by Linda Nelson
Carol
Karla stuffed the note into her pocket and, slipped the backpack over her shoulder. Disappointed by the note, she walked home.
The sights and sounds of the bustling busy street captured Karla's attention. She paused at the stoplight to watch that little old lady she saw on the street the day her family moved to town. She was still pushing that shopping cart around. Seeing her again made Karla wonder what it was like to be homeless.
The walk light changed to “walk”. Karla forgot all about the old lady. She followed the crowd across the street.
Karla could not believe how quickly she walked home. She turned the corner on to her street after passing the corner store. The store did not seem too busy right now.
After she passed the third house on her street, she could see her mom's car in the driveway. She had been hoping her mom was not going to be home yet.
Her mom greeted her as she walked in the door.
“Karla, I thought you were going to go to the library after school today,” her mom questioned, “did you at least remember to pick up your research material?”
“Oh, hi Mom,” Karla shifted her backpack from her shoulder to her forearm, “Did Amy's mom have her baby?”
“Yes, she had a little boy. He was born at 8:29 this morning.”
“Oh cool.” Karla searched her mom's face trying to sense what kind of mood she was in. “That is what Amy was hoping for.”
“I will be going back there again tomorrow to watch Amy again. Her mom won't be home for another day.”
“Okay. Tell her I said congrats. Oh, and I did not go to the library today, 'cause Carol had volleyball practice. We are going to meet there tomorrow after-school instead.”
Mrs. Centon nodded, and remembered something she had meant to bring to Karla’s attention the other day, “Oh when you mowed the lawn the other day, you were supposed to mow the front yard too. Please get it done tonight.”
“Okay,” Karla said sourly.
There was always something her mom would find to complain about, Karla knew this was coming.
She pushed her way past her mom and into her bedroom. Her homework would have to wait for now. She checked her phone to see if there were any messages. There were none. She had texted Sarah about the newspaper club earlier, but she had still gotten no response.
“Time to mow the lawn again,” she grumbled to herself.
Chapter ~ 20
The next day, Karla walked excitedly to her locker. She saw Carol in the hallway, and she made a beeline straight for her. She noticed the girls gathered around Carol all scattered at her approach.
“Carol, hey, I talked to my Mom. I can sleep over at your house on Friday,” Karla said excitedly. She had made sure she mowed the lawn as best as she could and she did a little bit of house work for her mom too. She did all this before trying to convince her into letting her sleepover Carol's on Friday.
They had even argued over it a little bit. But, her mom finally gave in; this was only after Karla pointed out to her that she was almost 17. She would be 17 in like, ten more months. Then her mom went into a panic, thinking Karla was looking to take drivers ed. next. Karla had reassured her that she had no interest in learning to drive yet.
“Oh – right – great. Hey, can you still help me with my report today after school,” Carol said with a smile.
Karla could not help but notice how weird Carol's eyes looked. They looked bloodshot and squinted, like she did not get enough sleep or something. Or maybe it was something else. She began to wonder. Nah, she thought. She is on the Volleyball team, and she is the team captain. She would not do something like that. Or would she?
Karla moved over to her locker to take some books from it.
“Yeah…Of course I can.”
She could not help but notice the strange look in Carol's eyes.
“You feel okay? Your eyes look really weird.”
“Oh… I think I'm coming down with a cold or something. I’ll be all right.
So, we can meet at the library after school, right,” Carol asked as she opened up her locker and checked her eyes out in her mirror on the door. She pocketed a small bottle and closed the locker.
Trying not to be evident, Karla tried to get a glimpse of the bottle before she slipped it into her pocket. Failing to see what it was, she grabbed her books for class.
“Yeah…I’ll meet yah after school. You can think of a way for me to ask Gerry out.”
“You should just ask Gerry to go to the party with you, plain and simple,” Carol said while she lingered, waiting for Karla.
“I don't know…I have to work up my nerve to do something like that…, it’s my first party, and all,” Karla replied as she looked around, wary of anyone listening in on the conversation. She felt relieved to see the hallway was empty.
“We'll talk about it more, later…I got to go to class…, see-yah later,” Carol called to her as she made her way down the hallway.
“'Okay,” Karla shouted back. She hurried down the hallway too, barely making it to class on time.
Karla dragged through another long day at school. She ended up eating lunch again with Jerra and Marla. She thought how much alike they seem to be to her old friends, Sarah and Jody. The thought of them made her miss them.
Sarah had sent Karla a text message just before lunch, giving her the thumbs up about the newspaper club. She said she thought how cool the idea was of Karla taking photos for the school newspaper.
Karla never once mentioned the party to Sarah. She was afraid she would try to talk her out of going to it.
Again Jerra and Marla warned Karla about Carol. But Karla reassured them, saying she could handle Carol and her friends.
She was not about to back down now from that group. She feared if she did not go to that party, things could become very miserable for her at this school. If this was going to be hazing, she was not going to back down. She couldn't.
After-school, Carol did not cancel their meeting at the library as the two previous days. Karla did wonder if she would show up at the library. After all, Carol really did not seem to care about school work.
The library was only a few blocks from Karla's house. She hurried home to drop off the books she did not need, bringing only her history book and the notebook she kept her report in. She hurried past her mom sitting in the living room.
“Karla, where are you going,” her mom asked quickly.
“Got to go, Mom,” Karla showed her mom the history book. “I have to do a bit more on my report, so I'm going to the library. And remember, I have to help Carol with her history report. I will be back soon.”
“Don't be late for supper.”
Karla quickly shut the front door behind her. She felt nervous. Slipping out of the house without asking for permission to go somewhere was just not like her. But, in a way she had already asked for permission yesterday, so she really should not feel guilty about running out the door the way she was.
She nervously glanced over her shoulder back at her house. Karla felt adrenaline coursing through her body. She just could not believe she had done that and gotten away with it. Turning the corner onto Main Street, she hurried on her way to the library.
But the more she thought about it, she really didn't get away with anything. She did ask for permission yesterday afternoon. She relaxed some. Maybe she was just nervous about going to the party tomorrow. Yeah, that had to be it. Fooling her parents into believing she was just sleeping over Carol's, had to be what was troubling her.
The library loomed before her on the left. Karla could see Carol sitting on the library steps. She looked like she was lounging. Karla snickered, thinking Carol looked funny.
A group of pedestrians were waiting for the streetlight to change so they could cross the street. Karla quickly joined them at the back of the group. When the light changed, she followed the surge forward. Cars lined up on both sides of the street, waiting for the light. She heard vibrating bass-beating rap fro
m one of the cars.
Moving quickly past the group of pedestrians, Karla reached the library steps faster than she anticipated. Almost out of breath from walking so quickly, she hurried up the steps.
“That was fast,” Carol greeted.
“Are you ready to get started,” Karla asked as she slowed down her breathing, trying to mask her loss of breath.
Carol stood up and followed Karla into the library.
“You didn't bring any books, paper, or pencils?”
Carol shook her head.
“Glad I brought mine.”
Karla led the way to a large table and placed her things on it. Carol pulled out a chair and sat down. Taking a chair next to Carol, Karla sat down and opened up her notebook.
“What is your report on?”
“Um, the Civil War, I think,” Carol answered. “I don't know…I don't remember.”
“'Since you did not start it yet, I take it…. It will be the Civil War, then.”
Karla jotted the heading across the top of the paper.
“Now we have to go look up information on the Civil War.”
Karla took Carol around the library to show her where to find the catalog. She found that Carol had no idea what it was or how to use one. After a long process of explaining the catalog, she brought Carol around the library, showing her where the books were located.
Collecting the books, Karla piled them up in Carol's arms. She felt six books would give Carol more than enough information. She then ushered Carol back to the table.
“Here, let me see.”
She took a book from Carol's pile.
Carol picked up the pencil and waited. She cupped her head in her hand with her elbow on the table.
“I don't know what to write.”
“Here, put this down, but in your own words.”
She pushed a book in front of Carol, exposing the article on the page.
“Can't I just copy it?”
“No. She will know you didn't write it. You can use these to write your report. Just change the words to your own.”
“So, you want me to write all that,” Carol asked as she slumped back in her chair, looking like she was ready to give up.
“No, just use some of it. The report only has to be five hundred words,” Karla said encouragingly.
She watched as Carol jotted down a few sentences. Carol would pause; start to write again, then only to erase what she had written.
Carol suddenly looked up from her paper.
“Oh…Hey, I know how you can ask Gerry to the party.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Are you sure he's gonna want to go to it with me?”
Karla looked up from a book she was flipping through.
“Yes. Silly. He has study period in the library, and he still has not finished his report. He'll be there by himself. Ask him then. If you want, I can talk to him first. I can give you some sort of signal letting you know the coast is clear.”
“I don't know…”
“Think about it, and get back with me. Don't wait too long, or someone else will ask him out,” Carol said while she drummed the pencil eraser against her chin.
“I'll think about it…Hey I got to get going—it's starting to get dark. I'll see yah in school tomorrow.”
Last thing she wanted was a repeat of Sunday night.
Karla picked up her notebook. She pulled a few more sheets of paper from it and set them on the table before Carol.
“You can hold onto the pencil. I have plenty more.”
“Thanks for your help.”
Carol once again slumped back in her chair.
Karla hurriedly said, “Yup, I’ll see you tomorrow,” as she pushed her chair back under the table, leaving Carol to work on the report by herself. Stepping out of the library, she noted the sun was beginning to set. She looked at the time on her cell phone and saw that it was getting late. She had to hurry. Supper would be ready in about fifteen minutes.
Chapter ~ 21
Karla left the house as fast as she could. She slipped past her mom standing in the kitchen. Carefully, she closed the front door as quietly as she could.
Power-walking as fast as she could, Karla felt determined to tell Carol of her decision. She was ready to ask Gerry out, but she felt jittery. She was anxious and worried about him saying No.
She had taken extra special care of choosing her wardrobe this morning, picking out a nice low cut top that enhanced her brown eyes. She was not used to wearing skirts, but today would be an appropriate day to wear one. It had been suggested by Carol yesterday while she was helping her with her history report.
She had found a nice skirt in her closet. It was a short denim one. One she had forgotten about owning. It must have been sitting on that hanger since last May.
She was glad her mom never noticed her slipping out the door wearing it. She would have known Karla was up to something. Since Karla rarely ever wore any dresses or skirts.
Carol was at her locker. Darcy and Maggie were leaning on each side of it, talking to her. Darcy smiled at Karla's approach, but Maggie glared at her.
“Hi, Karla,” they chimed together and walked away to another group of students gathered in the hall, giving Carol her privacy she had wanted for this moment.
Karla was glad they did not stay to hear her tell Carol of her plans.
“You’re early,” Carol noted.
“Yeah…I guess. Did you finish your report?” Karla asked.
“Almost,” replied Carol with a grin. She pulled the paper from her history book to show what she had done. The page was half written on.
“Well, that's a start, anyway,” Karla said as she handed back the paper.
Oh, God, can I do this? Karla asked herself as she opened her locker and shoved her books into it. She looked around to see if anyone was in hearing range. Satisfied, she spoke up.
“Hey, Carol…I think I can do it. You said you would talk to him first.”
“Um, yeah… Sure. I have to go by the library before next block. You got time?”
“Yeah, I got a study period. I requested a pass for the library today,” Karla replied.
“Um…. Then this is what we will do. When I put my hand up to my hair and pull it back like this,” She demonstrated. “You come walking down the library stairs and take the seat next to him, and then just make small talk with him first.”
“'Kay.”
Karla looked around nervously.
She felt so unnatural in the skirt. Already she was missing her jeans. And she hoped she would not trip wearing these heels. Even though they were low heels, they were heels just the same. Sneakers were her foot ware of choice besides flip-flops.
Carol smiled and continued, “But when you come to the library, I want you to wait up in the upper level of the library, where you can see me at the booths, and wait for my signal.”
“See you in a bit, then,” Karla said as she nervously fled up the hallway. Her panic almost caused her to bump into Heath. Giggling nervously, she slipped into the classroom to take her seat for roll call.
She listened to the buzz chattering around the room. The big event of the week was Ian's party. Karla caught a glimpse of Jerra passing by in the hallway. “I have to remember — Saturday newspaper meeting. This is gonna be a great weekend,” She said quietly to herself.
Homeroom bell rang. The students quieted down, waiting for the morning announcements. A reminder of the football game after school was made. Karla could not wait for homeroom to be over. She kept smoothing her skirt down, inspecting it for any lint.
The sound of the bell ringing did not bring her any relief. Karla felt more nervous than before. She waited for the other students to leave the class before her. She then made her way to the library, finding the spot on the upper level of the library where Carol had told her to stand. She waited for the signal. She watched Carol take her place at the booth below.
She waited for almost 10 minutes. Pretending to look for study material while
keeping an eye on where Carol and Gerry sat. She still felt nervous about the outfit she was wearing. She hoped her outfit was not too outdated. Fashion changes so fast. It was hard to keep one's wardrobe up to date.
Then it happened. She saw the movement at the cubicles below.
Catching the signal from Carol, Karla brushed her skirt, took a deep breath, and walked towards where Gerry sat. She carefully maneuvered the stairs; scared she might trip and make a scene.
Other students filled the library during their free study period, gathering at tables, sitting in booths, or looking for research materials for various reports. She walked past a table, to where he sat in a booth.
“Is anyone sitting here,” Karla asked him. She admired the way the wisps of curls hung over his brow.
“No. Carol had to go back to class,” Gerry replied. He quickly glanced at her, only to return his focus back to his report.
Karla set her things down in the next booth.
“You haven't finished that yet? It's due today.”
Karla tried to push her shyness aside to make small talk, as Carol suggested.
“What do you want? You're bugging me”
He flipped the paper over so she could not see what he had written. Pencil between his thumb and forefinger, he began to tap the eraser on the surface in front of him.
“There's a party at Ian's tonight—do yah want to go to it with me,” Karla blurt out nervously. She feared he could see how nervous she was. I can't believe I'm doing this, she thought.
Gerry leaned back in his chair. The pencil continued tapping. His eyes locked on hers. A smile formed across his face. Karla's heart skipped a beat. She knew her face must be flushed.
Gerry reached out and touched the top of her hand. The movement startled Karla. She never expected his touch.
“I guess I can go,” he finally said. “My parents will be going away for the weekend. You want me to pick you up,” he asked as she smiled sheepishly.
A movement caught Gerry’s attention. Karla allowed her eyes to look in the direction Gerry was looking. His friends, Justin and Heath, entered the library. They were headed in their direction. Karla noted the time on the clock above the check-out desk.
