Andi Under Pressure

by Amanda Flower

  “It was Amelie’s idea.”

  Bergita smiled. “She’s coming into her own with this parenting thing. It took some time, but she’s finally getting the hang of it.”

  I wanted to ask Bergita what she meant by that, but before I could say anything, she clapped her hands. “Let’s eat before the burgers get cold.”

  Colin and Polk loaded their burgers with every condiment from Bergita’s kitchen. Barbeque sauce, mayo, relish, ketchup, mustard, and who knew what else. As I just added mustard and a pickle to my burger, I decided that it must be a guy thing, no matter what the age of the guy was. Not that I knew how old Polk was, but he had to be at least as old as Bergita, and Colin told me once she was seventy-six. After telling me, he swore me to secrecy because Bergita wouldn’t like it. She tells everyone that she is fifty-nine.

  Polk arranged potato salad, carrots, and fruit on his plate. He lifted his fork to his mouth.

  “Let’s say grace before we start eating,” Bergita said. She said a short blessing, and then poured herself a glass of iced tea. “Tell me about the skunk from the beginning.”

  Colin was in the middle of telling his grandmother about the day’s adventure when my aunt’s voice rang over the fence. “Hello, hello. We’re home!”

  Amelie unlatched the gate and came through. I expected to see my sister and Kaylee with her, but they weren’t there.

  Amelie smiled. “Bethany took Kaylee in the house to show her around and to compare their shopping finds.” She blew out a breath. “Whew, those girls can shop. We must have gone into every teen store in the mall. My feet are killing me. I think some relaxing yoga is in order to restore my balance.” She pulled up short. “Oh, you have company.”

  “Good evening, Amelie,” Polk said.

  “Amelie, have you met Polk before?” I asked.

  “Of course. It’s nice to see you off campus, Polk. Andi mentioned that she met you during camp.” She sat on an empty chair on the deck and kicked off her Birkenstocks. “So how was camp today? And why are the three of you,” she paused, “and Curie wet? And what’s that smell?”

  “Camp went okay until the explosion,” Colin said.

  Amelie bolted straight up in her chair. “What? What explosion?”

  I propped my face in my hands. “You might want to sit back to hear this.”

  CASE FILE NO. 18

  After a couple of minutes of explaining what happened, we were finally able to calm Amelie down.

  “That’s it. I’m buying a car charger for my cell phone,” Amelie said. “Halfway to Canton, I realized the battery was dead, but I thought we would be okay since Bethany had her phone. I bet when I plug in mine, I will find a message from the camp about this. Some guardian I turned out to be.” She dropped her head in her hands.

  Bergita clicked her tongue. “Don’t beat yourself up. Part of learning to parent is making mistakes. Lots of them. If I had thought that Colin and Andi were in any danger, I would have run over to campus and fetched them.”

  The cell phone in Bergita’s shorts pocket rang. She fished it out. “Hello?” She nodded even though the person on the other end couldn’t see her. “That’s good to hear. Yes, definitely, they will both be there tomorrow.”

  I sat up straight.

  Bergita snapped her phone closed. “Good news. Camp is back on for tomorrow.”

  Amelie frowned. “I don’t know that I want Andi going back after that explosion.”

  “Bah.” Bergita waved away her concern. “The kids will be fine. Besides, the kid I spoke to said that the chemistry lab would be closed for the next couple of days. Andi and Colin won’t even be allowed to go in that room.”

  My aunt picked at her thumbnail. “If you think it’s safe enough for Colin, then I guess Andi can go too. Not that I won’t worry.”

  “Worry is part of the job of child rearing.”

  Amelie stood up from her lawn chair. “Thanks, Bergita. It’s been a long day, and I’m pooped. Andi, you ready to go home?”

  I hesitated. I didn’t want to leave if there was a chance that Colin and I could learn more from Polk.

  Polk struggled to his feet. “Curie and I should head home as well.” He nodded to Bergita. “Thank you for a lovely dinner.” He turned to Colin and me. “And thanks to the two of you for giving Curie a bath.” He smiled. “Twice.”

  “Where do you live?” Colin blurted out.

  I was relieved that he asked the question because I was about to ask it myself.

  “I have a little house not far from campus.”

  Bergita stood. “Let me grab my car keys, and I will give you a lift there.”

  He shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, but I would rather walk. Walking is what keeps these old bones moving.” He eyed Curie. “And I don’t want Curie to stink up your car. It might be a few days before she smells normal again.”

  After Polk shuffled down the driveway, Amelie headed home too. She turned when I didn’t follow. “Andi, let’s go so you can say hello to Kaylee.”

  “Be there in a minute,” I called from the Carters’ driveway.

  Colin held Jackson, who had decided to join us when the burgers were on the grill. The squat pug was a heavy load, but Colin didn’t seem to mind. “I think we got some good information out of Polk tonight.”

  I tucked a frizzy lock of hair behind my ear. “But there’s something about this older explosion Polk isn’t telling us, and it might lead to some answers about the one that happened today. We need to talk to Dr. Comfrey.”

  He nodded. “And Kip too.”

  “Good idea,” I said.

  Bergita whistled from the front door. “Colin Carter, say good night. You will see Andi tomorrow.”

  Colin waved and ran into his house with Jackson bouncing on his hip.

  As soon as I stepped into the house, I heard giggling. It took me a second to realize that it was my sister laughing. I hadn’t heard my sister genuinely laugh since we moved to Killdeer, maybe even since our parents died. I smiled at the sound. Amelie was right; having Kaylee visit had been a great idea.

  Footsteps pounded down the stairs, and Bethany and Kaylee skidded to a stop at the first floor.

  “Hi, Andi,” Kaylee said, smiling brightly. Her face fell. “What happened to you?”

  “Did you roll in a mud puddle or something?” Bethany asked.

  I touched the top of my head. I thought I had washed all the mud out of my hair.

  Kaylee grinned and showed off her perfectly straight and white teeth — her father was a dentist. “I guess you’ve really gone country, Andi.” Her friendly smile took the bite out of her words.

  Bethany giggled.

  “I gave a friend’s dog a bath. It was messy work,” I said. There was no point mentioning the skunk. Bethany would freak out at the skunk.

  “I guess,” Kaylee said as she tugged on her sleek black ponytail. What I wouldn’t give for Kaylee’s hair, which was board straight, a gift from her Vietnamese father. When Kaylee wakes up, her ebony locks are perfect. Kaylee had spent enough sleepovers at our house over the years that I knew it for a fact.

  Bethany flopped on the couch. “You got dirty from giving Jackson a bath? He’s only a pug, not a Great Dane.”

  “It wasn’t Jackson.” I dropped my camp backpack by the front door. “It’s a beagle named Curie. He belongs to Polk, this old guy that hangs out around the university.”

  Bethany just shook her head as if she didn’t understand me at all. Kaylee fell onto the couch next to my sister. “Who’s Jackson then?”

  “He’s our next-door neighbor’s dog,” Bethany answered. “He belongs to Colin. He’s the boy that Andi likes, the one I told you about.”

  I folded my arms. “Colin is my friend.”

  Bethany grinned, and she and Kaylee shared a smirk. My happiness over my sister’s laughter vanished.

  Amelie entered the living room and rolled out her yoga mat in the middle of the floor. “Girls, maybe you should start taking yoga
to settle your chi.”

  Bethany wrinkled her nose. “No thanks.” She stood up and grabbed Kaylee by the hand. “Let’s go up to my room and try on our new outfits.”

  Kaylee popped off of the couch, and the pair ran upstairs. Mr. Rochester raced up the stairs after them. I thought it was the mention of the new clothes that got the orange tabby moving. There was nothing Mr. Rochester like more than to take a nap in a basket of clean laundry.

  Amelie, who sat on her knees on the yoga mat, frowned as she watched them go up the stairs.

  “What’s wrong, Amelie?” I asked.

  She put her feet out in front of her and reached for her toes.

  I thought she wasn’t going to answer me, but Amelie surprised me. “I have never seen your sister so happy, genuinely happy.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Maybe I’m doing the wrong thing by making her live here. Maybe I should let her live with the Cragmeyers.”

  I chewed on the inside of my lip. Amelie couldn’t be serious. Bethany and I fought, but she couldn’t leave me here alone. She was all I had left from my mom and dad.

  Amelie sighed and bent at the waist staring at her knees. It was like living with a human pretzel. “Were Colin’s parents home for any part of the cookout?”

  I fell onto the spot of the couch Kaylee had left, shaking my head. “Nope.”

  “I guess that’s for the best. They wouldn’t be thrilled with Polk being there or the tomato bath, but poor Colin, I feel for the kid.”

  “I know what it’s like,” I muttered.

  Amelie spun around to face me. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  She cocked her head. “It didn’t sound like nothing.”

  I pulled at a loose thread on one of the throw pillows. If I tugged too hard the entire seam would come undone. “It’s just I know what it’s like, both Bethany and I do. Mom and Dad weren’t home a lot. They had really important jobs.”

  “They did,” she agreed.

  Before I could stop myself, I said, “And they loved their jobs more than Bethany and me.”

  Tears gathered in the corners of my aunt’s eyes. “Is that what you think?”

  “No . . . Maybe.”

  She pulled her knees up to her chest. “Do you know what your father talked about when we spoke?”

  I shook my head, refusing to look at her. More of the pillow’s thread came loose.

  “You and Bethany. I don’t think he said one word about his research or his plants since Bethany and you were born. All he talked about was you girls, and how proud he and your mom were of you. He talked about your science projects and Bethany’s paintings.” She laughed. “He spoke about your schoolwork so much I felt like I was doing it with you. He never talked about his job.”

  I dropped the thread. “Is that true?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Your mom and dad loved you and Bethany so much. I know that they were busy, but you and Bethany were most important to them.” She searched my face. “Do you believe me?”

  I nodded. If I said anything, I would start crying. I didn’t want to do that. I wouldn’t be able to stop.

  “Good, and since we are sharing fears, I’ll tell you one of my own. Knowing how much your parents loved you definitely puts the pressure on me. I don’t want to screw you girls up.” Her voice dropped to just above a whisper.

  “You’re doing all right,” I managed to say.

  She laughed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, and I hope you’re right. When it comes to Bethany, I’m not sure.” She turned ninety degrees and stretched her legs out in front of herself again on the yoga mat. “I shouldn’t make such a big decision where Bethany is concerned when I’m tired. I will have to think about this and do what I think is best for your sister and for our family.” She met my eyes, still not knowing how much the idea of Bethany leaving terrified me. “Don’t tell your sister that I said this. I don’t want to get her hopes up.”

  I swallowed. “I won’t tell her,” I said, deciding not to say anything about my worries about Bethany leaving. Sharing one big fear about my family was enough for that night.

  CASE FILE NO. 19

  I yawned while Colin and I chained our bikes to the bike rack outside of Colburn the next morning.

  “That’s the fifth time you’ve yawned since we left home. Why are you so tired?”

  I yawned again. “Bethany and Kaylee were up all night listening to music. I didn’t get a wink of sleep. Amelie could sleep through a hurricane, so it didn’t bother her.”

  He blew at his floppy brown hair. “Why didn’t you tell them to be quiet?”

  “I did, like four times. They thought it was funny.” I yawned again. “I wonder if we will have chemistry this morning with the lab closed.”

  Colin shrugged.

  “Hey, kids,” Dylan greeted. “Glad to see you came back.”

  My forehead wrinkled. “Why wouldn’t we come back?”

  His sunny expression faded a couple of watts. “Because of what happened yesterday. Madison said some parents pulled their kids out of the camp.”

  “That’s dumb,” Colin said.

  Dylan cracked a smile. “I totally agree with you.”

  Madison came up the walk, carrying a box of supplies. “Everyone inside,” she ordered. “I don’t want any mishaps today.” She gave Colin and me a beady look. “And that goes for campers wandering off too. I know about your escapade yesterday.”

  Colin’s eyes widened.

  Madison could be scary when she was in teacher-mode. If anyone had the right personality to be a principal, it was Madison.

  Without argument, Colin and I followed Dylan and Madison into the science building. I wondered if Dr. Comfrey would show up today.

  We went into the lecture hall. All the other campers — or the ones whose parents didn’t pull them out — were there. Susan and Luis were in the front of the room talking to Kip the security guard. He was a surprise to see in the lecture hall.

  Madison went to the front of the room to talk to Kip. Before he could follow her, I tugged on Dylan’s sleeve. “What’s Kip doing here?”

  The counselor cocked an eyebrow. “Should I be alarmed that you are on a first name basis with Michael Pike’s head of security?”

  I released his sleeve. “Nope.”

  Dylan went to the front of the room without answering me. Colin and I sat in the back with the rest of Hydrogen. Everyone was there except Brady. I guessed his mother pulled him out after all.

  Ava stacked her notebooks, one for each lab, in front of her. I couldn’t forget the conversation I overheard between her and Susan yesterday, and I wondered when her brother finally came to take her home. She caught me looking and glared.

  In the front of the room, Madison gripped her clipboard so hard that her knuckles turned white. “Welcome back, campers. I know yesterday didn’t go exactly as planned, but I promise you, today will be a great day with no mishaps.” She glanced at Kip, who stood next to her. His hands were folded across his chest. “Some of you may know Kip Reynolds. He is the head of security on campus and asked to say a few words to you before we get started.” Madison stepped to the side.

  “Thank you, Madison. And I would thank you kids if you could give me your full attention for the next couple of minutes.”

  The class leaned forward.

  “As you know we had an incident yesterday in the chemistry lab. Thankfully, no one was severely hurt. Dr. Comfrey suffered second degree burns on her left hand and arm, but it could have been much worse. The university is taking a close look at this situation.” Kip hiked up his pants. “If any of you know anything about how this may have happened, I am asking you to come forward.”

  Spenser raised his hand. “You think the fire wasn’t an accident?”

  “I am not at liberty to say, but we are investigating all possibilities,” Kip said.

  “Is there a reward or something?” Chase asked.

  Kip scowled. “Doing the right thing is it
s own reward.”

  Chase wrinkled his nose.

  “We’ve received some excellent tips from some of your classmates, which have been helpful. It also makes me believe that the rest of you might know something about the incident as well.”

  I sat very still because I suspected any squirming would attract Kip’s attention, and that’s the last thing I wanted. Colin cast his eyes down on his desk. Ahh, the old don’t-make-eye contact-to-avoid-being-called-on trick. It was a classic.

  “Also, we are looking for Polk. He wandered off yesterday afternoon before the end of his shift and has not returned. Both campus security and the Killdeer police find this behavior highly suspicious.”

  Polk didn’t show up for work? What happened when he left Colin’s house last night?

  Kip widened his stance and placed his hands behind his back, soldier-style. “I’m sure you are all familiar with him as he has been a fixture around Colburn all week.” His eyes scanned the room. “Some of you are more familiar with him than others, I understand.”

  Uh-oh. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  Dylan stood behind the guard. His eyes were downcast on the floor. He didn’t mimic Kip or even make a funny face. He just stared at the floor.

  “Taking into account Polk’s recent behavior and his history,” — Kip said “history” as if he were saying a dirty word — “we want you to keep an eye out for him.”

  The sinking feeling in my stomach formed into a knot. Beside me, Colin gasped.

  Kip let his eyes travel across the room of campers. “If any of you, any of you at all, have any information about Polk and where he might be, you must bring it forward. Does anyone have anything to share?”

  No one moved for fear of being caught in Kip’s laser beam stare. No one said a word.

  Kip grunted. “This is what I was afraid of. It would be easier if you came forward and told me what you know.”

  Ava raised her hand.

  Madison stepped forward again. “Yes, Ava, do you know something?”

  Ava sat straight in her seat. “No, but I know there are some kids in camp who spend a lot of time with Polk.”