Farewell Summer ~ Ray Bradbury - Marimarister

―There,‖ said Mother, fixing his tie.
CHAPTER THIRTY
―Who cares about a darn girl‘s birthday party?‖ said Douglas. ―It sounds awful.‖
―If Quartermain can go to all the trouble to have a cake made for Lisabell, you can take
an hour and go. Especially since he sent invitations. Be polite is all I ask.‖
―Come on, Doug, aw come on!‖ cried Tom, from the front porch.
―Hold your horses! Here I go.‖
And the screen door slammed and he was in the street and he and Tom were walking in
the fresh day.
―Boy,‖ whispered Tom, smiling, ―I‘m gonna eat till I get sick.‖
―There‘s a deep and dire plot in here somewhere,‖ said Douglas. ―How come all of a
sudden Quarter-main isn‘t making a commotion? How come, just like that, he‘s all smiles?‖
―I never in my life,‖ said Tom, ―argued with a piece of cake or a bowl of ice cream.‖
Halfway down the block they were joined by Charlie, who fell into step beside them and
looked like he was going to a funeral.
―Hey, this tie‘s killing me.‖ Charlie walked with them in a solemn line.
Moments later they were joined by Will and the others.
―As soon as the party‘s over, let‘s all go skinny-dipping out at Apple Crick. Might be our
last chance before it gets too cold. Summer‘s gone.‖
Doug said, ―Am I the only one who thinks there‘s somethin‘ fishy goin‘ on here? I mean,
why‘s old man Quartermain giving Lisabell a birthday party? Why‘d He invite us? I smell a rat,
fellas. ‖
Charlie tugged at his tie and said, ―I hate to say this, Doug, but it looks like any day now,
whatever‘s left of our war ain‘t going to be nothing. There doesn‘t seem to be any reason to fight
them anymore.‖
―I don‘t know, Charlie. Something just doesn‘t add up.‖
They came to the ravine and stopped.