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Show Peppermint Monday spill onto her pink cheeks. I hoped she would keep her head ducked. I was responsible for her tears and I didn't want her to get teased about them. We were quiet the rest of the way to school. No one noticed because everyone else was so loud. I knitted my long fingers together and looked out of the window. It was an Ozark spring morning, but I hardly noticed. I hardly noticed the wads of paper dropping around the bus or Renae's forced giggles. I hardly noticed the colorful east hills where Jake lived. I hardly noticed my name being shouted from behind. "Red," Billy said again. Andrea was watching me expectantly; only slight puffiness around her eyes was visible. I wondered how many times Billy had called my name. I wondered what he wanted. "Yeah," I said with forced volume. I didn't bother to turn my head and look at him. I didn't want to see him this early in the day. It was too soon after breakfast and Billy always made me sick. He never bullied me like he tried so desperately to do, but he make me sick quite easily. "I hear you wear footed pajamas. What's the matter, do your tootsies get cold?" Billy roared with laughter, joined by a few others. I turned my head enough to see him and his friends a few rows back. I guess they weren't actually his friends. Nobody liked Billy enough to be classified as a friend. Sometimes, another loser like him, would pal around with him for a week or two. It never lasted much longer than that though. For some reason the kid would wise up and find someone easier to get along with than Billy. It wasn't hard. I think Jake was easier to get along with. "I thought babies wore them kind of jamies. Isn't that right, Red?" I noticed Matt was sitting across from Billy. I figured he was the |
