Deep Freeze

by Diane Muldrow

  The Chef Girls were allowed to stay with Mrs. Ross in the dining room, waiting to hear any news.

  “Molls,” Amanda said quietly. “I’m so worried. Waiting is awful.”

  “I know,” Molly replied. “I just keep hoping, over and over, that—” She stopped speaking as Angie slipped into the dining room, looking ill.

  Amanda stood up. “What do you want?” she demanded. “Shouldn’t you be off celebrating somewhere?”

  Angie looked pale, and her eyes were red and glassy, as if she’d been crying. “I—I need to talk to someone about Shawn,” she said in a quavering voice. “I—I know what happened.”

  “Oh, yeah, right,” Amanda said, her voice rising. “I’m sure you do, Angie.”

  Mrs. Ross intervened. “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “Tell Angie to get out,” Amanda said harshly. Molly put her hand on her sister’s arm, trying to calm her.

  “Wait! I know where Shawn is,” Angie burst out. “At least, I think I do. I think she’s on Five Point.”

  “Why would Shawn go there?” Molly asked incredulously.

  “Because I told her to!” Angie exclaimed, then burst into tears. Sobbing, she continued, “I told her Amanda had an accident on the slope. She hurried off to sit with her while I got help. And no-nobody’s seen her since.”

  The twins stood there, shocked. “How could you?” Amanda asked, her voice trembling. “How could you?”

  Angie started crying harder.

  “Detective McElroy!” Mrs. Ross called out. “Mrs. Lopez!” She put her hand on Angie’s back and quickly led her across the room. “Girls, sit there. I’ll be right back,” she called over her shoulder.

  Molly felt sick. “Poor Shawn,” she breathed. “She’s been out there—in the cold—in the snow—for hours!”

  “Maybe she’s not outside,” Natasha said nervously. “Maybe she’s...” Her voice trailed off.

  Everyone knew Shawn was outside.

  Peichi just stared out the window at the swirling snow, her face pale.

  When Amanda spoke again, her voice was hard and cold. “I’m going to get Angie for this. She’ll pay.”

  “Yes, she will,” Mrs. Ross said as she joined the group. “She’ll be severely disciplined by the school. And she’ll have to live for the rest of her life knowing what she did. But you don’t need to get even with her, Amanda.”

  “But I want to! I will!” Amanda cried. “This is the most—the terrible—what if they don’t find her?”

  “Shh, shh,” Mrs. Ross said comfortingly. She pulled Amanda to her. “They’ll find her. She’ll be okay.”

  “We have to get out there!” Molly said. “We have got to find her!”

  Amanda started to cry softly into Mrs. Ross’s shoulder.

  “Come here, Molly,” Mrs. Ross said. “She’ll be okay.” She reached out and put her other arm around Molly. “She’ll be okay.”

  I’m so glad Mom is here, Natasha thought as she watched her mother comfort Molly and Amanda. She knows just what to do. Natasha reached out and touched Peichi’s arm. Peichi looked at her and smiled weakly, her eyes filled with tears. There was nothing to do but wait.

  Chapter 11

  The girls sat with Mrs. Ross in silence. After a while, it was impossible to tell how much time had passed. The search for Shawn took a different direction as Detective McElroy instructed everyone to canvass Five Point slope. Mrs. Hudson brought dozens of cups of cocoa for the students and volunteers, but Molly, Amanda, Peichi, and Natasha were too upset to drink it.

  “Girls,” Mrs. Ross finally said. “It will be lights out soon. There’s not much you can do here while we wait. I promise that I’ll wake you up if there’s any news.”

  “Please, Mom,” Natasha spoke up. “We want to stay up.”

  Mrs. Ross sighed. “I think it would be best for you to get a good night’s—”

  “They found her!”

  Mr. Hudson, beaming, stood in the doorway. “They found her!” he repeated. “She’s cold and upset, but okay. They’ll be here in about twenty minutes.”

  The room erupted into cheers of joy. Everyone started hugging and talking at once.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Mrs. Ross exclaimed, wiping away tears of relief. “I’ll call Shawn’s dad.”

  “I can’t wait to see her!” Amanda said. “I was so worried!”

  “Me, too,” Peichi said. “I was totally freaked out! I couldn’t even let myself think about what might have happened ’cause I would just get all scared and feel like I couldn’t breathe, but ohmigosh, guys, she’s okay!”

  “Peichi, you barely spoke for, like, three hours!” Molly teased her friend happily.

  “I know! I was so worried! I guess I was just saving it all up!” Peichi exclaimed. “I can’t wait to see Shawn! Oh, wow, I’ve never been so worried in my entire life!”

  The girls started laughing; they were so relieved, that suddenly everything seemed funny.

  A few minutes later, Detective McElroy carried Shawn into the lodge, followed by several other volunteers. Again, the room was filled with loud cheers.

  “Shawn! Shawn!” yelled Molly and Amanda as they ran over to her. Peichi and Natasha followed on their heels.

  “Shawn needs a little space, girls,” Detective McElroy said kindly. But before he could continue, Shawn interrupted him.

  “No, they can come,” she said, smiling weakly.

  “You got it, Shawn,” Detective McElroy replied.

  Mrs. Hudson brought them to a small room on the second floor of the lodge. After she left, Molly, Amanda, Shawn, and Peichi started talking all at once.

  “Are you okay? Do you feel all right?”

  “We were so, so worried!”

  “Angie confessed and she’s in serious trouble!”

  Shawn grinned weakly at her friends. “I’m freezing! And hungry! And I was really scared, too. When I heard people yelling my name on the mountain, I started crying.”

  Mrs. Hudson returned with a bowl of hot soup. She was followed by Mrs. Ross and a woman the twins didn’t know. “This is Dr. Streick,” Mrs. Hudson explained. “She needs to examine Shawn.”

  During Shawn’s examination, the other Chef Girls waited in the hall.

  Afterwards, Mrs. Ross opened the door. “Dr. Streick is done,” she said. “Shawn would like you to come back in.”

  Shawn had changed into a bright orange sweat suit that belonged to Mrs. Hudson. Her feet and hands were bare, but the rest of her was covered with heavy blankets. Even though the room was incredibly warm, she was shivering uncontrollably.

  “What’s going on? Is everything okay?” Molly asked.

  But Shawn only shook her head, her teeth chattering.

  “She has a touch of frostbite,” Dr. Streick explained, returning to the room with two basins of warm water. “It’s not too bad. Now, Shawn, honey, this will be painful,” Dr. Streick warned. “We’ve got to warm up your skin and get the blood flowing in your feet and hands.” She gently slipped Shawn’s foot, which was a funny grayish color, into the basin of water.

  Shawn gasped. “Oh!” She bit her lip. “Oh, it’s like the worst pins and needles I’ve ever had! Oh, it really hurts!”

  Mrs. Ross hurried over and put her arm around Shawn as Dr. Streick dipped Shawn’s other foot into the basin. “Sweetie, I just got off the phone with your father,” she said, trying to distract Shawn from the pain. “He can’t wait to see you. He loves you so much! He wants to drive up here right now, but it’s so late that we told him to stay home. And I talked to Mr. D.—he says you can ride on the Chef Girls’ bus tomorrow. Won’t that be fun?”

  Shawn nodded bravely, trying not to cry as Dr. Streick slowly lowered her hands into another basin of water. “J-Just as long as I d-don’t have to see Angie,” Shawn said. “I never want to see her again.”

  “Well, you won’t have to see her on the trip, at least,” Mrs. Ross said. “She’s spending the night in the lodge, away from the other kids,
and will be driven home by one of the chaperones first thing in the morning.”

  “Really?” the twins exclaimed together.

  “She’s in very serious trouble,” Mrs. Ross said, nodding.

  After an hour, Shawn’s toes and fingers had returned to their normal color, though they still felt tender. She yawned loudly. “Sorry. I’m so tired.”

  “Well, you’ve been through so much!” Mrs. Ross said kindly. “We’re all exhausted. Mr. Hudson brought his truck up to the front of the lodge, so you wouldn’t have to walk back in the cold.”

  “Everyone is taking such good care of me,” Shawn said with a smile.

  “We’re just so happy you’re okay!” Mrs. Ross said as she helped Shawn to her feet. “Come on, girls, it’s time for bed. No staying up late tonight, okay?”

  “No problem,” yawned Peichi, and everyone chuckled.

  By the next morning, over six inches of snow had fallen. Mr. Hudson and other staff members had been up for most of the night, plowing local roads. On their way to breakfast, the Chef Girls saw three buses pulled up in front of the lodge. “Well, I guess the trip is really over,” Amanda said. “I’m kind of ready to go back home.”

  “Me, too,” Molly said. “Last night was so horrible! I’m ready for things to get back to normal.”

  “I’m kind of worried they won’t,” Shawn said nervously. “At least, not for a while. I’m afraid everyone’s gonna treat me differently. Like they did after—after my mom died.”

  The twins nodded. “They might,” Molly said seriously. “It was such a scary thing—I mean, it was horrible for you, Shawn—but everyone was really freaked out.”

  “And I just don’t know what’s going to happen with the whole Angie thing,” Shawn sighed.

  “Let’s not think about it,” Natasha spoke up. “It’s our last meal at the lodge! And we’re all riding home together—the way it should be! I think we’ll have a blast!”

  But in the dining room, the other students were quiet and subdued. People stared at Shawn so much that she could hardly eat her breakfast.

  “I wish everyone would stop looking at me!” Shawn whispered to her friends. “It’s totally weird.”

  “I have an idea,” Molly spoke up. A mischievous smile crept over her face as she climbed onto her chair.

  “Molly! What are you doing!”

  “Okay, listen up, everybody,” Molly called out. The dining room grew silent. “This is Shawn. She’s back safe and sound. If you want to come talk to her, that’s cool. But don’t just stare at her. That’s totally creepy. Thank you!”

  As Molly sat down, the girls burst into giggles. “I can’t believe you did that!” Natasha exclaimed.

  Molly shrugged. “Somebody had to,” she said.

  “Thanks, Molly,” Shawn said gratefully.

  An hour later, the girls waved good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson as they boarded Bus #1.

  “Was everyone this quiet on the ride up?” Shawn asked as the bus lumbered down the road.

  “Nope,” Molly replied. “I think everybody is tired. All the skiing, the staying up late—”

  “Look! Up in the air! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Super-Moose!” Omar’s voice boomed through the bus.

  “Oh, no,” Peichi moaned, shrinking down in her seat as Omar waved her battered stuffed animal in the air. It was wearing a red T-shirt like a cape!

  Omar tossed Moosie to the front of the bus. The kid who caught Moosie threw him back, and soon the entire bus was making Moosie fly through the air like a superhero. Even Peichi had to laugh as Omar made crazy sound effects whenever Moosie soared through the air.

  “Stop! I demand you cease and desist from this animal cruelty!” Omar suddenly yelled out. “Don’t worry, Sir Moose, I’ll rescue you!” Omar jumped out of his seat and leaped into the air to grab Moosie as he flew past. Then Omar charged down the aisle to Peichi’s seat.

  “Lady Peichi, I return to you Sir Moose, safe from harm and full of exciting tales of bravery and danger,” Omar announced in a goofy voice as he kneeled in the aisle. “No thanks necessary, really, it was my pleasure, anytime you need anything, I’m your man.” As Peichi reached out to take her moose, Omar suddenly grabbed her hand. “Mwa!” he smacked a kiss on her hand, then charged back down the aisle to his seat.

  The bus full of kids cracked up.

  “Ewww!” Peichi wiped off her hand, pretending to be completely disgusted. But her friends could tell from her goofy grin that she didn’t really mind.

  Shawn sat back and grinned at her friends. “Manda, you were right,” she said. “This is the good bus.”

  Several hours later, the buses pulled up in front of Windsor Middle School. Dozens of parents were standing in front of the school, chatting and drinking coffee.

  “It feels like we were away for a really long time,” Peichi said. “But it was only four days! Isn’t that weird?”

  Shawn nodded. “I can’t wait to see my dad,” she said. “Oh! There he is!” As soon as the door opened, Shawn jumped out of her seat and pushed her way down the aisle. “Dad!” she yelled as her father looked at the kids streaming out of each bus, searching for her. “Dad!”

  When Mr. Jordan saw Shawn, his face lit up. She ran into his arms. “Shawn, Shawn,” he said. “Baby, I was so worried. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  “I love you, Dad,” Shawn said as her father squeezed her tight.

  “I love you so much, baby,” Mr. Jordan replied. “You’re my little girl.”

  We’re all we’ve got, Shawn thought as she hugged her dad again and again. If anything ever happened to me, Dad would be all alone. And if anything ever happened to him...Shawn put the terrible thought out of her mind and buried her head in her dad’s chest. “I love you, Dad,” she said again.

  “Let’s get your bag and go home,” Mr. Jordan said.

  Just then, Principal Wagner approached them. “Shawn, we’re so glad you’re all right,” she said warmly. “Mr. Jordan, I’m sure you’re eager to take Shawn home. But would you mind stepping into my office for a moment? I’d like a word with you both.”

  As Shawn and her father followed Principal Wagner into the school, a feeling of dread came over Shawn as she remembered all the horrible things Angie had done to her over the past months. I don’t want to come back here ever again, she thought. I can’t handle being in the same building with Angie every single day.

  Once again, Shawn found herself sitting in Principal Wagner’s office.

  “First, I want you to know that Angie has been suspended for the next two weeks,” Principal Wagner said. “We’ll consider expulsion if she ever bullies Shawn again, but I’m hopeful that the girls’ problems can be resolved without such drastic measures.”

  “Problems?” Mr. Jordan asked, raising his eyebrows. “Shawn and Angie haven’t been having problems. They had a falling-out last spring, but that’s it.”

  “Actually, Dad,” Shawn said, “Angie really, really hates me. She’s been pretty awful. I didn’t say anything because I kind of thought she’d get sick of picking on me sooner or later. But she’s just gotten meaner.”

  Mr. Jordan and Principal Wagner listened quietly as Shawn told them about everything—the horrible things Angie had said, the hang-up phone calls, the graffiti on her locker.

  “Shawn! Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Mr. Jordan asked, shocked.

  “I didn’t want to make things worse,” Shawn explained. “I thought Angie would just get sick of picking on me.”

  “There’s an excellent technique for dealing with bullying called mediation,” Principal Wagner said. “A counselor would come to the school for a private session with Shawn and Angie to help them resolve their differences.”

  “I don’t have any differences with Angie,” Shawn spoke up. “It’s just that I never want to see her again.”

  “I understand, Shawn,” Principal Wagner said, nodding her head. “But you two do attend the same school, and are both members of the che
erleading squad. You will see her again, unless one of you switches schools. Mediation is a confidential opportunity for you and Angie to try to work through your problems. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Shawn, but Angie and her mother are very open to this.”

  Shawn thought for a minute. “Would my dad be there?”

  “Not in the room, unfortunately,” Principal Wagner replied. “But he can wait right outside. You can think about it for a few days, if you’d like.”

  “No, that’s okay,” Shawn said. “I’ll do it. I’ll do anything to make Angie stop.” Suddenly, Shawn felt very, very tired. I just want to go home and curl up in bed, she thought.

  “Shawn, that’s great,” Principal Wagner replied. “Are you two free on Wednesday afternoon? I’d like to set this up as soon as possible.”

  “I am,” Mr. Jordan replied, looking at Shawn. She nodded.

  “Mr. Jordan, here’s my card,” Principal Wagner said. “Please call me if you have any questions. Shawn, you look exhausted. Rest up and take care—if you need to stay home from school tomorrow, that’s fine.”

  “Shawn’s going to the doctor tomorrow morning,” Mr. Jordan replied. “I’ll probably keep her home for the rest of the day.”

  Principal Wagner walked Shawn and Mr. Jordan to the front of the school. “Shawn, we’re all so glad that you’re okay. I know you’ve been through a lot lately, and I want you to know that it’s going to stop now. My door is always open for you. If Angie or anyone else gives you trouble, please let me know right away.”

  “Thank you,” Shawn said quietly, blinking back tears.

  “You’re safe at Windsor Middle School. We want you to learn here, and have fun here. We won’t let anyone get in the way of that.”

  “I appreciate that, Mrs. Wagner,” Mr. Jordan replied. “We both do.”

  “See you on Wednesday, Shawn,” Principal Wagner said with a smile.