by Megan Atwood
Ella backed up and bumped against the table. Ms. Jenkins kept coming toward her, and Ella began to shake. Was it possible Ms. Jenkins would do something to her? Why didn’t any of the students do anything? She looked around the room. The others had smiles pasted on their faces, but their eyes were hungry and malicious.
Just then, the bell rang. The noise startled Ms. Jenkins, but the cold look didn’t go out of her eyes. She raised an eyebrow at Ella and said, “Tomorrow, then.” Ella grabbed her bag and ran out of the room before anyone else could say anything else to her.
11
Ella opened her locker door and stuck her upper half inside. Before she could get too comfortable and let the tears she’d been holding in all day fly, the door swung open again. Ella took a deep breath and clenched her fists. She would not hide anymore. She stood up straight, ready to face her attacker head-on.
“Goodness, are you having an Alien vs. Predator moment or what?” Jasper stood in front of her, a bemused smile on his face.
Ella threw her arms around him.
“I’m so glad . . .” she choked and sobbed. “Where have you been? Everyone . . . cardigans . . .”
Jasper patted her back and then moved away, his hands still on her shoulders. “Darling Ella, what’s going on with you?”
Ella started to answer and then stopped. Her voice got hard. “Why are you wearing that?”
Jasper looked down at his outfit. He wore a pastel pink cardigan and jeans. “I felt it was a pink kind of day, like always.” He put his hands on his hips and posed.
Ella shook her head. “So, there wasn’t an announcement about cardigans or anything?”
Jasper shook his head. “No announcement, crazy girl. Why?” He looked around, and then his mouth made an O of surprise. “Whoa. What is going on?” A few students stared back at him.
Ella grabbed his arm. “It’s way worse than yesterday, Jasper. Ms. Jenkins yelled at me in class and I think . . .” Jasper’s eyes were wide. Ella lowered her voice. “I think she was going to hurt me.”
He took a deep breath and looked around. “Are you sure? Ms. Jenkins? I can’t believe she’d yell at you, let alone hurt you.”
Ella said, “Do you think I’d make something like that up?” Her voice had risen. Students glared at her in passing. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Jasper, something is horribly wrong here.”
Just then, the hallway went quiet. Jasper and Ella looked up. At the end of the hall they saw Aaron Adler, one of the smallest freshmen, being surrounded by Carlos Perez and his friends.
Carlos, his hair combed neatly and his cardigan in place, said, “We don’t believe you’re exactly Bridgewater High material.” Carlos towered over Aaron, and the rest of his friends stepped in closer. “I think you might be happier at St. Philomena’s, don’t you?”
Aaron didn’t answer, but his teeth chattered. Ella and Jasper moved to help the poor kid. Before they could reach him, though, Carlos said, “Come on, let’s go.” He and his friends backed off. As they moved past their shaking victim, Carlos cocked his elbow and let a punch fly. Aaron crumpled to the ground.
Ella put her hands over her mouth. Aaron’s nose was completely bloody. His right eye was already swelling and turning purple. “Are you OK?” Ella asked.
Aaron grabbed his bag out of his locker and slammed the door. He looked at them with his good eye and swiped the back of his hand under his nose. “No, I’m not OK. And neither are you! I’m getting out of here before they start killing us!” Aaron fled the hall. Jasper and Ella stood looking at each other.
“Carlos Perez is a jerk, but he’s never been violent before,” Ella said.
Jasper nodded. “Yeah, but he’s never worn a cardigan before, either. Something tells me that Aaron just might be right. I think we’re in real trouble here, Ella Ruby.”
12
When Ella got to her locker the next day, a note had been taped to it. In neat penmanship, the note read: “We don’t want you here.”
The first bell rang, but Ella stayed where she was, waiting for Jasper.
Finally he showed up. Ella covered her mouth with her hands and gasped. His pink rugby shirt had grass stains on the front. His left eye was puffy and getting puffier by the minute. A cut on his lip bled deep red.
“What happened?” Ella shrieked. A few students glared at her, but she glared right back.
Jasper, with a shaky voice, said, “They jumped me outside the school. I didn’t even see it coming.”
Ella said, “Perez and his friends?”
Jasper shook his head and touched his lip. “No, the drama club!”
“What?”
Jasper nodded. “I know! I guess I should be thankful it wasn’t the football team. The drama club can only throw fake punches.” His face twisted in a smile, then he sucked in a quick breath. “Ow. Guess some were real.”
Tears rushed to Ella’s eyes. She couldn’t believe the drama club would do this to him.
“That’s it. We’re going to the principal’s office.”
Jasper shook his head. “I don’t want to be a snitch. Besides, it’s not like the club is acting any different from the rest of the school. The weird thing is, they were so polite while they were beating me up. . . .”
Ella shook her note. “That’s the point! I think it’s time Principal Meyer knew, don’t you? You’re not the only one who isn’t welcome here. Look at this note.” Jasper read it over, and his eyes grew wide.
“What is going on, Ella?”
“I don’t know, Jasper. But we can’t just wait to get attacked.”
Jasper nodded grimly. “Agreed. To the principal’s office.”
13
The principal’s secretary looked them up and down when they walked in. “You can’t come in here dressed like that,” she said. Her eyes lingered over Ella’s jeans and Jasper’s grass-stained rugby shirt.
“That’s why we were sent here,” Ella said quickly, “because of how we look.”
The secretary nodded smugly. “As you should have been. Principal Meyer will deal with you in a moment.”
Ella and Jasper shared a look.
After a few minutes, the door to Principal Meyer’s office finally opened.
To Ella’s surprise, Marta walked out, smelling of burnt sugar and cookies.
“What’s she doing here?” Jasper whispered.
Ella wondered the same thing. Marta gave them the same disgusted look she’d had at their first meeting. Then she pasted on a smile.
“Hello, dears. Have a scrumptious day!” Her sleeveless yellow dress ruffled as she walked past.
Before Ella could think more about it, Principal Meyer stuck his head out the door and invited them into his office.
Ella had always liked Principal Meyer—he wasn’t so bad for a principal. He was fair and could even be funny at some pep rallies. He twiddled his fingers in front of him. “Now, what can I do for you two?”
Ella breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. Someone who hadn’t gone crazy. “Well, Jasper got beat up this morning by the drama club, and someone left this note for me,” she said. She slid the note across the desk to the principal.
Principal Meyer read the note, then folded it carefully and set it down. “Well, this is indeed troubling.”
Ella and Jasper nodded. Ella said, “I think it’s getting worse, too.”
The principal arched his eyebrows. “Worse than it already is?”
Ella and Jasper nodded again.
The principal sighed. “Well, I hope not. Your behavior is appalling as it is; any worse and I’ll have to expel you.” He looked pointedly at both Jasper and Ella.
Both of them sat stunned. Finally, Jasper spoke. “What now?”
Principal Meyer cleared his throat. “Here’s what we’ll do. You two go home for the day and think about what you’ve done to deserve this. I think the answer will come easily for you; just start by looking in the mirror. And then, if you can adjust your behavior appropriately, you ma
y come back.”
Ella couldn’t move. The principal made a shooing motion. “Well, go! I’ll have to speak with your parents, of course, but I hope this little talk will get you motivated. Go on, go!”
Jasper and Ella scrambled up and out of the office. As they passed the secretary, Ella heard her say under her breath, “Good riddance to bad rubbish!”
14
Ella and Jasper walked home on the backstreets. When it was time for Ella to turn down her block, Jasper stopped her.
“Be careful, ma chérie. I don’t know what’s happening, but I have a bad feeling that something even worse is coming.”
Ella nodded. She felt the same way. “You too, OK? Juju?”
Jasper gave her a fierce hug. “Bees,” he said and walked toward his house.
Ella turned and walked to her house. She couldn’t wait to tell her mom about the day— Ella knew she’d be livid. Her ever-protective mother would know what to do. Sara Ruby always spoke her mind and always stood up for what was right, even if it was often embarrassing for Ella. Right now, Ella couldn’t think of a better mom to have.
Her door opened before she could turn the handle, and her mom stood there, mostly in shadow. “Ella May, come in here.”
Ella knew that tone—she was in trouble. Principal Meyer must have already called. She knew, though, that once she told her side of the story, her mom would see what was right. “Mom, I want to tell my side,” she said.
Her mom was quiet, but then opened the door all the way and said, “Of course, dear.”
As Ella stepped in she saw that her mom wore a dress with a flouncy skirt, high heels, and pearl earrings. Her mother never wore dresses. Or pearls. Her mom pointed to the couch and said, “We have a lot to talk about.”
Shocked, Ella dropped her bag in the corner and walked slowly to the couch. Her mom sat down next to her, smoothing her skirt and sitting with the straightest posture Ella had ever seen on her. Before her mom could speak, Ella started.
“Mom, someone beat up Jasper. And someone left a mean note on my locker. And then Principal Meyer blamed us! I think something huge is happening at the school— people are acting really . . . normal! But bad normal!”
Her mom nodded her head sadly. When Ella was through she said, “I know, dear. Your day sounds just dreadful.”
Ella narrowed her eyes. “Why are you talking like that? And what are you wearing?”
Her mother touched a pearl earring and smiled. “So, of course you’re grounded for the trouble you’ve caused. Oh, and I’m putting on a holiday party next week, but I think it best if you stayed in the basement the whole time. It just wouldn’t do to have my friends see you, what with the way you look and behave!”
Tears sprang to Ella’s eyes. She couldn’t believe her own mother would say something like that to her.
Her mom stood up and smoothed her skirt down. “Now, go to your room and stay there.” She noticed Ella’s expression and put her hand on Ella’s shoulder. Looking down at her, she said, “Now, don’t look so sad, dear. Would you like to take a cookie to your room?”
Ella looked to her left and saw half a package of Marta’s cookies on the end table beside her, blue-and-white ribbon undone and cellophane crinkled. She picked up the package and stomped over to the garbage can, where she threw the cookies with all her might.
Her mother’s eyes narrowed and her voice got hard. “Enough of this!” Her mom seized her arm and dragged her up the stairs to her room. She threw Ella like a rag doll onto the floor. Then she stopped in the doorway before she left. “You’d better learn how to behave, or things are going to get much, much worse.” And then she slammed the door, leaving Ella shaking and bewildered on the floor.
15
Choking back sobs, Ella fumbled in her pocket for her cell phone. She took it out and hit speed dial for Jasper.
After two rings, he picked it up with a whispered “Hello?”
Ella said through tears, “Jasper? My mom’s gone crazy.”
Jasper whispered, “My parents are insane, too. What is going on, Ella?” Never before had Ella heard Jasper scared. Now he sounded downright terrified.
“I don’t know,” Ella said. “Can you sneak out? Meet me downtown by the theater.”
“Absolutely. I need some sanity. Juju.”
“Bees.” Ella hung up.
She wiped her eyes and put on her winter coat. Her boots were downstairs, so she had to put on regular shoes. She hoped they would give her enough traction to climb the trellis on the side of her house.
Creeping out her window, she managed to get a foothold on the first rung of the trellis and climb down without slipping too much. Through a side window she saw her mother dusting and humming, her big skirt silhouetted in the light. Ella fought back tears once again. She squared her shoulders, looked straight ahead, and sprinted all the way to Main Street, slipping once or twice without her boots.
Nearing downtown, Ella slowed down, afraid of what she’d find. All the women she passed wore fur coats with hats to match. All the men wore fedoras.
Looking across the street, she noticed a long, snaking line and wondered what everyone was waiting for. Sneaking forward, she got a look at the window. It was Marta’s Bakeshop.
She caught a glimpse of bright pink out of the corner of her eye and whirled to face the theater. Jasper stood out in Technicolor glory, shifting back and forth in the cold. Ella’s eyes went wide. He was a walking target in that pink.
Slouching along, Ella made it to him and pulled him to the other side of the theater. Her breath came out in white puffs.
Jasper yelled, “Ella! What are you doing? You scared the bejeezus out of me!”
Ella put her finger on his mouth. “Shh! Do you want to get us killed?”
Jasper moved her finger aside. “Killed? Good god, Ella, you should be in the drama club.”
Ella dropped her arms to her side. “Are you kidding, Jasper? My mom just told me she wanted to keep me in the basement, and you think I’m being dramatic? She’s wearing pearls, Jasper!”
Jasper snorted. “Sara in pearls. I’d love to see that. I’m not saying things aren’t weird, I just don’t know about the killing part, that’s all.”
Ella tried to be patient. “Jasper, things are bad. Really, really bad. And you come here in a neon sign that says ‘come beat me up’?”
Jasper’s mouth dropped open. “I’m sorry, are you saying I’m asking to be beat up?” He moved away from her.
Ella shook her head. “No! I’m just saying that right now’s not the time to be so . . . out there, you know?”
Jasper looked at her coldly. “No. I don’t know.”
“You wear pink all the time—no guy does that! And you’re loud, and you do voices, and you can be a little embarrassing! I mean, I lost the opportunity to work at that bakeshop because of you! Right now, we can’t afford your . . .”
“My. What.” Jasper punched each word. “Myself?”
Ella exhaled. This was coming out all wrong. “No! Your . . .”
Jasper’s eyes were bright and shiny. “My personality. Who I am. You lost your job because of who I am, is that what you’re saying?”
Ella’s eyes filled with tears. “No, Jasper, I love who you are, just—”
“Just not around other people,” he finished and began walking away. Stopping, he faced Ella. “You know, I expect other people not to understand. Lots of people are closed-minded. But my best friend? I thought you were different, Ella. Turns out you’re just the same as everyone else.”
Jasper turned around and left Ella standing there, tears streaming down her face.
16
When Ella woke up, her mom stood above her, spatula in one hand. “Wakey wakey, lazy lassie!” said her mom.
Ella sat up and rubbed her sore, puffy eyes. She remembered now why her eyes hurt so much. After she’d sneaked back into the house, she’d cried herself to sleep. The look on Jasper’s face was burned into her memory; she’d devast
ated her best friend. Now her newly crazy mother stood over her, a manic look in her eyes. The smell of pancakes and sausage wafted through her bedroom door. Ella moved to get up.
Her mom smacked her leg with the spatula. A cold smile appeared on her face. “No, no dear. I’ll bring you breakfast. What would our neighbors think if they saw you through the window?”
She winked and smiled, then turned around on her heels. Ella heard a strange, metallic sliding noise outside her door, something that sounded suspiciously like a lock turning. Ella bounded up and tried to open the door.
Trapped. Her mom must have installed a lock outside her door while she slept. Ella put her back against the door and slid down. Cradling her legs, she put her head on her knees and cried some more. Her mother was lost. Everyone at school was ready to kill her. And now she’d driven Jasper away because she wasn’t strong enough to stand by him. Her quest to be normal seemed so stupid now; what was life without her best friend? Who would be the bees to her jujus?
The door banged, and Ella scrambled away from it. Her mother entered and set a tray down by Ella’s bed. The pancakes-and-sausage aroma filled the room. Ella’s stomach growled, but she eyed the food suspiciously.
Her sort-of mother said, “Breakfast, dear.” She popped around the other side of the door and came back in with two shopping bags. Putting one down, she opened the one in her hand and pulled out a pastel yellow cardigan, a long beige skirt, and a short-sleeved white blouse with ruffles. Then she pulled out yellow ballet flats.
“Some gifts for you, sweetie. We’ll have to buy you more, as I’ve gotten rid of all your other clothes.”
Ella gasped. “You what?”
“Well, they were just too inappropriate for such a young girl. In the other bag are some games to keep you occupied today and tonight. I’ll be here all day, but tonight at seven o’clock is a town hall meeting, and I’m afraid I’ll be leaving to attend. We’ll be discussing what to do with those who aren’t quite . . . fitting in, so it’s very important I go.”