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Show -4o- Peppermint Monday The school was buzzing with excitement over the Spring Festival. Besides the beauty contest, there were class competitions, a dance, and an assembly. "Something for everyone," pa had said, and everyone was busy doing something, except me. I couldn't get excited about the activities. I had old Jake to worry about, and I was worried. I had avoided him since that day he'd caught me and Jason snooping, and I wasn't sure he'd want to see me again. If Russ hadn't been so sick, I'd have told ma to do her own dirty work. But she needed me, and Russ needed Jake, or so she thought. "Are you on the class decorating committee?" Andrea asked at lunch. The poor girl was just itching to be involved. I wished I could trade places with her. I was not in a festive mood. "No. Sonders asked me to be, but I'm busy right now. I turned him down." "Why?" Andrea's eyes were large in her round face, "what are you so busy doing?" "Well, nothing really, but Russ isn't well, you know. I think I should spend time with him." That was only a half-truth. When I was home I didn't spend much time with Russ lately. He was either with ma or alone. That was the way he wanted it. Andrea couldn't tell it was a white lie though, because I never even blinked. "I'm sorry for Russ, Carly. Really I am. But you can't quit living because he's sick. You've got your own life." I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say anything. Missing out on one year's decorating committee wasn't what I'd call "quit living". Life was more than decorating the gymnasium for one spring dance. It was more than a dumb beauty contest with Renae Todd in it, too. It was real problems |
