Meadowview Acres (4 page)

Forty-five minutes later with four less inches of hair, Bug was squirting ketchup onto a napkin to dip her tots into. Mrs. Port had given her an extra serving of them and Bug was in Tot Heaven.

Shasta left her in the booth and went in search of her dad. Mr. Port was a serious business owner and didn’t like to be disturbed while working, but when he spotted his only child coming toward him with her deep auburn hair and dark brown eyes, he beamed. Shasta was the only thing he would stop everything for. She was his baby. After a squelching bear hug, he said, “What’s my baby up to today?”

“Just bringing Bug by for a snack. Do you have a minute, though? I wanted to ask you about something.”

“I’ve got all the time in the world for my best girl.”He patted the seat beside him. “What’s up?”

“Well,” began Shasta, “You know it’s my senior year and you know how I really want to get into a good journalism program in college?”

“Yep, I think you’re on a really good track, Honey. How can I help?”

“Well, I just happened to mention it to Mr. Hamilton when I was picking up Bug last week. I really didn’t expect anything; I was just making conversation.” She stopped and took a big breath. “He offered me a summer internship. I mean, I didn’t even ask him or anything; he just kind of offered. I didn’t know what to say, so I told him I had to talk to you about it. I know you and Mom depend on me to work here part time, but this could really look great on my application, and the experience would be incredible. What do you think, Dad?”

Mr. Port knew the day was coming when his baby would leave him, but he thought that day would be at the end of summer, not the beginning of spring. He knew Shasta loved writing articles for the school newspaper, and she had dreams of becoming a really respected journalist. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t do, but he wished it didn’t have to be so soon.

“Shasta, honey,” he said, “There is no way a hot dog stand is going to come between my girl and her dreams of greatness. Of course you should take it. The Hallston Daily Journal is going to be lucky to have you.”

Shasta was relieved. She loved her folks so much, she didn’t want them to be short on help for the summer, but this internship was perfect and at just the right time. She hugged her dad tightly thinking how lucky she was to have caring parents.

“Thanks, Daddy, I really…”

“Stop it!” Bug screamed from the other side of the Hut. “Give those back you primate!”

Mr. Port and Shasta whirled toward the commotion to see Hansen Reynolds holding Bug’s paper cup of tater tots up out of her reach. Standing on the seat of the booth, Bug was trying to stretch far enough to snatch them back.

“What’s wrong, little Bookie Wookie Worm,” Hansen taunted. “Did somebody steal your widdle snackie?”

He kept the cup of tots just out of her reach and would jerk them further away when she tried to snag them. His crew was laughing behind him and egging him on.

“Give them back! You’re contaminating them with your idiot juice!” Bug wailed.

That insult was just biting enough for Hansen to mean business. Nobody embarrasses Hansen Reynolds in front of his subjects. He put the cup right in front of Bug’s face, and, when she made to grab it, he stepped quickly to the side causing Bug to fall face first out of the booth and land on the cold cement floor of the Hut.

“Now listen here,” Mr. Port bellowed. “I’ll have none of that bullying in my place! You get out, Reynolds. And take your crew with you. If you can’t behave in public, you’re not welcome.” He locked his steely gaze on Hansen.

Giggling and making quiet insults aimed at Mr. Port, Hansen and his followers moved toward the door. None of them were brave enough to actually be overheard because they knew Bill Port had been in the service. They also knew he kept a bat behind the cash register, and he wouldn’t hesitate to use it.

As Clara Stagg passed the floor where Shasta was helping Bug to sit up, she quietly said, “Sorry, Buggie. You okay?”

“Yeth. Thankth, Clara,” replied Bug holding a napkin to her bloody nose.

“Sometimes he can be a jerk, but he’s not that way all the time,” responded Clara, looking genuinely worried.

“I guess he keeps those other times secret,” snapped Shasta. “Come on, Bug. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

As Shasta was helping Bug to her feet, Hansen, looking for Clara, turned from the door. “Come on, Babe. Don’t keep me waitin’.” His gentle tone was belied by the menacing look in his eyes as he kept them on Clara.

“I’m coming,” said Clara and gave Bug and Shasta an apologetic glance.

“Out!” Mr. Port said sternly, glaring at Hansen. Hansen met his eyes in defiance for a moment before Clara caught up to him. They turned together and left.

Mrs. Port was rushing toward the booth with a tray. She placed it in front of Bug and smiled sweetly. “Here you go, Pumpkin, a brand new batch fresh from the fryer!”

“Thanth Mithus Pord,” said Bug. The bleeding was easing up, and she felt better since the jerks were gone. Mrs. Port winked and hurried back to the front counter. The after school crowd was still trickling in, and she had a line waiting.

Mr. Port sat down opposite Bug and checked her nose. “Not too bad, Hon. I think you’ll live.” He smiled. “Try not to insult that guy so much, though. I know he’s a jerk, but he knows you’re smarter than he is, and that makes him a little afraid of you. Sometimes fear can make mean people even meaner, and I might not be around to stop him. Steer clear, okay? That goes for you, too, Shas.” He looked meaningfully at his daughter.

“Got it, Dad-O,” Shasta replied. “I think I’ll get this one home now, though. Let’s pack up and get going, Bug.”

They got their things together and a to-go bag for Bug, said their goodbyes and hopped into the Ranger. They both sang along with the radio as they made their way back to Meadowview Acres. By the time they arrived, they had already forgotten the incident. As Shasta pulled the truck into the Hamilton’s driveway, she noticed Eli and Hunter Massey walking into the woods behind the Miller’s house.

“Wonder what they’re up to.” She nodded in the direction of the boys. Bug was interested at once.

“Ooh! I don’t know! Let’s follow and see. It might be an adventure! We can stalk them like the great cats of the Serengeti and scare the poo out of them!” She giggled at the thought.

“No, I don’t like the woods. So many creepy crawlers and little rodents are in there. I’m always afraid something’s going to drop on my head. Besides, they’re probably just doing an experiment for the Shazaam Brothers or something.”

“Haha! I forgot about that! They haven’t had a magic show in so long. I miss those shows. Come on, Shas, let’s go see what they’re doing. Come on. You don’t have to leave yet, do you?” She pleaded.

Shasta always had a hard time saying no to Bug, but this time she had to.

“Sorry, Bug. I’ve got to get home and change before I go to the game. Tonight’s a big night for Darren, and I want to be there on time. We’ll do something tomorrow. How about the library?”

“Sure, that sounds good,” Bug replied, but she was still watching the boys make their way through the brush at the edge of the woods.

CHAPTER 6

Clara

C
lara had been watching the scene play out in front of Ms. Leezil’s room. She had a knot in her stomach. Ms. Leezil was her favorite teacher, and Clara was her student aide. She didn’t know why Hansen was so mean sometimes. He was really nice to her when it was just the two of them, but when he got around all of his friends, he could be a major jerk. It was beginning to get old.

At first, when they were a new couple, Clara was thrilled. She was dating the school football star. She could hardly believe it; she was popular by default. No one could challenge her social standing now that she was attached to Hansen. Her mission had finally been completed with a simple make-out session behind the
bleachers almost four months ago.

Clara had been very determined to make it happen. In ninth grade, she was a nobody. In tenth, she was noticeable enough for ridicule. Eleventh found her in the popular crowd “sub group”. Then she was Senior Class Royalty. She had clawed her way up through the ranks. Sure, she had lost longtime friends and made enemies along the way, but she had no regrets. Well, maybe one, but he was a nobody and she couldn’t take the risk.

Now, though, she was starting to get fed up. Hansen’s antics were really stupid. All of their friends thought he was so cool and so quick witted with his jabs and insults. No one was brave enough to be on the hit list or the receiving end, so they went along to get along. Clara wondered if she could make it all the way until May. All of the good stuff was right around the corner.

Homecoming had been amazing for her. They were voted King and Queen at the dance and Clara was on cloud nine. She remembered dancing around with her crown atop her golden hair. She knew she had to hang in there. The holidays were coming soon with party after party. After that would be the Winter Formal, and then all of the senior activities, not to mention prom. That would be the culmination of four hard years spent clawing her way to the top – Prom Queen. After that, she could ditch him, if only she could hold on that long.

Watching him made that incredibly hard. He had just spit a chewed up eraser at Ms. Leezil’s face. Clara was embarrassed. She immediately pulled out her cell and acted like all of her texts were keeping her busy, and she had nothing to do with the situation. Thank goodness for Mr. Just sending him to detention. Clara would be free for an hour. She left with the others and caught a ride with Joe and Angie. Angie giggled the whole way to the Hot Dog Hut about how brave Hansen was to spit at Ms. Leezil. Joe was a little irritated that Hansen had tried to blame the whole thing on him, but he would get over it. He always did.

They all ordered and slid into a booth in the corner of the restaurant. The place was packed with after school kids. Mrs. Port was busy at the register, and Mr. Port was filling orders in the back with the two kids that worked there. Clara liked the Ports a lot. They lived just down the street from her. Clara had always loved trick or treats at their house because they both dressed up in costumes, and Mrs. Port gave out little bags filled with goodies instead of just one miniature sized treat. The Ports and Clara’s own parents were good friends, as well, so Clara had seen them at her house on a number of occasions.

Clara was also good friends with their daughter, Shasta. Well, they used to be good friends. Shasta was one of those casualties of her social climb. She still saw her, but they didn’t hang out at all. Clara glanced around the Hut and didn’t see her. She thought Shasta was probably babysitting Bug. Clara had a soft spot for Bug. She liked rooting for the underdog.

The crew was reliving the event at school as if it were the most exciting thing that had happened in weeks. Clara kept her eyes on her french fries and silently wished she were home. “What is it with me today,” she wondered. “I’m so sick of all of these people.”

Somebody asked her a question, so she put on her popular girl smile and gave her best bubbly answer. Soon she was just as wrapped up in the school gossip as the others and she was able to get past her previous mood.

Hansen showed up a little while later after serving his detention. He slid into the seat beside her with his usual Loaded Cheese Coney and Tots. “Great,” she thought, “Another oniony kiss later. Gross.” Outwardly, though, she smiled and said, “How was the torture chamber with Mr. Just?”

“Easy! That old man don’t bother me. I just played games on my phone for an hour. Who cares, anyway? I got a nice break before the game tonight!” Hansen shoved half of the wiener into his mouth and chomped down hard. Chili oozed down his chin and landed on the table below with a big, wet splat. He barely chewed before he swallowed the mouthful down and followed it with a chubby fistful of tots.

“Don’t remind me. I feel so bad that I can’t come,” she lied. “I can’t believe my parents are making me sit for my little brother!” Actually, she had volunteered for babysitting duty when she overheard her parents making plans for the evening. Clara was excited about playing video games with her little brother, pigging out on pizza and watching a movie in her PJ’s after Charlie went to bed.

“You should be sorry, Babe,” Hansen retorted around a mouthful of food. “You’re gonna miss my moves on the field, and I might just show some other chick my moves off the field!” He laughed grotesquely at his own stupid joke.

Clara acted like she was hurt, but out loud she said, “You better be a good boyfriend and call me when the game’s over. I want to hear all about it.”

“You bet, Babe,” he said, then turned to address his subjects. “Let’s get outta here, guys. If we’re late, Coach’ll make us run sprints.”

The guys shoved the rest of their food in and left the booth to throw away their trash. Clara was still gathering her things when she heard someone yell, “Stop it!”

She turned and knew before she saw that it was Hansen doing what Hansen did best – picking on someone. Poor little Bug was standing up on the seat of the booth trying to get to the food Hansen was holding out of her reach. Clara knew the situation was going to end badly before it ultimately did. It happened so quickly, and then Bug was sprawled on the floor. Shasta was beside her in an instant while Mr. Port was getting the boys in hand. Clara went over to Shasta and Bug and tried to offer help. Bug’s little nose was bloody, and Shasta was pissed. She clearly wanted no help from Clara. When Hansen called for her to leave, Clara swallowed her anger and replaced it with her popular girl smile.

All the way to Meadowview Acres, Hansen talked about how great he was going to be in the football game. Clara was ignoring him and dreading the kiss that would inevitably come. Hansen pulled up in front of Clara’s house and turned off the engine. Clara’s hand was on the door handle when he shoved his face against hers. The smell of onions was strong and bitter on his breath, and he still had little particles of hot dog and tater tots in his mouth. It was all Clara could do not to throw up. Finally, the goodbye was over, and Clara couldn’t escape the car fast enough. Hansen honked and pulled away.