Dana took the note and nodded. “Sure,” she said.
She looked at the paper. Janelle’s. Of course. They always chose the same things. Dana tucked the note into her pocket. Sure, she could make the meeting tomorrow. But there was something else she needed to do today.
Dana looked for Janelle. She saw her sitting against the back wall of the stage. She had her head back and eyes closed, with her legs stretched out straight in front of her. Dana walked over and sat down beside her. She didn’t say anything. Neither did Janelle. For a long moment, it was quiet between them. From the back of the room, Trey belted out, “I am the great and powerful Oz,” and both girls jumped.
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” said Dana.
Janelle smiled, but she didn’t look her way.
After a moment, Dana tried again. “Thanks for saying what you said, about me playing Dorothy.”
“It’s true. You would have done a great job. Just like you’ll do with the Scarecrow.” Janelle still did not look at her.
Dana took a deep breath. She had so much she wanted to say, but she was afraid. She heard her mother’s voice telling her, “You can recycle that!” and she knew it was true. But where would she start? At the beginning, she decided.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you in the hospital,” she said, staring straight ahead.
“I know you don’t like hospitals.” Janelle said. Then she added softly, “But I wish you had.”
“Me too.”
It was quiet again.
“I was sad you were in there,” said Dana.
Janelle nodded. “Me too.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
Janelle sighed. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
Dana looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“This summer…working, soccer, just hanging out. And this fall…running and volleyball.”
“But you couldn’t—”
“I know. But I’m still sorry you had to do it by yourself. That must have been kind of lonely for you. We were going to do it together. I let you down.”
That was it, Dana thought—the empty feeling. It was loneliness.
There was silence for a moment. Dana shook her head. “You didn’t let me down.” Then she said quietly, “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Never,” answered Janelle.
“First the accident, and then…” She paused. She felt her cheeks redden.
Janelle turned to look at Dana. “Then?” she asked.
“I thought you were mad at me. I thought that you thought I was taking everything away from you.” She hesitated.
“Go on.”
“Meanwhile, I felt you were trying to take everything away from me. That if you couldn’t have them, I shouldn’t have them either. Running, volleyball…I even thought you might be trying to meet with Jason behind my back.”
“What?” Janelle’s eyes widened. “And I thought you were avoiding me because you thought I wasn’t cool enough to be your friend anymore.”
“Cool enough? You’re the best! I thought you didn’t need me anymore,” said Dana. “I thought you and Julia…”
“Ah, Julia.”
They both looked over at Julia, who was talking with Neta as she handed her a piece of green paper. “Julia, well, she’s a take-charge kind of person,” said Janelle. “I guess I was her project for a while, but I think she may have a new one now. She means well, you know. She really does.” She looked back at Dana. “But no one could ever replace you, Dana. I missed you.”
Dana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I missed you too. I know things will have to be different, but that’s okay. We can make it work. I’ll have to finish out the volleyball season, but I won’t sign up for basketball.”
“What are you talking about? Of course you will. Just look at how tall you are—you’ll be dangerous out there! You’ll be the team’s secret weapon. No fair that you get to be tall and have curly hair too. Everyone’s jealous.”
Jealous? Dana opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out.
“Maybe I can help keep score or something,” continued Janelle. “Anyway, I’ll come to all the games.”
Dana gave her head a shake. “Awesome,” she said, “and you can come over and we’ll practice the lines of the play together. I have this great dance I want to show you that would be perfect for the Scarecrow. Mr. Finch taught us.”
“Mr. Finch? This I’ve got to see. Show me now.”
Dana laughed as they stood up. “Oh, Nelly—” she started, but then she stopped, flustered. “Oops, sorry, I mean…”
“Why oops?”
“You said you didn’t like to be called kindergarten names anymore.”
“But you always call me Nelly.”
“Yeah, but…”
A lightbulb went on for Janelle. “Oh, that. I thought you were talking about what Mickey used to call me. Remember?”
Dana shook her head.
“Jelly Belly. Remember? Jelly Belly, she’s so smelly. He used to say it all the time.” Janelle paused and put her hands on her hips. “Wait a minute. He used to call you something too, didn’t he?”
Dana shook her head again.
“Yes, he did. What was it?”
Dana put her hands over her ears. She knew what was coming.
“Jelly Belly and…Ding Dong! That’s it. Ding Dong Davis. Sing a song, Ding Dong. I remember now. Only Mickey was the one doing all the singing. Yes, that was it. Ding Dong Davis.”
“Shhh,” said Dana. “Not so loud!” They grinned at each other. It felt good to be grinning with her friend again.
Right on cue, Mickey came toward them, singing, “If I were King of the Forrressttt…”
“Maybe he’ll learn a whole new set of songs now,” whispered Janelle as Mickey got closer. “No more Dana, Dana tunes.”
Dana raised an eyebrow. “Think so?”
Mickey stopped right in front of them. “So you’re the Witch,” he said to Janelle. “The Wicked Witch.”
Janelle nodded. “Looks like it.”
“And you’re the Scarecrow?” he asked Dana.
Dana nodded. “Guess so.”
Mickey nodded too. “This is going to be fun,” he said as he began to walk away. “Jay’s pretty pumped too. He’s excited about being partners.”
“With you?”
“Well, yeah. But even more about being partners with you, if you know what I mean.” He winked.
Dana blushed. Janelle grinned.
“Hey,” said Mickey. “Your face is as red as a—”
Don’t say tomato! But Mickey just turned and started singing again. “Scarecrow Dana, if she only had a brain-a.”
Dana rolled her eyes. “I suppose he means well too?”
“He really does,” said Janelle.
Dana smiled.
“Come on,” begged Janelle. “Show me that Scarecrow dance you were talking about.” She leaned in and whispered, “While we’re practicing it at your house, we can talk about what kind of spell we’ll cast on the Tin Man.” She cackled softly.
“I was thinking we might invite Neta too,” said Dana. “If that’s okay with you.”
“Sure. I’d like to get to know her better. And she’s going to need help with all those lines.”
“Okay, do what I do,” Dana said. She flapped her arms wildly and shook her head until her cheeks jiggled. Janelle joined in. They started laughing. They laughed so hard they almost couldn’t stand anymore and had to hold each other up. They laughed so hard, tears began pooling in the corners of their eyes. Some of the other kids looked over and started laughing too, until the whole auditorium echoed with laughter. It was a ripple effect.
Acknowledgments
SPECIAL THANKS TO my husband and family for their enthusiasm and constant encouragement. Sincere thanks also to Amy Collins and the many others at Orca Books who are so lovely to work with and do their jobs so well.
&nbs
p; SYLVIA TAEKEMA works as a supply teacher and as a volunteer in programs for children at school, church and in the community. Her first novel, Seconds, was nominated for a Silver Birch Express Award. Sylvia lives in Chatham, Ontario, where she loves to read, bake cookies and go on camping adventures with her family.
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