? Full board and
tuition without any jobs on the side?" I paused, a bubble of hysterical laughter breaking out. "Hell. If it
works out, enough money for the rest of your lives."




CHAPTER TWO

"IT'S LOADED SO BE CAREFUL."
Graduation was an ordeal. Marie's valedictory speech was okay—I'd helped her with it—but
the last thing I wanted to do was listen to the Reverend Bates and the president of the school board
as they tried to simultaneously prepare us for the future and immerse us in our past "happy days" at
Bryan High.

It was so far from my experience that I was beginning to know how Joey felt after the prom.

Luckily I brought a book.

Dad surprised me by swapping shifts with another pilot so he could be there. That morning, for
graduation, my parents gave me a leather flight bag, a Blackhawk headset with liquid cushion pads on
the earphones, and an AVS flight computer.

I'd been using Dad's headset and flight computer unless he was Pilot-In-Command, then I wore
a cheap crew headset that hurt the ears after twenty minutes.

There was mingling, after, and my hand was shaken by kids who never even noticed me while
we were in school. Mom stood and talked with Mr. and Mrs. Prentice and Mr. Nguyen, watching
everything with wide eyes. At least she left the notepad at home… this time. I saw Dad hang up the
pay phone in the hall and come back into the auditorium.

Joey was tugging at his collar and wanting to go, but his parents were having a great time. "I'd
just as soon never see this place again," he told me just before Dad came up.

"I know what you mean," I said.

"Congratulations, Joey," said Dad, shaking Joey's hand. "What are your plans?"

"Thanks, Captain Newell. For the summer, I'm going to work in, uh, wildlife management." He
shot a look at me.

I'll kill you, I mouthed.

Dad nodded amiably, then turned to me. "I took the standby spot to get free for this and my
number just came up. A pilot failed his physical and I have to replace him on the DFW-KC-O'Hare
run tonight. You want to fly me up?" He spread his hands. "Only if you want to. If you've got plans or