CHAPTER 19
For the next few days, Carly and Freddie met
regularly after school and biked into the woods to visit their
friend. They brought him food, plastic bags, and even an old tent
that, although punctured with holes, provided a makeshift home. The
plastic bags adequately filled in the gaps. Each day was different,
and they were careful not to stay too long. Sometimes they’d find
Strange Willie asleep in the tent with the hound carefully guarding
the entrance. They would leave their gifts and ride away without
waking their friend. Other times, he would share a candy bar with
them. He rarely spoke. When he did, he told stories of the war, of
bringing death and destruction to people with names he could not
pronounce in a far-off land.
For several days they helped Strange Wil
