For the rest of the day, Allison avoided Shirley. Partly because she was hurt, and partly because she didn’t want Shirley to know she’d seen the column. To her relief, it seemed as if Shirley was avoiding her, too. Maybe she was having an attack of conscience. Wouldn’t that be something! After school, Allison found Howie and thanked him for questioning the column.
“I don’t know anything about your mother, Allison,” said Howie. “But I couldn’t believe half the stuff Shirley had written.”
Allison shook her head. “In Shirley’s defense, I have to admit that she may have gathered some inaccurate information from those stupid movie-star magazines. They’re notorious for not getting their facts straight.”
“But Shirley needs to learn that. Even though it’s her column, she can’t write anything untruthful or hurtful. I was afraid of this in the first place.”
“Well, maybe you just need to lay it on the line for her.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Howie smiled. “Allison, I’m impressed with how well you’re handling this. Some girls would have been furious.”
Allison laughed. “I guess I’m getting used to Shirley’s attacks.”
“She does seem to have it out for you.” Howie scratched his head. “That’s probably because she’s jealous.”
Allison shrugged. “Who knows? I’ve learned from experience not to ever assume I have Shirley Jenson figured out. Can you ax her column without letting her know that I saw it?”
“No problem, Allison. Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything with supreme tact and diplomacy. On your part, it might be helpful if you keep this to yourself.”
Just then Andrew and Heather passed by.
“Are you ready to go home?” asked Andrew.
“Sure,” said Allison. She turned to Howie. “Thanks again, Howie. I appreciate it.”
“By the way, Allison,” called Howie as she went to join Andrew and Heather. “Great rewrite on the prisoner of war story.”
“Thanks, Howie. You can take half the credit for that.”
Suddenly, Allison’s worries about Shirley’s silly column seemed small and unimportant. She smiled as they walked outside.
“It sounds as if Howie likes your article about Caroline’s brother,” commented Heather as they climbed into the jalopy.
“Yes,” said Allison. “But only after he had me rewrite the whole thing.”
Heather laughed. “It’s not unlike music, Allison. You know, practice makes perfect.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said Allison. “And I should be thankful. Howie really seems to know a lot about writing.”
“Howie seems to know a lot about a lot of things,” said Andrew under his breath. He started the engine and shifted into reverse.
“What was that?” asked Allison.
“Oh, nothing,” muttered Andrew.
“It sounds like someone is in a grouchy mood,” said Heather.
Allison peeked over at Andrew. His face did seem glum as he stared at the road before him. Raindrops began to splatter on the windshield, and he turned on the wipers. Allison wondered if it had anything to do with Beverly. Perhaps he had asked her to the Christmas dance and been turned down. No, that wasn’t likely. If Andrew had asked Beverly to the dance, she would have surely accepted.
“This should only take a few more minutes, Allison,” said Grace as she pinned the bodice darts into place. “James told me that you may be going to Marsha’s for Christmas, so I thought I’d better get your dress finished before you’re too far away for a fitting.”
“I haven’t really made up my mind yet,” said Allison. She frowned at her reflection in Grace’s mirror. Not only was pink not her best color, but the bridesmaid dress looked all lumpy and bumpy, and the sleeves were giant puffballs. She wisely kept these thoughts to herself.
Grace stood up and examined the neckline, taking in another tuck on the shoulders. “Your dad sounded fairly sure that you wanted to go to Marsha’s.” She paused and looked into Allison’s eyes. “Is everything okay, Allison?”
Allison bit her lip. “I guess so.”
Grace had Allison slowly turn around, made a few more adjustments, then carefully lifted the gown over her head. “Well, if there’s any way I can be of help, Allison, I hope you’ll feel free to call.”
Allison pulled her skirt and sweater back on, then sat on Grace’s bed to tie her shoes. “It’s sure not easy being a kid sometimes.”
Grace laughed. “Yes, I remember those days. But I’m afraid your life has some additional complications in it, doesn’t it?”
Allison nodded. “This whole thing with Dad and Marsha. One moment I’ve made up my mind to stay home, the next I think I should go.”
“Why do you think you should go, Allison?”
Allison sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe it just seems easier.”
“Easier?”
“To be honest, Grace, it almost seems like a good escape.” Now Allison had said more than she intended.
“Why would you need to escape?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Allison folded her arms across her chest. “Maybe it just seems like the easy way out. You know how insistent Marsha can be. And Dad seems willing to let me go. . . .”
“Willing, yes. But not eager or happy.”
“See how complicated it gets?” Allison stood and reached for her jacket.
Grace nodded. “Perhaps the best thing would be to consider what you want. That, and perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to ask God for some direction.”
Allison brightened. “You know, that’s just what Andrew said a while back. I think that’s exactly what I need to do.”
Grace hugged Allison. “Good for you. And I meant what I said, Allison. If there’s any way I can be of help—an ear to listen, or whatever—promise me you’ll call.”
Allison smiled. “Thanks, Grace. I promise I will.”
Later that evening, Allison made sure that Dad understood that her mind wasn’t made up about going to Marsha’s yet. He seemed relieved.
“It’s not that I have anything against Marsha,” he explained as he picked up a chess piece. “In fact, it seems like she’s really changed.”
Allison studied his face as he decided whether to move his knight to the left or right. She was still interested in the snatches of congenial conversation she had overheard from him and Marsha. “What do you think of her, Dad?”
James plunked down his knight and looked at Allison with a puzzled expression. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean, what do you think of Marsha? I’m just curious. After all, she is my mother, and you are my dad.”
“I don’t understand, Allison. Do you mean what did I use to think of her, back before you were born?”
“Maybe partly, but I mean more of the present.”
James scratched his chin. “What do I think of Marsha now?” He paused and looked at the fireplace. “Well, I don’t think she’s real happy. . . .”
“Why not?”
He shook his head. “It sounds like she and Stanley are having some marital difficulties. Apparently, that’s why he’s staying in New York over the holidays.”
Allison frowned. “That’s too bad. I’m not crazy about Stanley, but he seemed to care about Marsha.”
“Maybe he still does. It’s hard to tell. I must admit that I felt a little sorry for Marsha the last time we spoke. Her life seems rather bleak and meaningless, if you know what I mean.”
“But that’s the way it’s always been. That’s the way she likes it.”
“I suppose.” James leaned back into the chair and sighed. “I just don’t understand how she can choose to live that way. I mean, I lived all alone for several years, but it was out of necessity. And in many ways I think I needed the isolation to sort things out. But now that I’m surrounded by family and loved ones, I couldn’t imagine wanting to live any other way. I guess I just wonder why Marsha isn’t like that.”
“Because she doesn’t want
to be.” Then in one swift move, Allison relocated her queen out of harm’s way and threatened her opponent’s king. “Check.”
“Why, you . . .” James leaned forward and pretended to be mad. “Was this some sort of strategy to throw me off course, Allison Mercury?”
“Maybe.” Allison smirked. “Or maybe just luck.”
He moved his king, but before long Allison gained the advantage and put him into checkmate. He frowned and shook his head. “I think I’ve been duped.”
“Sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to throw your game off with all my questions.” Then she grinned mischievously. “But it was a pretty good tactic.”
“Off to bed with you,” he commanded as he looked at his watch. “And just you wait until next time. I may use your tactics against you.”
Allison put a look of mock horror on her face, then kissed him good-night and went upstairs. Her questions about Marsha hadn’t revealed much.
Allison’s concerns about Dad seemed minor compared to what she read in the school newspaper the next morning. Fortunately, Howie had stopped Shirley’s column about Marsha, but in her own way, Shirley got revenge.
“Did you read Shirley’s column?” asked Karen in the hallway.
Allison rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately.”
“Where does Shirley get these facts?”
“Facts?” Allison looked at Karen with raised brows. “Who needs facts?”
Karen laughed. “Well, it says here that Andrew and Beverly are Port View’s hottest new romance. But Beverly is one of my best friends, and I didn’t even know that. Shirley says, and I quote, ‘Andrew Amberwell and Beverly Howard have been observed sharing many intimate moments lately and are rumored to be going to the Christmas dance together.’ Now, how does she know that?”
Just then Beverly walked up and grinned saucily. “I guess things are moving a little faster than I’d expected.” She winked at Allison. “Sorry to bump you out of the enviable position of being Andrew’s sweetheart—”
Allison’s eyes flashed. “I am not—”
Beverly laughed. “Don’t get in a tizzy, Allison. I don’t like Shirley’s stupid column any more than you do.”
“Besides, Allison,” added Karen as she continued to read from the paper, “it says here that ‘Allison O’Brian and Howie Ketchum’s relationship goes beyond that of editor and reporter, and they are rumored to be going steady—’ ”
“Spare me!” cried Allison. “As if we don’t know who made up all these stupid rumors. Howie better put a stop to her—”
“It’s all in good fun, Allison,” said Beverly. “No one will take any of that stuff seriously. What good is a society column if she doesn’t throw in some juicy tidbits?”
“What about the truth?” asked Allison just as the bell rang.
“The truth is always changing,” called Beverly as she dashed to class.
Allison folded her newspaper and hurried into biology. She noticed Shirley already in her seat, head straight forward—the perfect student. Allison stared at the back of Shirley’s fluffy pink angora sweater. Oh, how she wanted to give Shirley a piece of her mind! But then that was probably exactly what Shirley wanted. Well, Allison wouldn’t give Shirley the satisfaction. She would just pretend she couldn’t care less about what Shirley wrote in her silly column. Suddenly, she remembered how she had stood up for Shirley’s column in the first place. She should have known better!
For the rest of the morning, Allison pretended that everything was perfectly fine. She even smiled benignly at Shirley, holding her head high as if nothing whatsoever was troubling her. By lunchtime, she was actually feeling much better.
“Oh, Allison,” said Howie as he caught up with her in the lunch line. “I’m sorry about what Shirley said in her column. I . . . I didn’t have time to read it too carefully before it went to print. She typeset it herself, and it seemed okay when I glanced at it the first time.”
Allison knew that Shirley was only a few feet away and probably listening to every word. “Oh, it’s no problem, Howie. I don’t think anyone takes these things seriously, do you?”
Howie smiled. “I guess not. Gee, you’re being a good sport about everything, Allison. I thought you might be mad.”
“I guess as long as she doesn’t go too far. I wouldn’t want to see anyone getting hurt by her words.” Allison glanced over her shoulder in time to see Shirley scowl. Shirley quickly turned her head.
“You’re absolutely right, Allison. From now on I’ll make sure that I read every word that goes into the Pirate Chest.”
Allison spotted Andrew across the room. He and Bruce Williams were talking with Beverly and Karen. Beverly was waving a copy of the newspaper around, and the four of them were laughing. “It doesn’t seem to be bothering Andrew and Beverly, either,” said Allison.
Howie followed her gaze. “I didn’t think it would since Shirley seemed to hit the nail on the head as far as they were concerned.”
“Really?” said Allison. “You thought they were a couple?”
“Sure. I heard that Andrew is taking Beverly to the Christmas dance.”
“Oh.” Allison stepped forward in line and picked up a tray.
“Maybe after all the hubbub over ‘Jenson’s Jetsam’ settles down, you’ll get some feedback on your story, Allison. I, for one, happen to think it is superior. I’ve already sent a copy to Sam Long.”
“Really?” Allison set a plate of spaghetti on her tray and looked at him in surprise. “Do you think he’ll believe it?”
“Why shouldn’t he?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Caroline said that the government keeps denying it.”
“That’s what makes it a great story, Allison.”
Caroline waved to her from their regular table, and Allison turned to Howie. “Thanks,” she said with a smile. “See you after school.” She went over and sat next to Heather and sighed deeply.
“Are you all right, Al?” asked Heather.
“Sure, why do you ask?”
“Caroline just read Shirley’s column to me, and I thought you might be feeling a little miffed.”
“No more than usual.” Allison twisted the long strands of spaghetti around her fork. “Did you read my article yet, Caroline?”
Caroline beamed at Allison. “I sure did. I read it to Heather, too.”
“We both think you’re terrific, Allison,” Heather said proudly. “And when you are some big, famous newspaper reporter, we hope you’ll still remember the little people.”
Allison laughed. “Fat chance!”
“You mean you won’t remember us?” Caroline’s face looked shocked.
“No, I mean fat chance that I’ll ever be a famous reporter.”
“Well, I saw Katharine Hepburn play a woman reporter in a movie once.” Caroline frowned. “I can’t remember the name . . . but if she can do it, so can you!”
“Maybe,” said Allison. “Howie is sending a copy of my article to Sam Long.”
“Do you think he’ll put it in his paper?” asked Heather.
“Oh, I doubt it. He hasn’t even put the other story in his paper.”
“Not yet, but he will,” declared Caroline. “And I hope he runs your story, Allison. Then maybe everyone around here would be praying for Kevin.”
“Yes,” agreed Heather. “That would be wonderful.”
“Do you think the kids at school will really pray?” asked Caroline uncertainly.
“I don’t know why not,” said Allison. “I know I am.”
“Me too,” said Heather. “We told people at church, and they’ve agreed to pray, too.”
Caroline’s face looked so hopeful. In fact, Caroline actually looked quite pretty today. She had on a new blue sweater that matched her eyes, and her hair was curling nicely around her face.
“Caroline, you look very pretty today,” said Allison. “How’s your diet coming?”
Caroline smiled. “I’ve lost thirteen pounds!”
“That’s fantastic!”
said Heather.
“And I have some news,” said Caroline quietly.
“What’s that?” asked Allison as she finished her milk.
“Tommy asked me to the Christmas dance, and my parents said I can go!”
“You’re joking,” said Heather. “And you didn’t even tell me!”
“I wanted to tell you both at the same time.”
“Congratulations,” said Allison. “This time neither of us is going, so make sure your dad takes photographs to show us.”
“I will. I’m not sure what I’m going to wear. I don’t have a formal dress.”
Allison looked at her. She was still too heavy to fit into a Marsha gown. “Maybe your mom can take you to Portland. We saw lots of gowns there when we looked for bridesmaid dresses.”
“That might be fun,” said Caroline. “I think my mother would like that.”
As excited as she was for Caroline, one glance at the newspaper on the table was all it took to destroy Allison’s good mood. What was she going to do about Shirley and her column?
Everyone seemed to have something to occupy them in the journalism room after school, even Shirley. But Allison just stared at the blank sheet of paper in her typewriter and absently drummed her pencil.
“Does our star reporter have writer’s block?” asked Andrew as he stopped by her desk.
She frowned up at him. “I’m just thinking,” she replied. They were the first words she’d spoken to him since reading that he and Beverly were an item. Then she forced a smile to her lips, remembering that he was, first of all, her friend. It was silly for her to fret over his relationship with Beverly—whatever it might be.
“So did you decide about going to Marsha’s yet?”
“Not really, but I know I have to make up my mind—”
“Did you hear the news yet?” Beverly stepped up, smiling at Andrew brightly. It looked as if she was hiding something behind her back.
Andrew shook his head. “What news?”
“Howie just showed me today’s Port View Herald. You’re on the front page, Andrew!” She pulled out the newspaper and proudly read, “ ‘Port View High Quarterback Survives Emergency Airplane Landing.’ ” She held the paper before Andrew. “See, there’s your photo and everything. Isn’t it great? Don’t you feel famous now?”
Allison O'Brian on Her Own, Volume 2 Page 26