Lone Bean (5 page)

Chapter 9
He'll Never Catch Us

A
fter school, my sisters were busy giggling with their friends and flirting with boys, so I had to wait to go home. I leaned against the fence with my arms crossed and watched the crowds of kids scatter. It wouldn't have been so bad if Carla and Sam weren't shooting hoops and looking like they were having a ton of fun.

Tanisha crossed the playground, dragging her dirty backpack on the cement. Instead of heading to the open gate, she walked straight toward me.

“Whatcha doin'?” she asked, like we were friends.

“Waiting for my sisters.” I motioned toward them.

“Well, wanna hang out?” she asked matter-of-factly. “I'm bored.”

I just stared at her, confused.

“I'll show you the drawer where Ms. Sullivan keeps all the candy she takes away from us,” Tanisha added.

Now this was something I wanted to see. I mean, I l-o-v-e LOVE candy, and plus, maybe Carla would see us and get jealous.

We walked back toward the building, past Carla and Sam, who didn't even seem to notice. Rose didn't either. Her eyes were glued to Doug, a tall, good-looking boy who was picking up his little sister from kindergarten. Me and Tanisha slid right past them and walked into the building.

The door shut behind us. We were all alone in the school. It was quiet and kinda weird to be in the dark, empty halls. Tanisha pulled out two huge gumballs and handed me one. I chomped on it like a horse, with my mouth wide open. Mmm . . . cherry flavor!

“Watch this,” Tanisha said. She pulled out the big red wad and stuck it over the hole of the water fountain. When she turned the knob, water sprayed from the spout like a sprinkler all over the hall. I jumped out of the way just in time!

As we kept walking, Tanisha dragged a purple marker along the wall, making a squiggly line. Now, this made me really nervous. Students are not supposed to be in the building after school, and for sure we aren't supposed to draw on the walls. Tanisha stopped at another water fountain right in front of our classroom.

“Your turn.” She nudged me in the side.

“Naw. It's okay.”

“Girl, do it!” Tanisha demanded; then she pushed me toward the fountain.

I thought about it for a second. If I did it and got caught, I would be in big trouble, but if I didn't, Tanisha might reach into my mouth and get it herself. So I went for it . . . I spit the wad of gum onto my fingers, shoved it over the hole of the fountain, took a deep breath, and turned the knob. No water came out.

“You blocked the whole thing.” Tanisha laughed. “Move it to the side.”

I dug my finger in and wiggled it around a little. When I turned the knob, water sprayed everywhere, and this time, we didn't make it out of the way—water sprinkled all over us.

“Hey! What are you two doing in here?” Mr. Hopper, the janitor, yelled from down the hall.

“We're okay,” said Tanisha as she grabbed my hand. “He's so fat, he'll never catch us.”

“Get back here!” Mr. Hopper yelled as he ran behind us, huffing and puffing and dragging a bucket and mop.

We turned the corner and pushed through the door and into Ms. Ring's classroom. I could barely breathe. It was totally empty and quiet, and I remembered how safe I used to feel when I was in Ms. Ring's class. I never ever got into trouble. I was a good girl then, but now I wasn't so sure.

Tanisha peered out the door.

No Mr. Hopper, so she dragged me back into the hall. Just as we reached the big red door to go outside, Mr. Hopper popped his big head around the corner and yelled, “Get back here, you troublemakers!”

I flew through the door and ran right to Rose's side.

“Bean, where have you been?” she asked.

“We had to use the bathroom.”

“Next time, let me know.”

“All right,” I said, but I had absolutely no plans of running through the halls after school ever again.

“Let's go,” said Rose. She turned and headed toward the gate, where Gardenia was waiting.

“Hey, Bean, can you come over and play for a little while?” Tanisha asked.

“Maybe,” I said, to give me time to think. I hadn't had a play date since school started and I guessed it would be kinda fun to play with someone . . . even if it was Tanisha. “Let me ask my sister.” I ran to catch Rose. “Do you think it would be okay if I go over to Tanisha's house for a little bit?”

Tanisha ran up too and said, “I live just down the block from you, by Jackson's Barbershop.”

“Let me talk to you for a second,” Rose said to me as she pulled me away from Tanisha. “Since when are you two pals?”

“Since now.”

“Bean, you know Tanisha is bad news and you always said she was mean to you.” Rose looked doubtful. “I don't think it's a good idea.”

“Please,” I begged. “I finally have someone to play with and she's really not so bad.”

“Fine,” she said with a shrug. “But you better be home before dark.”

I agreed, and we all started walking toward home. Tanisha was smiling. I don't think she ever had anyone over for a play date. She told me she has no sisters, and I definitely knew she didn't have any friends.

Tanisha's apartment building was tucked in the alley. It was right behind Jackson's Barbershop, with the swirly red-and-white pole that looks like a candy cane. I'd been to Jackson's once with Dad to get his hair cut. I never knew Tanisha lived so close by. My house was down the block, but this part of the neighborhood felt completely different.

“Remember, no street crossing without an adult, and be home before dark!” Rose yelled over her shoulder as she disappeared around the corner.

I followed Tanisha to her building and up the stairs. The halls were dark and dirty and it kinda smelled like garbage and dog pee and smoke. The floorboards squeaked under my sneakers as we turned down a dark hallway and finally got to her door.

Tanisha reached in her shirt and pulled out a key on a black string that was hanging around her neck and unlocked the door. I wondered where her mom was. I didn't think she had a father. Well, I guess she's gotta have one because that's how babies are made, but she's never talked about him at school. It made me feel so happy I have a dad. Come to think of it, I was glad to have sisters too, because Tanisha must get lonely.

I trailed behind Tanisha as we walked inside. It was cold, but Tanisha didn't seem to notice.

“Want a snack or something?” she asked.

“Sure. Whatcha got?”

I stood in the middle of the room. It seemed like the whole house was in that one room. It was the kitchen and also the living room and maybe even the bedroom too. The stove, refrigerator, and sink were on one side, next to a table and a pullout couch made up like a bed, with a small TV on the other side.

“How about some Cheetos?”

“Sure!”

I loosened up a little bit because Cheetos are my favorite, you know. She opened the bag and sat down on the couch bed. I sat on the edge and dug my hand in the bag. I popped a couple Cheetos in my mouth. Yum!

Tanisha turned on a small staticky TV and we watched cartoons through the fuzz.

“Want me to show you something cool?” Tanisha asked.

“Okay,” I said as she dragged me into a room with another unmade bed in the middle and nothing much else.

Tanisha got down on her hands and knees and pulled a box from under the bed. I sat next to her on the floor so I could get a look at what was inside—shiny necklaces, a pack of stinky cigarettes, and a whole bunch of money in a pile. More money than I had ever seen in one place.

“Your mom should put that in the bank.”

“She goes to the bank every Monday,” Tanisha said, and put two dollar bills in her back pocket. “I'm not supposed to know it's here.”

“What time does your mom get home?” I asked, because it was getting kind of creepy being here. I had never been in a house with no adults. Someone is always home at my house.

“Usually, my mom gets home after dark, but it depends,” said Tanisha softly. She got up off the floor and looked out the window.

“I think I better go,” I said. “I promised my dad I would help with dinner.”

“You've gotta stay here for dinner,” she barked, but I insisted I had to go. I rushed to the front door as fast as I could.

“I really can't!” I called over my shoulder. I didn't stop walking, because I was a little worried that she would grab me, tie me up, and force me to stay.

I ran all the way home and felt much better when I swung through the back door and saw my dad. I wrapped my arms around his middle and gave him a good, long squeeze.

Chapter 10
Caught

W
ednesday began just like every other morning. I got dressed, washed up, and headed downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. The whole family was at the table like usual, but then we heard a knock.

Gardenia raced up and swung open the door. No way! Stinky Stanley was standing there with a big, silly smile on his face.

“Bean, your boyfriend is here,” Gardenia said.

“He's not my boyfriend!”

“Hi, Bean,” Stanley said as he stepped into the kitchen. “Hi, Mr. Gibson.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I just stopped by to pick up my saxophone. Your dad was gonna fix it for me.”

“All fixed,” Dad said as he pointed to the leather case, which was propped up against the door. “Why don't you try it and see how the keys feel?”

“All right,” said Stanley. He dropped his backpack, grabbed the case, and followed Dad into the living room.

“Bean, go grab your violin and come too,” Dad suggested.

“Now? With him?”

“Yes,” he said sternly. “Now.”

I know better than to argue with Dad when he talks serious like that, so I went up to my room and pulled my violin case out from under the bed. I sat at the top of the stairs, listening to Stanley putting his saxophone together and blowing to test the keys.

“Bean?” Dad yelled.

“Coming,” I moaned.

I walked as slow as I could. I put my case on the couch, all the way on the other side of the room from Stanley. I didn't want to sit too close, you know. A person could die from his stink.

“Okay guys, you have a couple minutes to play till breakfast is ready.” And with that, Dad went back into the kitchen and left me alone with Stanley.

“That's pretty cool that you play the violin,” he said.

“Well, I'm just learning.”

“I am too.”

“No, I mean I'm really just learning. The first day I played, it sounded like I was killin' a cat.”

Stanley blew into his saxophone and—
blaaaag!
The most awful noise exploded. I laughed so hard I nearly dropped my violin on the floor. I knew he did it on purpose to make me feel better—and it really did!

Then Stanley played real notes and I followed the best I could by pressing the strings and pulling the bow and—guess what? Playing with Stanley was kind of fun. Reading sheet music was still hard for me, but I was getting pretty good at playing along with notes that I could hear.

“Why don't you guys come in and eat some breakfast,” Dad said as he stuck his head through the door.

We put away our instruments and headed into the kitchen. Stanley grabbed his backpack. It was bright red with a cool race car on it.

“Is that new?” I asked.

“Yep, I just got it yesterday.”

“That car is supercool,” I let him know.

“Thanks.”

I sat next to Stanley at breakfast, and he wasn't so stinky after all. Maybe he just seemed smellier before because that's what everyone at school always said. Maybe the rumors had crept into my nose. I mean, he kinda had a smelly-feet-need-a-shower kinda stink, but nothing that was gonna make you fall out of the chair and die, you know.

Stanley walked to school with me, Rose, and Gardenia. Me and Stanley laughed as we tried to kick a rock like a soccer ball. We had to keep it from falling off the sidewalk and into the street.

When we got to school, I wasn't so sure that I wanted everyone to think me and Stanley were friends. I gave him one last smile and then, with a shrug of my shoulders, I ran ahead and slid in line next to Tanisha.

“Happy hump day!” I said to her.

“What's that mean?”

“My dad calls Wednesday hump day because it's in the middle of the week, which means that when it's finished, you're over the hump and on the home stretch to the weekend. And boy, am I glad it's hump day!”

Tanisha just shrugged. She doesn't get excited about stuff like that.

The line started to move, and I skipped all the way into the building. Goody-two-shoes Gabrielle was the door holder. Me and Tanisha made faces at her as we passed.

“You two are unkempt goons,” Gabrielle said.

I don't know what
unkempt
means, but I know what
goon
does and it is not very nice at all. When Gabrielle passed by us to take her place back in line, Tanisha stuck out her foot and—
trip!
Gabrielle tumbled to the floor.

“Oww!” she moaned as she got up and wiped off her frilly pink dress.

Tanisha howled with laughter. Gabrielle hadn't hurt herself, so I giggled too and gave Tanisha a high five.

During morning lessons, Ms. Sullivan let me and Tanisha share a social studies book. While I was trying to read, she kept folding the pages. Then she blew a spitball right at me. In spelling, she even cheated off my test. I liked having someone to hang out with, but Tanisha was driving me crazy! Carla was a real friend. She would never do anything mean. At least that's how it used to be.

The bell rang for recess, and as I got up from my seat, I bumped right into Carla.

“Wanna play hopscotch?” I asked hopefully.

“No, thank you, Bean.” Carla turned her back to me and headed into the hallway, pulling Sam along with her.

“I brought Flamin' Hot Cheetos,” I yelled, swinging the bag in the air. “You want some?”

“I've got my own bag,” Carla said. She didn't smile, but at least she had talked to me.

Tanisha grabbed my arm and dragged me to the playground.

“Let's throw rocks at cars,” she said.

“No way. We'll get in big trouble.” I was not planning on going to jail that day or any other day!

“Scaredy-cat!”

“Am not,” I said, “but I'm also not stupid.”

“Yeah, you are!” She shoved me and ran off across the playground. I felt kinda mad that she still bullied me, but not mad enough to stop playing, so I ran after her.

“Let's mess with those girls.” She pointed at Renee and Aisha, who were playing hopscotch. We danced on the hopscotch board so they had to stop playing.

Finally Aisha whined, “Leave us alone!”

We grabbed a basketball from some boys and threw it over the fence. I laughed along with Tanisha, but way down deep, I didn't feel right. I tried to ignore the twisting in my tummy, though, because for the first time in a long time, I had someone to play with.

“Come on, Bean,” said Tanisha as she stomped her feet in a big, dirty puddle, right next to where Gabrielle was sitting on the bench reading.

I just stood there, because I didn't want to mess with anyone else today and I for sure didn't want to get my socks and sneakers all soaking wet. But Tanisha gave me a growly I-mean-business look and dragged me into the puddle.

“Now my feet are all wet, Tanisha!”

She just laughed as she splashed around in the water. Tanisha pointed at Gabrielle and gave me a wink. Before I could stop her, she swung her leg, and dirty, muddy water sprinkled on Gabrielle's dress and mud speckled her white ruffled socks.

Gabrielle got up and ran into the building. I sloshed out of the puddle, feeling terrible. The bell rang and everyone started filing off the playground. Tanisha grabbed my arm again and pulled me so fast that my soaking wet feet barely touched the ground.

“Where are we going?” I said, running to try and keep up. If I didn't, she probably would've dragged me right across the cement.

“I have a plan, but we've gotta hurry.” Tanisha dragged me through the red door.

“This is the big plan? To get into the building first?”

“No, silly! We're gonna hide behind the door and . . .” Just as Tanisha was explaining her plan, someone pushed the door and
slam!
Tanisha shoved it back as hard as she could. I could hear the sound of the door hitting someone.

“Ha! We got 'em good!” She laughed. But I didn't because I could hear crying from the other side of the door.

I slowly opened the door to see the damage. A girl was lying on the floor covering her face. She looked up at me with blood dripping from her nose and tears in her eyes. Oh, no! It was Carla.

“You're bleeding!” I cried in shock.

Sam pointed at me and yelled, “Bean, what did you do?”

Ms. Sullivan came running to see what all the commotion was.

“What's your problem? That was really mean!” Sam barked at me with fire in her eyes.

“It wasn't me!” I swore.

“What happened?” Ms. Sullivan asked.

Before I could say a word, Sam told Ms. Sullivan, “Bean slammed the door as we were coming in and it hit Carla in the face and she did it on purpose!”

“Bean, go straight to the principal's office,” said Ms. Sullivan angrily as she led Carla to the nurse's office with Sam following. “This is unacceptable behavior and I will not stand for it.”

When I was all alone, Tanisha popped her stupid head around the corner.

“Are they gone?” she said.

“You have to tell them you did it!” I cried.

“I'm not the one who got caught. You were,” Tanisha said. She leaned against the wall like it was no big deal.

I was so fuming mad that I wanted to scream.