“Time?” Georgie was wary. She ran her finger around the rim of the bottle. “Why a special time? Why not right now?”
“Well, we can leave now.” Mom began twirling Georgie’s hair, something Georgie had grown to hate. She set her bottle down and swatted Mom’s hand away.
“Let me guess,” Georgie said. “We can leave now, but we won’t get back until the news is over, right?”
Mom sighed and began plucking grass. “Georgie, let’s not get into all that right now. We don’t have the babies tonight and we never go out. Let’s just leave it at that and enjoy ourselves.”
“Okay, but we either wait for the news to be over or get home before then, okay?”
“No news, sugar.”
Georgie slammed her science book shut. “Then forget it.”
“Georgie, you’re going to drive yourself insane if you don’t stop looking for your daddy on the TV. I’ve made up my mind to stop you one way or another. It’s for your own good.”
“My own good?” Georgie yelled. “You don’t know anything about what’s good for me!”
Georgie grabbed her books and jumped up, sending a spray of soda across the grass.
12
Monday had been a long day for Georgie. It seemed that every teacher thought he or she was the only one Georgie had. She hadn’t had time to catch her breath all day, so she dragged her feet on the way home from school. She hoped the brats were still napping because she wasn’t in the mood to deal with them. She turned the handle to open the kitchen door and caught a ball right in the chest. Before she had time to react, John jumped up, yelling, “Fall down! I got you!”
“You little monster!” Georgie yelled.
“But I got you,” he said with less conviction.
“You are dead meat.” Georgie tossed her books aside.
“No, you dead.” John began backing away from her. He turned to run. Georgie caught him and pulled him into the living room.
“Mom!” she screamed. “Keep this troll away from me!”
When her mother didn’t answer, Georgie called louder, “Mom!” She looked around the room. Somehow it felt bigger. Then she saw why. The television was missing.
Mom came out of the bathroom with a kid slung on her hip. She didn’t give Georgie her usual cheery greeting.
“Where is the TV?” Georgie asked.
Mom walked over to a crib and put the baby inside.
“Come here, John.” Mom crouched. He ran into her arms. She stood up, while John buried his face in her shoulder. “I sold it,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because it’s not healthy the way you watch it.”
“The way I watch the news, you mean. The way I look for Dad there.”
“Georgie, you know how I feel about this and you still won’t quit.”
“Because I love him!” Georgie cried. “It looks like I’m the only one who cares about him at all.”
Georgie ran to her room and locked the door. Mom knocked on it, calling her name. Georgie ignored her. She grabbed her small duffel bag and threw some clothes inside. She couldn’t stay here with Mom tonight, and there was only one place Georgie knew to go—Lisa’s. She started to open her door and remembered Lisa’s poem. She stuck it in her back pocket and walked out of the room.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Mom said.
“I’m sleeping at Lisa’s house tonight.”
“You are not leaving here mad and you are not sleeping anywhere else on a school night, Georgie!”
She walked over to her mother. Because Georgie was taller, Mom had to look up, which was good for Georgie’s strategy.
“I don’t want to be here and you can’t make me stay.”
“I’ll call Lisa’s mother and tell her to send you straight back home!”
“No!” Georgie yelled. “You talked about me to Mrs. Donovan and now you want to tell Lisa’s mom about me. It makes me feel like a freak! I’ll have Lisa call so you’ll know it’s okay. She won’t lie to you.”
Mom said, “Georgie, can’t you see? Things will just get worse if you leave now. Please stay and let’s talk about this.”
As Georgie shoved her books into the bag, she wanted to shout “I hate you!” But she didn’t because Dad wouldn’t have wanted her to. That was the only thing that kept her voice even. “You act like my feelings matter so much, but you don’t really care what I think at all. You got rid of the TV to hurt me.”
She grabbed the bag and stormed out of the house. As she stomped down the sidewalk, she heard the door open. John called out, “Georgie! Come back! I sorry I got you, Georgie!”
She slowed for just a second, then hurried away.
It was a long walk to Lisa’s house. I should have taken the bus, Georgie thought. If only I hadn’t been so mad. She switched her bag from one hand to the other as it got heavier. She took a shortcut through Willow Park, stopping to guzzle water from the drinking fountain, then climbed on top of a picnic table to rest.
Georgie stayed there, fuming over her mother’s act, until hunger gnawed at her. She looked at her watch and was surprised to see how late it was. It would be after five by the time she reached Lisa’s. She picked up her bag again and turned her thoughts to what she would say to Lisa and her family. It would be fine if Lisa, her mom, or even Denny answered the door. She didn’t have a clue about what she would say to Lisa’s dad. As long as he didn’t answer, she would be all right.
* * *
She set her duffel bag on the porch and rang the bell. Lisa’s dad opened the door, holding an unfolded newspaper in one hand. This was definitely not Georgie’s day.
“Yes?” he said.
“Hi, Mr. Loutzenhiser. I’m Georgie Collins, Lisa’s friend. Is she in?”
“She went to the store with her mother.” His eyes squinted. “Who did you say you were?”
“Georgie Collins. Lisa and I just became friends this year. But good friends,” she threw in for good measure.
“I see.”
Georgie shifted from one foot to the other. When it didn’t look as if he was going to let her in, she said, “You remind me a little of my dad. He has the same haircut.”
Mr. Loutzenhiser held on to the doorknob and said nothing.
Georgie tried again. “Were you in the Air Force? Lisa mentioned you used to serve. My dad is a major. He’s in Vietnam right now.”
Mr. Loutzenhiser’s face softened. “Well, now.” He cleared his throat. “Well, well. Won’t you come inside? I was an Army man, myself. But the Air Force is a fine branch of the military.”
Relieved, Georgie decided to push her luck and tell a small fib. “Lisa invited me to spend the night so we could study together. We’re partners in a project at school. I brought my duffel bag.”
“Bring it in, bring it in,” he said. He refolded the newspaper while Georgie brought her bag inside.
“I’ll show you to Lisa’s room.”
“Thank you, but I know where it is,” Georgie said. “I’ll wait on the porch if that’s okay with you.”
“Certainly! Absolutely.” He rubbed his hands together. “Well, it’s wonderful that Lisa’s made such a good new friend.”
“Thank you, sir.” Georgie gave him her best smile.
By the time Lisa came home, Georgie was relaxed enough to give a convincing performance.
She greeted Lisa’s mother first. “Hi, Mrs. Loutzenhiser! Thanks a bunch for letting Lisa and me study together. Lisa insisted I bring my stuff for overnight, so I did, but I wanted to make sure it’s all right with you first.”
Georgie saw Lisa out of the corner of her eye. She could have sworn Lisa’s mouth was wide open, but Georgie concentrated on Lisa’s mom.
“Oh! Of course! We’d love to have you, Georgie. I hope you like roasted chicken. If not, I think there’s some leftover meat loaf. Or maybe I can whip up a small batch of goulash.” Mrs. Loutzenhiser talked to herself as she walked into the kitchen.
“Chicken will be fin
e!” Georgie called after her.
“I call dibs on the drumsticks,” Denny said as he followed his mom into the house.
Lisa didn’t say a word. Georgie thought she might be in shock.
Georgie pounded her on the back. “Breathe!”
“It’s not that I don’t want you here, but why are you here?” Lisa said.
“Aw, my mom and I got into a fight. Hey, that reminds me. I need you to call her and tell her it’s okay if I stay.”
When Lisa didn’t say anything, Georgie looked hard at her. “You don’t really want me here.”
“It’s not that. It’s just that things are so … tense around here.”
“Still?” Georgie remembered Lisa saying that before, but it was weeks ago. “Why?”
“I—” Lisa started to say something, then seemed to change her mind. “Who knows.”
“Well, I know why they’re tense at my house and I’m not going back there tonight. Come on! It’ll be fun,” Georgie said. “Now, go call my mom before she calls the cops.”
Lisa dragged her feet but followed Georgie inside and dialed her number.
* * *
“I’m coming!” Denny yelled as he rounded the dining room corner and slid into his chair between his dad and Lisa.
“Let’s see them,” his dad said, reaching for Denny’s hands and turning them over.
“What? I washed!” Denny said.
“Yes, I see. Next time you might dry them, too.” He looked at Denny, then tilted his head toward Lisa.
Denny squirmed in his chair. Mr. Loutzenhiser cleared his throat purposefully and Denny said, “Okay, okay.” He grabbed Lisa’s hand as if it were a live snake.
Lisa linked hands with her mom. Mrs. Loutzenhiser reached for Georgie’s hand. Georgie looked at Lisa, confused, but Lisa just smiled at her, as if this were normal. So Georgie gave her hand to Lisa’s mom, who gave it a squeeze. Mr. Loutzenhiser reached for Georgie’s other hand. Now the family formed a circle around the big dining room table.
Lisa’s dad began his prayer. “Lord, we thank you for this food, for our health, and for our brave soldiers fighting to keep us safe. Amen.”
Georgie kept her eyes open during the prayer. She saw Lisa look sharply at her, then duck her head. Mrs. Loutzenhiser looked pale and her lips were pressed together tight.
Mr. Loutzenhiser said, “Honey, you never mentioned that your new friend’s father was an Air Force man.”
Lisa’s face contorted into a painful-looking smile. “I didn’t? I thought I did.”
“Georgie tells me he’s fighting in Vietnam.”
“Gene, please,” Lisa’s mom said. “Let’s not discuss the war at dinner.”
“I just think it’s nice to see a little patriotism, that’s all, Marian.” He stabbed his piece of chicken.
Mrs. Loutzenhiser changed the subject. “Georgie, would you like broccoli?”
“Thanks.” Georgie took the bowl. Geez, Lisa wasn’t kidding when she said things were tense here.
Lisa’s mom continued. “We usually have more dishes to choose from when we have company. We’re happy to have you, but I wish Lisa had given us a little more warning.”
Lisa’s face turned bright red. “Sorry, Ma.”
“I’m afraid we only have one biscuit each.”
“That’s fine, Mrs. Loutzenhiser. Really, this is just great.” Georgie wished Lisa’s mom would relax.
Denny put a biscuit on his plate, leaving the last one. He started to pass the plate to Lisa, hesitated, then coughed right onto Lisa’s biscuit. “Sorry about that,” he said with a sly grin. “Man, my germs are all over it now. Guess you won’t want it.”
Lisa’s face fell.
“Really, Denny!” Mrs. Loutzenhiser said. “Next time please cover your mouth.”
“Sure, Ma.” He plopped the biscuit onto his plate. Georgie heard him whisper to Lisa, “Too bad for you, stickpin.”
“You’re so mean,” Lisa said.
“And you’re ugly,” Denny said. “I can always act nice, but nothing’s gonna make you cute.”
Georgie waited for Lisa to say something back, but instead she bit into her piece of chicken. Denny buttered his biscuit, turned to Georgie, and chuckled. She glanced at his parents. Their heads were bent over their plates as if they were so wrapped up in their own thoughts they didn’t even notice their kids.
After dinner, Mr. Loutzenhiser said, “You’ll have to visit more often, Georgie. It’s good to see some loyalty to the good old U.S. of A. in this house. Good, indeed.” He squeezed Georgie’s shoulder and walked into the television room.
Georgie wanted so much to follow and beg to watch the news. But Lisa’s dad thought she was here to do homework. She had the feeling he was pretty strict about that stuff, so she figured she’d better forget about the news tonight. Maybe she could come back now that there wasn’t a TV at home. He’d said she should visit more.
Georgie followed Lisa to her bedroom and sat at the window. She had as good a view of the moon from here as if she were outside.
Lisa still hadn’t warmed to Georgie’s unexpected visit, so Georgie decided it was time to pull out her big gun. She unfolded Lisa’s poem, got out her notebook from her duffel bag, and began writing.
“Hey, that’s my poem!” Lisa said.
“Sure, it is. I told you I wanted a copy. Sorry it’s taken me so long.” Georgie looked at Lisa with what she hoped was a sincere expression.
“Oh! No problem! I forgot you’d taken it.”
“And I forgot I had it.”
Both girls laughed.
“There.” Georgie laid down the pen and handed Lisa the original poem. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome!” Lisa looked happy as she put it back in the box with the other poems.
Georgie closed the notebook with the poem inside and put it in her bag. It was a small price to pay to get to spend the night away from Mom.
Georgie walked over to Carla’s bed. “Think your sister will mind me using her bed?”
“No, she hasn’t been home in almost a month.”
Georgie looked at the wall. The newspaper articles about Kent State stared back at her. She knew she should let it go since she had bullied her way into sleeping here tonight, but she just couldn’t.
“Look, I appreciate the bed and all, but I can’t stand this.” She yanked the tacks out and laid the articles facedown on Carla’s dresser.
“That’s okay. I probably won’t put ’em back. If Dad saw them, he’d blow up anyway.”
Georgie climbed into bed. Fighting with her mom had taken more out of her than she’d realized. Later, she didn’t even remember saying good night to Lisa.
* * *
Georgie cracked open one eye, not sure if she had heard something. She turned onto her stomach. Then she heard Lisa cry out. Lifting up onto her elbows, she saw Lisa throw back her blankets and spring at Denny.
Awake now, Georgie saw Denny’s eyes widen as he sidestepped her. He dropped a string and turned to run. Lisa fell to her knees, groping for whatever he had dropped.
Georgie leaped from her bed and pounced on Denny, dragging him to the floor.
“Are you nuts?” he said. “Get off!”
“Not until I hear what’s going on,” Georgie said.
Lisa pushed her hair off her face and panted. “Talk!”
“What? I didn’t do anything,” Denny struggled. Georgie pulled him up and let go.
“Liar!” Lisa said.
Denny lunged toward the door, but Georgie grabbed him.
“I just went to take a whiz and thought I heard someone call my name,” Denny said. “The next thing I know, Lisa’s yelling and you’re all over me.”
“Ooh!” Lisa growled, obviously too mad to get the words out of her mouth.
“What really happened?” Georgie asked her.
Lisa breathed deeply and said, “He tied a string to my journal key and swung it to tickle my face! If I hadn’t woken up, he would’ve had m
y key!”
Georgie rubbed her eyes, still gritty from sleep. “Is that all? Denny, beat it.”
Denny scrambled out the door.
Lisa said, “You let him go? This isn’t any of your business, Georgie!”
Georgie crawled back into bed, resting against the headboard. She pulled the covers over her knees and said, “Go back to sleep. It’s only five-thirty, for heaven’s sake.”
“I’m too mad.”
“Listen. I know that journal is some big deal to you, so Denny has to know it, too. If he knew the key was under your lamp, he could come in and get it any old time, right?”
“Yeah. So what?”
“So that means Denny wanted you to know he was taking it.”
Lisa finally threw herself back onto her bed. “Okay, then why did he do it?”
“To get your goat. Geez, Lisa. You have got to stop letting people get to you. If you don’t stand up for yourself, you’ll be pegged for weak your whole life.” Georgie plumped the pillow. “Grow a backbone, will ya?”
Lisa sat there, letting it sink in. Then her eyes grew big. She jumped off the bed and onto all fours, feeling around. When she found the key, she ripped the string off.
“I’ll try, but first I’ve got to find a better hiding place.”
She rubbed her hand over her headboard. She finally found a small crack in the wood, just big enough to slip the key into.
Georgie grumbled from beneath her covers, “Would you go back to sleep!”
“Okay, but only so I can dream about wrapping my fingers around his scrawny neck until the last breath leaves his body.”
“Just don’t talk in your sleep,” Georgie mumbled.
13
“How about I drop you girls off at school?” Mr. Loutzenhiser said at breakfast. “That duffel bag will be hard to handle on the bus.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” Lisa said. “It’s a long ride.”
Lisa and Georgie got into his backseat. Georgie had thought about calling her mom before they left but didn’t know what to say. When she realized Mr. Loutzenhiser was taking a route that was a few blocks from her house, she asked him if he’d stop by so she could drop off the bag.
When she got out of the car, Mom was outside, helping John out of his mother’s car.
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