by Betsy Haynes
"What do you want?" I grumbled.
"I thought you'd like to know what went on at recess, since you had such a big part in it," Taffy said.
I felt my face turn red and my ears get hot, and I couldn't answer her.
"Mona confessed to Wiggins that she's the thief. Wiggins talked to Mrs. Winchell and they are going to let her work off the money by correcting papers and erasing the boards and things like that," said Taffy. "Isn't that nice of Wiggins? She could have called the police."
I winced at the word "police." Taffy was getting at something, and I almost didn't want to know what it was.
"Yeah. That's really nice, Mona," I said. "I'm glad she was so understanding."
Mona nodded shyly.
"That's not all," said Taffy. "I thought you would also like to know what happened about the note."
This was it. She was going to zap me now. I knew it had to happen. My friends and I exchanged glances. They were worried, too.
Taffy leaned toward me, looking me straight in the eye. "When Mona confessed, Wiggins realized that when I wrote that note I was trying to take the blame for Mona. She was awfully impressed. Now she thinks I'm the most super FRIEND anyone could ever have."
My mouth dropped open so far that my chin nearly banged on the table. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Taffy hadn't told on us. She had pretended that fake note was really from her!
Taffy and Mona didn't stick around our table to see what anyone would say. I watched them go feeling more confused than ever before. I wanted to hate Taffy Sinclair for making Wiggins think she was some kind of heroine, but at the same time, she had saved my life. Was that why she had put extra emphasis on the word "friend"? Well, at least one thing was certain, I thought. Taffy Sinclair would not be able to blackmail me anymore.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Because of Taffy Sinclair I had hardly had time to think about the fact that my father was coming on the 6 P.M. bus, and all the way home from school I practiced what I would say to him. First, I would give him a hug, and then I would tell him how glad I was to have him back home. Or maybe I should shake his hand instead of giving him a hug. Mom might not be ready for the hug part yet.
I looked at my watch. It was almost four. I didn't have a lot of time. I wanted to fix myself up before we went to meet the bus. I was going to wear my best plaid skirt and matching sweater, and I would borrow Mom's curling iron to fix my hair.
The phone was ringing when I let myself into the apartment. I dashed across the room to answer it.
"Hello," I said between gulps of air.
There was a pause and then a voice I hadn't heard in a long time said, "Jana, honey? Is that you?"
It was my father. I would know his voice anywhere. "Yes, it's me. Is that YOU?"
He laughed softly. "Is your mother home yet?" he asked. "I phoned her office, but they said she had already left."
"No, she isn't here yet. But where are you?" I paused as a terrible thought occurred to me. "Aren't you on the bus?"
I knew what he would say before he said it, and hot tears flashed into my eyes.
"I'm not coming, Jana." I heard him sigh. "I'm sorry. I really did want to see you again."
"Why aren't you coming?" I cried. "I thought you needed us!"
"Listen carefully," he said. "It has nothing to do with how much I love you. I found a job. Isn't that great? Right here in Poughkeepsie. I'm going to get to stay in my apartment after all."
I couldn't answer. I didn't want him to stay in Poughkeepsie. I wanted him to come here. Today. On the six o'clock bus.
Just then Mom got home. I think she knew from the look on my face who was on the phone. I handed her the receiver without a word and went to my room. Slowly I opened the closet door and looked at the space I had made for his clothes. He wouldn't need it now. He wouldn't need the drawer I had emptied, either. He wouldn't need anything from me because he was going to stay in Poughkeepsie instead of coming here so that we could be a real family again. I slammed the closet door and threw myself across my bed.
A little while later Mom knocked on my door. After I said, "Come in," she sat down on the side of the bed and took my hand in hers.
I lifted my face out of my pillow and looked at her. "Why did he have to find a job up there?" I asked.
"I know you're disappointed," she said. "I also know that your dad really wanted to see you, but I hope you'll be able to be happy for him now."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because he's finally learning to take some responsibility for himself. He's figured out that no one else can do it for him. I'm sure he's going to have a much happier life now."
We talked for a while, and I started to feel a lot better. I was beginning to understand what she meant about taking responsibility. My life would have been a lot happier lately if I had taken the responsibility of turning Wiggins's wallet in when I found it instead of trying to push it off on somebody else. I could see that all my misery over Taffy Sinclair blackmailing me was really my own fault. I didn't tell Mom about that. Some things are better off staying secret.
When the phone rang a little while later, I rushed to answer it. I hoped it was one of my friends. I had so much to tell them.
"Hi, Jana. This is Randy. Can you talk?"
My heart started doing flip-flops, the way it always did when he gave me his 1,000-watt smile. But what if he was calling to say he had found out that I wasn't the kind and sensitive person he had thought I was? What if he said that he didn't like me anymore? That he liked Taffy Sinclair instead. After all, I had seen him talking to her a couple of times. I didn't want to know a thing like that, but I had to find out.
"Sure," I said, holding my breath.
"I'm calling to ask you what I've done. Every time I look at you, you look away. Don't you like me anymore?"
"Of course, I still like you," I said, and the breath I had been holding exploded in a happy sigh. "I'm sorry if I've been acting funny lately. You see, I thought my father was going to come and see me, but he's not."
That wasn't quite the truth, but it was close enough. I couldn't let Randy think he had done anything wrong. And I certainly couldn't tell him about Wiggins's wallet or about being blackmailed by Taffy Sinclair.
"I'm sorry your father isn't coming," he said. "And, Jana," he hesitated a second and then added, "I'm glad that everything ELSE is okay." I blushed when he said that, but I could tell he really meant it. Randy is the kindest and most sincere person in the world.
My life was perfect again. Everything was okay between Randy and me. We talked on the phone for ages, and I'll bet it won't be long until he asks me out and maybe even kisses me again! It made me a little sad that my father wouldn't be coming to see me, at least not right away, but I was glad his life was getting happy, too. And as for Taffy Sinclair—my troubles with her were over—at least for now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Betsy Haynes, the daughter of a former newswoman, began scribbling poetry and short stories as soon as she learned to write. A serious writing career, however, had to wait until after her marriage and the arrival of her two children. But that early practice must have paid off, for within three months Mrs. Haynes had sold her first story. In addition to a number of magazine short stories and the Taffy Sinclair series, Mrs. Haynes is also the author of Spies on the Devil's Belt and the highly acclaimed Cowslip. She lives in Colleyville, Texas, with her children and husband, a businessman who is the author of a young adult novel.
Table of Contents
BLACKMAILED BY TAFFY SINCLAIR
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN<
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
