Free Emmett by Diana Palmer Page B

thinking of boa constrictors and pythons. They come from the jungle.”
    â€œHey, Dad, look what we found in the barn!” Guy called, grinning.
    He came out with a huge black-and-white striped snake. It wasn’t twenty feet long, but it was at least six.
    â€œ Aaaaahhhhhhhhh! ” the cook screamed and started running again.
    â€œGo put it back in the barn,” Emmett told them.
    â€œBut it’s just a king snake,” Polk protested.
    â€œAnd he’s very friendly, Emmett,” Amy agreed.
    â€œPut it back in the barn or she’ll never come back. I’ll have to cook and we’ll starve,” he explained, gesturing toward the figure growing smaller in the distance. He scowled. “As it is, I’ll have to run her to the ground in the truck. Never saw anyone run that fast!”
    â€œSpoilsport,” Guy muttered. He petted the snake, which didn’t seem to mind being handled in the least. “Come on, Teddy. It’s back to the corn bin for you, I guess. I had hoped we could let him sleep with us. In case there were any mice inside,” he said, justifying his reply.
    Emmett could see the woman’s face if she started to make up a bed and found the snake with its head on the pillow.
    â€œBetter not,” he replied. “I’ll load my pistol. If you see a mouse, I’ll shoot it for you.”
    â€œThe snake’s a better bet, the way you shoot,” Guy drawled.
    Emmett glowered at him, but the boy just grinned. He and the other kids took the snake out to the barn. Half a mile down the road, Emmett caught up with the cook and part-time housekeeper, Mrs. Jenson. After swearing that the kids would never do any such thing again, he coaxed her into coming back and finishing those delicious salmon croquettes she’d started to make.
    It was a hard adjustment, being home all the time. Emmett discovered that fatherhood wasn’t something he could take for granted anymore. He had to work at it. All the problems the children had at school—problems that poor Mrs. Ray had handled before—were now dumped squarely in his lap.
    Polk had a terrible time with fractions, and refused to do them at all in school. Amy had attitude problems and fought with her classmates. Guy was belligerent with his teachers and wouldn’t mind spending hours and hours at in-school suspension. All these problems with teachers erupted in Emmett’s face, now that he had sole charge of the children.
    â€œWhy can’t you kids just go to school and get educated like other children do?” he asked. He had notes from three angry teachers in his hand, and he was waving them at the children while they watched television and pretended to listen.
    â€œIt’s not my fault I can’t do fractions. The teacher says I’m not mathematical,” Polk said with a proud smile.
    â€œAnd I have a bad attitude, on account of I don’t have a mommy and my daddy is never home and I need discipline and attention,” Amy said smartly.
    That stung. Emmett brushed it off and tried to pretend he hadn’t heard it. “What’s your excuse?” Emmett asked Guy.
    Guy shrugged. “Beats me. Mrs. Bartley seems to have trouble relating to me or something.”
    Emmett’s eyes narrowed. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with the mouse you stuck in her purse before lunch yesterday?”
    â€œAwww, Dad, it was only a little mouse!”
    â€œYou have to stop that sort of thing,” Emmett said firmly. “We need a little more discipline around here, I can see that right now.”
    â€œYou bet, Emmett,” Amy agreed readily. She propped her hands under her chin and stared at him. “He’s right, isn’t he, guys?” she asked her brothers.
    â€œIt isn’t our fault that the educational system is inchaos,” Polk reported. “We’re just the innocent victims of bureaucracy.”
    Guy nodded.