Rule #9

by Sheri Duff

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Groups of parents and students caravan south for the varsity game. It’s already dark. I love going to games underneath the lights. Vianna and I ride with Alicia, Lily, and Benny. Natalie refuses to come out of the house, even though Annabelle is fine and her dad has actually apologized a million times. She’s staying home with her mom tonight. Vianna, Benny, and I play a Bingo I Spy board game that Alicia has stuck between the seats of the SUV. Benny’s winning for the second time.

  I read the cap from my tea: “Did you know the space between your eyebrows is called a nasion?”

  “Papi, you don’t have that.” Alicia laughs.

  I scrutinize Benny’s face. He has one, but it’s real small. I could wax it for him. Ooh, yuck, that’s way too personal. Even though Benny and I are good now, I won’t do it. I won’t even bring it up.

  “I think you’re cheating.” Vianna’s eyes narrow at Benny. She leans over and looks at his board. “There’s no way you saw a cow in the city.”

  “First, you look like you lost your nasion,” Benny says. “Second, we passed a milk plant and there was a cow on the logo. It does not say ‘live cow’ on the game board. It only says ‘cow.’”

  Alicia shakes her head and looks back at him in her rearview mirror. “Papi, that’s not fair. Place nice.”

  “Fine, then. Bingo!” Vianna shouts. “I saw the cow too.”

  “We can play your way, I’ll take the cow off.” Benny backstrokes.

  “No way, Mr. Morales, you lost.” Vianna slaps me a high five.