by Rosa Jordan
Mrs. Wilson smiled at Kate. “Seems to me like your nanny wasn’t running away from you all. She was just going down the road a ways to find her some more family. When those little ones are born, she’ll want to be right there in her own pen.”
“You think she’ll have more than one?” Kate asked in surprise.
“Well now, she might. Billy’s got a habit of fathering twins.”
The back of the Wilsons’ house was just like theirs: it had a screen door that led onto a back porch, and another door into the kitchen. But when Kate followed Mrs. Wilson inside, she felt like she’d entered a foreign country.
Music was playing at top volume. Ruby, with a broom in her hand, was dancing around the room. Long black braids swirled around her shoulders, and a short skirt swirled around her thighs. She might be stuck-up, but no doubt about it, she really grabbed your attention.
“Ruby!” Mrs. Wilson shouted. “Can you turn it down a little?”
Ruby stalked over to the radio and turned it down.
“I like that music,” Kate said shyly. “Is that New York music?”
Ruby rolled her eyes at Kate. “Heavens, girl. You never heard reggae before?”
“Our TV broke,” Kate explained, feeling incredibly stupid. “And Justin’s always got the radio tuned to a ball game.”
“Well, for your information, reggae didn’t start in New York. Comes from the Caribbean. Jamaica and places like that. The best reggae bands all come from there.”
Ruby danced her way from the kitchen into the living room. Kate could tell that Ruby wasn’t interested in talking to her. But she was about the most exotic person Kate had ever seen up close. Using another question as an excuse, she followed her into the living room. “Do they do that kind of dancing in Jamaica?”
“What?” Ruby looked around like she was surprised Kate was still there. “Oh, I don’t know. Never been to Jamaica. But someday I’m going.”
Just then Kate caught sight of a U.S. map tacked to the wall over a desk in the corner. “Is it far?” Kate asked. “Where is it?” She didn’t really care where it was, but she knew that the best way to get an adult to talk to you was to ask questions.
Ruby clicked her tongue as if to say she’d never met a person so ignorant, but Kate could tell that she liked being the one with all the answers.
“Not all that far.” Ruby pointed a plum-colored fingernail at the map. “We’re here in south Florida. Cuba’s this next island, and that one’s Jamaica. It wouldn’t take more than a day to get there by car. Except Jamaica’s out in the ocean so you couldn’t get there in a car. Have to take a boat. Or a plane.”
“I’ve never flown in a plane,” said Kate. “Have you?”
“Sure.” Ruby flopped down on the couch in a way that made her look limp and restless at the same time. “Luther and me flew down here from New York just this summer.”
Kate looked around the living room. It was almost like theirs, but not exactly. There were magazines, and a knitting basket, and a vase with fresh flowers. It was the kind of stuff they used to have, but Mom didn’t have time for anymore. Kate was trying to think of a question to ask Ruby about New York when the screen door crashed open and Luther and Chip burst into the room. They were laughing in that silly way little boys do when there’s nothing at all to laugh about.
Ruby’s eyes flashed angrily, and Kate remembered what she’d said about not wanting Luther to play with “white trash.”
“We gotta go,” Kate said quickly, and reached for Chip’s hand.
Chip snatched his hand away and glared at Kate as if she was being mean.
Kate felt mean. This was the first time she’d seen Chip having fun since the alligator ate Go-Boy. And now she had to spoil it.
Chip gave Kate a stubborn look, like he was going to put up a fuss. But Chip often had a way of figuring out what was going on even when nobody explained it to him, and Kate saw that he had figured out this situation, too. Without anybody saying anything, he seemed to understand that playing with Luther wasn’t up to Kate. He walked over to where Ruby was sitting on the couch and looked straight into her eyes.
“Can I come back tomorrow?” he asked. “Luther’s grandpa is going to help us build a pen for the turtles.”
Ruby’s pretty mouth was pinched shut the way mothers’ mouths always are when they don’t approve of something. Luther came to stand beside Chip. “Please, Mama?”
Ruby put her hand on top of his curly black hair. The corners of her lips softened. She didn’t smile, but almost. Kate could tell that whatever Luther wanted, Ruby wanted him to have. Ruby looked at Chip and sighed. “You want to come over now and then, I guess that’s okay.”
The screen door banged again. It was Mr. Wilson and Justin. “Care to sit a spell, Justin?” Mr. Wilson motioned to the couch.
“I think we better be getting home,” Justin said. But as the words came out of his mouth, something seemed to work on Justin like a magnet, pulling him into the room.
Kate looked to see what it was. It was a shelf filled with baseball trophies. Justin moved closer to them. In a low, surprised voice, he read, “Booker Wilson. Booker Wilson. Booker Wilson.”
“That’s my boy,” Mr. Wilson said proudly.
“My dad used to say Booker Wilson was the best ballplayer this town ever produced,” Justin said.
Kate didn’t remember back to when Booker still lived in town. Justin probably didn’t either, which is why he was just now putting Booker Wilson the ballplayer together with this Wilson family.
Mr. Wilson sat down in a rocking chair and looked up at all the shining trophies. “Yep, a fine ballplayer. He had a notion he could make it to the majors, but after a couple years in the minors, well, he decided to go in the army to get himself some more education.”
“I sure would like to see him play!” Justin said, his eyes shining. “Where is he now?”
“Coaching up in Atlanta.” Mr. Wilson rocked slowly in his chair. “He always comes home for Thanksgiving. You-all want to meet him, why, come on by.”
Kate shot a look at Justin’s face. From the way he was grinning, you’d have thought Mr. Wilson had just handed him a ticket to the World Series.
4
The Worst Schoo! Year
We sure had a time of it vaccinating all those calves,” Mom said at supper. “What did you all do today?”
“Nothing,” said Justin.
“Mom,” Kate said quickly, to change the subject, “when we go shopping for school stuff can I get a skirt and—”
“A skirt wouldn’t be practical. If I had the money for anything, it would be new sneakers and jeans. But I’m afraid we won’t be doing any shopping for school.”
“No shopping?” Justin looked surprised.
“But, Mom!” Kate said. “School starts in two weeks!”
“I know when school starts,” said Mom.
“I need a Ninja notebook!” said Chip.
“Buy me some fabric then,” Kate pleaded. “I’ll make one.” It occurred to Kate that fabric would be even better because she could make the skirt as short as she liked. Once the skirt was cut out, Mom couldn’t make her make it longer and wouldn’t want the material to be wasted. Kate could end up with a skirt as short and swingy as Ruby’s.
Mom didn’t answer. Suddenly Kate started getting scared. Every year since first grade they had gone shopping for clothes and classroom supplies a week or two before school started. How could they start a new school year without buying the stuff they needed? They all stared Mom. Mom stared at her plate.
“We don’t have any money. Not even enough for new shoes.” Mom’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m sorry.”
Justin got up from the table and carried his plate over to the sink. It was still half-full of food. He scraped it into the compost and started to run the dishwater.
“Justin?” Mom said. “You didn’t eat—”
“I’m done,” Justin said. He didn’t raise his voice, but Kate could tell
he was mad. He dumped way too much detergent in the dishpan and turned the water on full blast. Soapsuds splashed up on the counter.
“Does this mean I have to use last year’s notebook?” Chip asked, looking like he was going to cry.
“I’m afraid so. For now, anyway.” Mom sounded miserable.
“Maybe I could get a job,” Kate said. “You know, after school.”
Mom’s eyes filled up with tears. “Oh, Katie, you’re such a good girl. But no, honey, I don’t want you going out to work. Anyway, I need you to be here to look after Chip.”
Mom got up and went into the bathroom. Kate started to follow her, to tell her that she just could not wear last year’s school clothes. Kate was still skinny, but her jeans, shirts, and T-shirts, most of which had been new last school year, were getting so tight in some places that it was embarrassing to wear them.
Kate lifted her hand to knock, then changed her mind. She could hear muffled sounds through the bathroom door. Mom was crying.
As Kate waited for the school bus with Justin and Chip, she knew this was going to be the worst first day of school of her life. Everybody noticed what everyone else was wearing on the first day of school, more than any other time. Kate’s shirt was so tight across the chest that she was afraid to take a deep breath. Her sneakers, like Chip’s and Justin’s, had holes in them and were worn down at the heels.
Kate tugged at her shirt, which she couldn’t tuck in because her jeans were already too tight. “They’re going to make fun of me,” she said miserably.
“Who cares?” Justin stared at the ground as if he hated the dirt. “If Mom can’t buy school clothes she sure can’t make mortgage payments. That means we’re probably going to lose the farm, which means we’ll probably be moving anyway.”
Kate had almost forgotten about Mom being behind on the mortgage payments. She had considered what might happen to the animals if they lost the farm, but maybe because this was the only place she’d ever lived, she hadn’t pictured the whole family actually moving someplace else. Why did Justin have to bring it up now?
“Here they come!” shouted Chip.
Ruby was heading up Lost Goat Lane with Luther. She wore matching jeans and jeans jacket. The silver buckle on her belt flashed in the sun as she walked. Kate thought she looked like somebody you’d see on TV. And Luther looked like a boy in a commercial for kids’ clothes. Everything he had on was brand-new. His sneakers were pure white. But the way he was hanging onto his mother’s hand showed that he was scared.
“Luther!” Chip yelled. “Hurry! The bus is coming!”
Suddenly Luther lost his scared look. With a happy smile, he let go of his mother’s hand and ran to meet Chip.
The bus stopped and the door swung open. Chip and Luther clambered up the bus steps together. Justin followed them.
Kate looked up at the kids looking out the bus window at her. Somebody laughed, and she heard the word “floods.” That’s what they called pants that were too short.
Kate bowed her head and climbed onto the bus. The worst summer of her life had ended. She was pretty sure this was the start of the worst school year of her life.
Kate was right. Every day from the time she got on the bus in the morning till she got home in the afternoon the other kids teased her. Each time it was something different. One day the middle button popped off her shirt and she had to fasten it shut with a safety pin. The pin was bad enough, but while Kate was taking a test and not paying attention, Schroder, the boy who sat behind her, stuck a note on her back.
When she walked up to the teacher’s desk to hand in her test, the whole class saw it and started laughing. When Kate realized they were laughing at something on her back, she reached over her shoulder and pulled it off. It said, “Kate’s tits are too big for her shirt.” Kate’s face burned. The truth was that they weren’t too big; they only stuck out about an inch. The shirt was just too small. The last thing she wanted was for the whole school to be cracking jokes about her body, especially that part of her body.
She knew Schroder was the one who put it there. He was the smallest boy in the class, with a short blond crew cut and baby blue eyes. He was always in trouble, usually for using bad language. He had no fear of teachers and would do anything for a laugh.
The teacher, Mrs. Morton, took the note out of Kate’s hand, glanced at it, and dropped it into her pocket. “Schroder,” she said, “I want you to stay after class.”
“Who, me?” Schroder asked, his blue eyes opened wide with fake surprise. “What for, Mrs. Morton?”
The class laughed even harder, especially the boys. “That’s enough now,” Mrs. Morton said. She looked at her watch. “Those of you who haven’t turned in your paper yet have just five more minutes.” Before the class ended, the teacher added, “On second thought, I want all the boys to stay after class.”
The bell rang and the girls raced down the hall to the cafeteria. Kate followed slowly. She didn’t feel like facing them. She stood in the hallway a minute, then ducked into the bathroom. A toilet stall was about the only place in the whole school where you could have any privacy.
That night, when she was washing dishes and Justin was drying, he asked, “How come you didn’t go to lunch today?”
Kate was surprised by the question. Their school had a big cafeteria. Kate normally sat on one side with grade seven students. Justin sat on the other side with the grade nines, with the grade eight students in between. Sometimes she caught a glimpse of Justin, but he never seemed to notice her. He hardly ever spoke to her at school, even if they passed in the hall.
Too embarrassed to tell Justin about what happened, Kate tried to think up some excuse for missing lunch. Before she could answer, Justin spoke up again.
“I heard Morton made the boys stay after class,” he said, “for a lecture on sexual harassment.”
Kate knew it was Brad Anderson who had told Justin. Brad was in Kate’s class. Normally a ninth grader wouldn’t be caught dead hanging around with a seventh grader, but it just happened that Brad was a super pitcher. Almost every day after lunch Justin borrowed a glove and played catch with Brad because it was a well-known fact that if you could catch Brad’s throws, you could catch anybody’s. Kate figured Brad had told Justin about Schroder putting the note on her back, plus whatever Mrs. Morton said to the boys. She was wondering exactly what Mrs. Morton had told them, when Justin snickered.
“What’s so funny?” Kate asked sharply. “What did Brad say?”
“He said Morton gave them a lecture on sexual harassment. She wrote T-E-A-T-S on the board and told them it was a word that should only be used for animals that give milk. Schroder asked her what word they should use for humans and she said there was no need to use any word because whatever they think about girls’ bodies, they ought to keep to themselves.”
“Yeah!” Kate said. She was surprised that Mrs. Morton had stuck up for the girls like that. Mrs. Morton was the kind of teacher who never yelled, but never smiled either. Once when the girls got to giggling about something and wouldn’t settle down, Mrs. Morton had sighed and said she understood why some teachers preferred to work in an all-boys’ school. Kate had taken that to mean that her teacher liked boys better than girls. But maybe she hadn’t meant it like that. Maybe when Mrs. Morton had to deal with boys like Schroder, she felt like going to teach in an all-girls’ school.
“What is sexual harassment, exactly?”
The way Justin always seemed to be off in his own world with nothing on his mind but baseball, you wouldn’t expect him to be the kind of brother you could ask for information, but Kate knew she could, and trusted his answers. Mom, of course, had explained to her all the girl stuff about her body, but since they were little, she’d ask Justin about things, and if he didn’t know, he’d ask Dad. That’s how they found out everything. Now Dad wasn’t around to ask, but Justin was still the best source of information for anything related to school.
Justin stood there for a minute flipping
the dish towel. He used to drive Kate crazy snapping it at her behind, but he didn’t do that anymore. “Bugging girls about their bodies,” he finally answered. “Like what Schroder did.” Justin gave the towel a couple more snaps, then said in a puzzled voice, “I thought it was just doing mean things. But Brad said Morton told them compliments can be harassment, too.”
Kate didn’t know if she’d feel harassed by compliments or not, because she never got any. All she got at school was mean teasing, and not always from the boys. In fact, the girls were worse. They competed with each other to see who could say the most hateful things about her clothes. One day during a softball game, Kate made a good long hit and took off on what she knew would be a home run. But the lace in one sneaker broke, and as she rounded second base, the shoe went flying into the air. The girl on second base caught the shoe and threw it to home. The catcher caught it, touched the plate, and yelled, “Out! Ragfoot’s out!” Kate tried to get the shoe back, but they kept throwing it from one to another, yelling, “Out, Ragfoot! You’re out!”
Finally Kate went into the girls’ restroom and locked herself in a toilet stall. It wasn’t that she liked it in there, but where else could she go? The only other private place was the nurse’s office, and you really had to be sick, with a fever or bleeding or something, before you’d be allowed to lie down in there—and then just to wait till your mother came for you.
Kate had been in the stall a few minutes when the bell rang. A minute later, a bunch of girls ran giggling into the bathroom. One of them threw the shoe over the top of the stall. Kate put it back on, but she didn’t go to class. The giggling trickled out the door and it got quiet. Then someone else came into the bathroom. The second Kate saw the person’s feet, she knew it was Miss Lynn, the librarian. Miss Lynn always wore shoes that looked like slippers. They were made of cloth or soft leather, and had fancy designs on the toes. If she saw you looking at them, she would tell you all about the girls in China or the Indian women in Ecuador who made them. Miss Lynn traveled every summer, and she must have spent most of her time shopping for shoes, because she had slipper-shoes from just about every place you could think of.
