CHAPTER 4
THEY HADN'T LOCKED, the kitchen window. It slid open with just a couple
of squeaks, then I was inside the Amos house crouched down like a cat burglar,
Quick as a rabbit I looked under the table to see if they'd moved my suitcase. It
was still there.

I got a whole lot calmer when I picked it up and it was the right weight, I didn't
think they'd taken anything out of it. I couldn't be sure until I looked inside but
I could do that later.

I took in a deep breath and looked over at the icebox to see if the shotgun was
still there. I let all the air out in a big puff when I saw it. Shucks, you'd think
that with the Amoses being so doggone mean they'd worry about leaving a big
old gun like that out in the open. What if one of their visitors got real mad at
them about something? I unlocked the back door and set my suitcase on the
first step of the porch, so I could make a quick getaway after I was through
paying these Amoses back.

I opened the screen door real quiet and went back into the house. Fair is fair.
The Amoses deserved what they were going to get.

I can't all the way blame Todd for giving me trouble, though. If I had a regular
home with a mother and father I wouldn't be too happy about other kids living
in my house either.

Being unhappy about it is one thing, but torturing the kids who are there even
though they don't want to be is another. It was my job to make sure other kids
who didn't know where their mothers and fathers were didn't have to put up
with Todd.

My heart started jumping around in my stomach as soon as I reached out for the
shotgun.

It was a lot longer and heavier than I thought it would be.

I lifted it and felt how solid the smooth brown wood was against my shoulder.
With it up close to my face like this I could smell the gray metal of the barrel
and the gun oil Mr. Amos used on it. I aimed the gun at the stove and pretended
I was shooting at a elephant or a dragon or a tiger, or best of all, Todd!
I imagined how it would feel to creep up to his bed while he was sleeping and
put the shotgun barrel right in his nose.

After that I'd have to do some quick moving to get the grown-up Amoses.
Unless they were real sound sleepers the shotgun going off in Todd's room
would give them a clue that something was going on.

I lowered the gun. These things were just too dangerous to play with or to take
chances with, that's why the first part of my revenge plan was to get this gun
out of the way.

If something went wrong and the Amoses woke up I didn't want them rushing
down to the kitchen to get the gun. I knew they'd shoot me in a flash and tell
the Home it was an accident.

I took the gun outside and put it on the back porch in a corner where they
wouldn't be able to see it until daytime. I felt a lot better when it was out of my
hands.

When I was back in the kitchen I started opening cupboards looking for the
drinking glasses. The first one I opened had the jelly jar they'd given me to
drink out of at suppertime.

I walked over to the sink and turned on one of the spigots. These Amoses had
hot water running right into the house! I let it run for a second to warm up and
put a dishrag in the bottom of the sink so the splashing wasn't too loud.
When the water was good and hot I stuck the jelly jar underneath until it was
filled to the brim.

I started down the hall. Todd's door came open easy as anything.
I tiptoed over to his bed. He was deep asleep and his hands were crossed on his
chest like he was ready for the graveyard.

I dipped my middle finger in the water. It felt like the perfect temperature.
I held my breath and picked up one of Todd's chubby hands. One of the older
boys at the Home told me if you dipped someone's hand in a warm glass of
water whilst they're asleep they don't have any choice but to pee the bed. It's
something about chemistry and biology making some valve in your guts open
up and ... woop, zoop, sloop ... you got a wet bed.

I started to dip Todd's fingers in the water. But I couldn't dip more than two
fingers at a time. Todd's bed stayed as dry as the desert.

I tried holding Todd's hand flat and pouring water over it but he still didn't wet
the bed.

Finally I decided to just pour the water on his pajama pants. I pulled the blanket and sheet down and emptied the jar.

His face twitched a couple of times and for a minute it looked like his eyes
were going to come open but they stayed shut. He smiled and the warm water
from the jelly jar opened that little valve up and ... woop, zoop, sloop ... he
soaked his sheets!

I tiptoed out of the room and down the hall and out the door.

My favorite saying in the whole world is "He who laughs last laughs best” so I
put my hand over my mouth and whispered, "Ha-ha-ha."

I picked up my suitcase and walked to the street.

Man! I was on the lam, I was just like Public Enemy Number One. If J. Edgar
Hoover and the FBI saw me now I'd be in some real serious hot water!