Double Dippin' Read Online Free Page B

reached his ninth birthday he’d caused more trouble in Mazie’s life than all her former no-good boyfriends put together.
    Trifling menfolk were the reason she’d found religion in the first place. With all her good deeds and perfect attendance at church she wondered why the Lord had cursed her instead of bestowing blessings upon her.
    Wallowing in self-pity, she needed to point the finger of blame at someone. Shane was an easy target since her last conscious memory was of getting ready to lay a strap to his backside. The devilish rascal had taken off on his bicycle at ten in the morning and didn’t come home until nine o’clock that night. After walking all over the neighborhood with her swollen feet and Tariq by her side, Mazie had finally given up and was prepared to call the police.
    No sooner had she picked up the phone when Shane rang the doorbell. Hewalked in the house looking unfazed as if it were twelve in the afternoon. Fit to be tied, Mazie hauled off and slapped one side of Shane’s sullen face and then the other. When she sent Tariq upstairs to get the strap so she could light some fire to Shane’s backside, the boy took off running toward the front door. Fueled by indignation, she wrestled with him as he tried to unlock the front door.
    “Hurry up, Tariq. Bring me that strap,” Mazie remembered calling out as she tussled with Shane. She intended to whip him until she drew blood. Raw welts on his bare behind would be a reminder that he was just a child and had to respect her and to bring his tail home at a reasonable hour.
    That was the last thing she remembered; she had no recollection of having a stroke.
    If she’d have known that things would turn out the way they had, she would have never accepted those bicycles that the good people at her church had donated to Shane and Tariq. To be honest, she shouldn’t have allowed Satan into her home! No sir-ee. She should have followed her instincts and taken in Tariq but locked her heart as well as her door against that bad Shane. Shane was the devil incarnate and no one could make her believe otherwise.
    Mazie said a quick prayer for Tariq. He was a sweet child, but Shane was a bad influence on him. No telling how Tariq would end up if he didn’t get away from his wicked brother.
    Right after the stroke, before being admitted to the nursing home, Mazie was unaware that her speech was completely unintelligible. She thought she was talking sensibly to the social worker who’d come to her hospital bedside, telling the woman that it would be best to split the boys up since Shane was such a bad influence on Tariq. But in reality, all Mazie could manage was a loud gurgle and an enormous amount of drooling.
    Looking frightened and repelled, the young social worker abruptly ended the hospital visit. “I promise, I won’t split up the twins. I’ll make sure to find a home for both your great-nephews,” the young woman assured Mazie.
    What’s wrong with that simple woman? Didn’t she hear a word I said? I told that so-called educated heifer to split the boys up, so why she just keep smiling and telling me she’s gonna try to keep the boys together?
    Mazie slumped onto her pillow in defeat. She supposed they handed out college degrees to just about anybody nowadays.

    Shane and Tariq were in a temporary youth center waiting for permanent placement. They were watching cartoons in the playroom when their social worker, a young woman named Miss Patrick, came to visit.
    “Hi, boys. Remember me? I’m Miss Patrick.” Kneeling down to their seated level, the young woman gave the nine-year-old boys a sympathetic smile, giving the impression that she was trustworthy, harmless.
    Tariq blinked nervously. Shane’s eyes narrowed into slits.
    Miss Patrick cleared her throat and tossed her long glossy hair. “So, how’s it going?”
    Shane glared at her; Tariq shrugged.
    “That bad, huh?” she said with a forced chuckle. When the twins didn’t return the laughter,