Free Alabama Moon by Watt Key

and watched everyone. I’d never been with so many people my age. All their talking and moving around made me dizzy. I rolled over and stared at the ceiling until I heard the bell ring.
    I climbed off my bed and followed the other boys through a hall and into a large room with two long tables. On the left side was the kitchen, all caged behind thick wire. Mr. Gene stood on a platform and began to say some stuff into a microphone. Halfway through his speech the boy next to me poked me in the ribs with his elbow. “It’s a prayer,” he said. “Look down and shut your eyes.”
    After the prayer, two boys I had seen earlier took bowls of food from a slot in the kitchen wire and set them on the tables. There was even more food in the boys’ home than in jail. We had mashed potatoes, ham, rolls, salad, and iced tea. You ate as much as you liked. If you ran out, there was always more.
    â€œI’ve never seen somebody eat so much,” the boy next to me said.
    I kept eating and didn’t answer.
    â€œMy name’s Kit Slip,” he said. I turned to him and sized him up. He was even skinnier than me and so fair-skinned that he reminded me of a bull minnow. I might have thought he was sick if he hadn’t been sitting up and talking to melike he was. The thing most unusual about him was that he barely had hair. What hair he did have was as white as spider-weaving and seemed that it would blow away like dandelion seeds if you got him in the wind. When I was finally able to swallow everything, I said “Moon Blake” to him.
    I didn’t notice when the other boys started returning their plates to the kitchen. Kit had to tap me on the shoulder.
    â€œCome on, Moon,” he said. “It’s time to go.”
    My plate still had some mashed potatoes left. I saw the others walking past me and out of the dining hall.
    â€œDo we have to? I’ve still got some left.”
    â€œMost boys go to the rec room now. We can play Ping-Pong or watch television.”
    I took one more quick bite, then got up and returned my plate, too. I followed Kit to the rec room. But when we passed through the door that led out of the dining hall, Mr. Carter tapped me on the arm. “Come with me, Moon. Mr. Gene wants to see you.”
    â€œWhat for?” I asked.
    â€œI don’t know. He’s the boss. I don’t ask questions.”
    â€œYou scared of him?”
    Mr. Carter scrunched his face. “Come on,” he said.

 
12
    To get to Mr. Gene’s office Mr. Carter had to unlock the steel door again. After we passed through, he locked it back and motioned for me to keep moving. I followed behindand tried to match my steps with his until he stopped and turned and stared at me. “Don’t you be makin’ trouble,” he said.
    â€œI’ll bet you can run fast,” I replied.
    â€œYou bet I can.”
    We started walking again, and he went slower and I got up beside him. “Why’d you send Hal outside?”
    â€œ ’Cause he’s mean to you and everybody else.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with him?”
    â€œGot a bad attitude. He’s been like that ever since he got here.”
    â€œWhy don’t you send me outside? I’ll stay under a tree and everybody else can stay in here.”
    â€œGonna be chilly tonight.”
    â€œCold doesn’t bother me. All you need’s a blanket and fire.”
    â€œAin’t gonna be no fires around here. No matches allowed.”
    â€œI don’t need matches. I can rub sticks and make fire.”
    Mr. Carter didn’t answer, but started shaking his head. Soon we came to a door and Mr. Carter knocked on it.
    Mr. Gene’s office had thick carpet and a big desk with two chairs in front of it. He was pouring himself a glass of water when we walked in. His face was drawn like he worried a lot and didn’t get much sleep.
    â€œThank you, Mr. Carter,” he said. “Moon,