*
When Kate walked into homeroom, she was relieved to see that Lisa had moved to the seat next to hers. A friend! Kate’s brain cheered. I have a friend!
“Hey,” Lisa said. “What’s up?”
“Not much. What’s up with you?”
“Nothing.” Lisa picked at her long fingernails for a moment. “So, do you hate this school or what?”
“Well,” Kate said with a giggle, “let’s just say that I’m glad I’m a junior and I only have to go here for two years.”
Lisa cracked up at that. “I hear you. I’ve been going to St. Pete’s since I was in kindergarten.”
“Really? You poor thing.” St. Peter’s had an elementary school across the street. Kate’s little sister Marie attended in the fifth grade there.
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Yup, so I really can’t wait to graduate.”
“I bet.”
The bell rang and Mrs. Baker took roll. When she was done, the morning announcements started. Kate turned again to Lisa.
“So, what do you do for fun around here?”
Lisa shook her head. “Nothing. There’s nothing to do in this town.”
“Nothing?”
“Well, there’s the movie theater. Uh, there’s the mall, but it’s out by the interstate. You know, soccer games. People have parties and stuff.” She shrugged. “That’s it.”
Soccer games, that’s right, Kate thought. St. Pete’s has no football team. Putting a Nebraska girl in a school with no football team...that’s just cruel.
“What do you like to do?” Kate asked.
“Well, I love the mall. Hey, do you want to go some time?”
Kate smiled. “That would be fun.” She tried not to sound too excited. The bell rang for first period.
“Okay, give me your number.”
Kate rattled off her phone number while Lisa punched away at her phone. “Hey, do you have first period chemistry here too?” Kate asked.
“No, I took it last year. I have physics this year. See ya,” Lisa said as she slid off her stool.
“Bye,” Kate said. Physics? She must be smart, Kate thought as she leaned down to pull her chemistry book out of her backpack. When she lifted her head back above the table, Chris Atkins was sitting across from her.
“See, I told you that you knew me. Here I am again!” He smiled that lopsided grin again.
“Talk about a goofball,” Kate murmured.
He laughed. “So, you are from Nebraska, huh? Born in a cornfield?”
Kate ignored him and flipped through her chemistry book, trying to find the last page from yesterday.
“Look, I’m trying to be friendly here. You could make an effort,” he said.
“Friendly? You just keep insulting me.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be so serious. I’m just having fun witcha’.”
She looked at him. “‘Witcha?’ What is that? Here you are making fun of me.”
He laughed again. He seemed like he didn’t take anything seriously. “Listen, we should get together this Saturday night. What do you say?”
“Hah,” she said. “Did you not see the pictures of my boyfriend?”
“Come on. We’ll get some hot dogs and go for a ride in my car. Huntington is known for its hot dogs”
“It’s like a scene from Deliverance.” Kate had never actually seen Deliverance, but she knew it was about hillbillies. There had to be some hot dogs in it, right?
“I’ve got a 1968 Corvette convertible.”
She stopped flipping pages and looked at him. “You’re kidding me.” Kate didn’t know a lot about the world, but she knew cars. Growing up with two older brothers, a girl learns to appreciate the finer vehicles. “How is it that you have a ‘68 Corvette?”
“It was my dad’s. He restores classic cars for a living. He felt bad about walking out on us when I was a kid, so he gave it to me when I turned sixteen. My older brother got a Mustang. Parent guilt,” he smiled and nodded, “it’s a wonderful thing.”
Kate thought about it for a minute. What would Jacob think of her riding in a car with a boy? It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. It was just a ride. It wasn’t like it was a date.
“How about we pick up Lisa too?” If Lisa was there, it really wouldn’t be a date.
“Lisa Nguyen? Oh, she won’t come.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “Just ask her,” Chris said, “and see what she says.”
“I will.” The bell rang and chemistry began
*
“So, how about coming out with me and Chris Atkins on Saturday night?” Kate said as soon as Lisa sat down next to her in Literature.
“Oh, I can’t.” Lisa looked away and started pulling books out of her backpack.
“Why not?”
“Um,” Lisa suddenly looked very small and young. “You know what, I already agreed to go to a thing with my parents.”
“Oh, bummer.”
“Yeah. All the Vietnamese families here get together and party. Mostly, we eat food.”
Ms. Dobbs strode into the room, a tight-lipped grimace on her face. The class immediately quieted when they saw her, even though the bell had not yet rung.
“She looks pissed today,” Lisa said in a whisper.
“What is it with her anyway?”
Lisa leaned in closer. “I heard that she lost custody of her kids a few years ago and she just went nuts, had a nervous breakdown. Then, she got fired from her job at the public school and nobody else would hire her. So, of course, we got her.”
“That sucks,” Kate said, just as the bell rang.
“Ms. Gilbert?” Ms. Dobbs shrill voice rang out across the classroom.
Kate froze, her eyes moving to the front of the room. She was the only Gilbert in the class, as far as she knew. “Yeah?”
Ms. Dobbs’ eyes popped out. “You will respond to me with ‘Yes, Ms. Dobbs,’ is that clear?”
Kate felt her face turn red. “Yes, Missus Dobbs.”
“Not Missus Dobbs. I didn’t spend my entire life fighting for women’s rights to be addressed as Missus Dobbs. I am Mizz Dobbs.”
Kate grumbled under her breath, then said, “Yes, Mizz Dobbs.
“Ms. Gilbert. Have your read up to Chapter Six in Jane Eyre?”
Kate couldn’t believe this. She hadn’t even been to the bookstore yet! She didn’t even know where to find a bookstore!
“Not yet, Ms. Dobbs. I don’t know where...”
“Then, I expect to see you here for detention after school, Ms. Gilbert.”
Kate stared at her in disbelief. “Detention? But you just told me about the book yesterday!”
“Exactly. You had an assignment and you failed to complete it. In my class, that calls for detention.” Ms. Dobbs stared with those big gray eyes, waiting for Kate to challenge her again. Kate sat silently, seething with rage. “I’ll give you another chance, because you’re new. Make sure you are all caught up by tomorrow. I don’t accept excuses in this class.” She turned to the chalkboard and started the lesson.
Kate swallowed hard, trying to choke back her anger. She couldn’t believe she had just been humiliated in front of the whole class, and on the second day of school! What a horrible woman, she thought. She is crazy.
Kate spent the rest of the morning reliving the exchange in literature. All the way through history and computer class, she ran it over and over again in her head. She should have stood up to that crazy Mizz Dobbs, she thought. She should have said something like “It’s only my second day!” or “I’ll read the book when I damn well feel like it!” But she didn’t. She didn’t say a thing and she let that bully, Ms. Dobbs, push her around.
At lunch, Kate found her way to Lisa’s table. Again, Lisa sat with the group of younger girls.
“I can’t believe Ms. Dobbs chewed you out on your second day. That’s got to be some kind of a record,” Lisa said, and forked a piece of lettuce into her mouth. Lisa always has the most nutritious lu
nches, Kate thought, as she pulled her diet soda and candy bar out of her backpack.
“I know. You were right. She’s a nut.”
A small Asian girl with straight black hair and tiny slits for eyes spoke in a quiet voice. “Bryan Cummings holds the record for the most detentions in a year from Ms. Dobbs. Do you want to know how many he got?”
“Yeah,” the girls all answered.
“Seventy-six.”
“No way!” they all chanted, Kate right along with them.
“Wow, seventy-six. Think you can beat the record?” Lisa asked, smiling at Kate.
“I hope not. I do not want to spend that much time with Ms. Dobbs,” Kate said, popping the lid of her soda can.
*
When Kate signed up for Catholic school, she didn’t realize that she would be forced to take religion class as part of the package. It’s true. Catholic schools teach religion like it’s a real class. She couldn’t believe it.
Therefore, Kate was subjected to the tedious Bible interpretations of Mr. Tilsen on a daily basis. Mr. Tilsen was fresh out of college, a young man who seemed unsure whether to teach his young female students, or ask them out on dates. A short man with a thin blond mustache, he faced the monumental task of trying to inspire sixteen year-olds to take an interest in the teachings of the Bible.
“If we think about what Lot had to go through...excuse me please. Can we....” Mr. Tilsen stammered.
The class erupted into a paper ball fight. Yesterday, the students passed the time with a feisty round of continuous pencil sharpening, then a quick game of musical desks. All the while, Mr. Tilsen stuttered away, Bible in hand, looking very small on his stool at the head of the class. Kate had never seen such chaos in a classroom.
“I don’t think you should be....” Mr. Tilsen ducked as a paper wad flew by his head. “I don’t want to have to call the principal.” Eventually, the paper stopped flying and the students settled down.
Mr. Tilsen continued his lecture so Kate closed her eyes. Her thoughts drifted to Jacob and soon she was lost in a wonderful fantasy. She imagined Jacob suddenly appearing at the door of the classroom. He would throw open the door, passion blatant upon his chiseled face. His beautiful dark eyes would scan the classroom and land upon Kate.
The entire class would look at the handsome guy in the doorway and wonder why he was there. Then, they would follow his stare to Kate, who would suddenly notice Jacob. She would push her way through the sea of desks to reach him. There, she would throw her arms around his neck and he would clasp her so hard, she would lose her breath for a moment. He would spin her in a circle as they laughed and cried. He would tell her that she looked beautiful. She would glance at him lovingly. Then, they would leave together, just walk right out of the school and go find a quiet place to make out.
Kate was deep in thought, trying to decide what she would be wearing in this fantasy, when Lisa suddenly startled her out of her dream.
“What are you thinking about? You’ve got the biggest grin on your face,” she said, poking Kate in the arm.
“What do you think I’m thinking about,” Kate answered. “I’m just getting to the good stuff. Leave me alone,” she said with a devilish smile. She closed her eyes again. Lisa blurted out a belly laugh.
Mr. Tilsen shot them a tired, frustrated glance. Kate actually felt sorry for the guy.
She closed her eyes and tried to find herself in Jacob’s arms again, but no matter how she tried, she couldn’t bring herself back. Jacob’s face faded and instead, she found herself actually listening to Mr. Tilsen’s tired voice.
*
The rest of the day dragged on forever. Kate couldn’t wait for the final bell. When it finally rang, she threw her books back into her locker, glanced quickly at Jacob’s handsome face, then slammed the door. She felt a tap on her shoulder.
“You see, I am in almost all of your classes.” Chris Adkins stood there, leaning against the lockers.
Sure enough, Kate had seen him in nearly every class. He would wave surreptitiously, or smile at her with that cute lopsided grin. In Pre-Cal class, he was actually working out a problem on the blackboard when he turned to Kate and mouthed “Here I am.” Kate had nearly busted out laughing.
“You’re right. You’re everywhere.”
“So, what time should I pick you up Saturday night?”
“Oh, Lisa can’t come.”
“I told you she wouldn’t.”
Kate chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “I don’t know.” But it sure would be fun to go out, to get out of the house. She thought again about all those boring nights at home, watching TV with her dad.
“I promise I won’t molest you.”
“Um.”
“Done. You live in the Blacker place, right? I’ll pick you up at seven.” He jotted down his phone number and handed it to her. Kate looked at it, not sure what to do. Chris turned and ran down the hall, his shirt tails billowing out behind him.
“I didn’t say I would go!” Kate yelled after him.
“Who’s that?” Lucy asked, coming up from behind Kate.
“Chris Atkins.”
“He’s cute,” Lucy said. “Does he have a girlfriend?”
“How would I know? I’m new here too, remember?”
“I’m just asking. God.” Only Lucy could say the word “God” and make it three syllables at three different pitches. She practically sang the word. They walked out the door into the parking lot.
“He wants to take me out on Saturday.” Kate mentioned it, knowing it would make Lucy jealous. She felt only a small amount of guilt for this.
“Oh, you’re so lucky. I wish I could go out with him.”
“Sorry, I don’t think he wants to go out with a freshman, Lucy.”
A finger tapped Kate on the shoulder. Kate turned and saw Bryan Cummings standing with the same group of guys as the day before. Bryan’s red hair was so curly, it practically stood straight up on his head.
“Hey, Kate. I know you didn’t like our idea about you beating up another girl, which is a shame because it would have been awesome,” Bryan said as the guys behind him laughed into their hands. “So, we’ve got another tip for you.”
“Okay.” This was turning into a game then.
“If you really want to fit in at this school, you need to hang out with the right crowd. Lisa Nguyen...she’s so not cool. She hangs out with all those skinny underclassmen and all she does is study.”
“I like her.”
Bryan shook his head. “Yeah, whatever. Listen, I’m going to set you up with some new friends. They’re handsome, they’re fun. Basically, they’re awesome and they’re all coming over to my house right now. So, if you come over too, you can meet them.” More laughing.
Kate pointed to the guys leaning against the school building. “Are these my new best friends?”
“No, no. These guys? No way. These guys aren’t fun. Do they look awesome to you? No, hop into my car, come over to my place and I’ll introduce you to some really cool people.”
Kate smiled and started to walk away. She flipped one hand up in a dismissing wave. “See you tomorrow, Bryan.”
“Hey, wait, is that your sister? Does she want to come over?” The guys doubled over.
The guys’ laughter faded as the sisters crossed the street. Kate glanced over at Lucy, who looked very pleased with herself.
*
Kate checked the mail after school, but no letter from Jacob had arrived yet. She hoped she would get one tomorrow. She craved a mushy love letter from him, proof that he still loved her, that he was still thinking about her. She needed something she could read over and over again to bring him closer to her.
She thought about calling Jacob, but decided she’d better wait. Twice a week, Mom and Dad had said. It wasn’t enough for Kate. Maybe she could call three times a week without getting them too angry. She’d call him again tomorrow and find out.
Kate walked downtown, found a bookstore and bought a d
og-earned copy of Jane Eyre. She brought it up to her room and flopped down on her bed. Again, the picture of Jacob was face down on her bedside table. The dog must be knocking it over. She put him back up again and kissed Jacob’s handsome face through the glass.
She spent the rest of the afternoon reading. It was truly boring. The girl just didn’t have any spirit. Maybe it would get better.
The Blacker House Page 4