Night Road(86)

You’re not bad.

“Who are you?”

I’m Ariel. I’ll be your friend as long as you need me. Here, Gracerina. Lie down on the carpet, go to sleep. I could tell you a story.

Grace had been so tired. She’d curled up on the soft carpet and pulled her blanket around her. Sucking her thumb, she’d fallen asleep to the pretty sound of her new friend’s voice. Since then, Ariel had been her bestest—her only—friend.

Why don’t you go play with the other kids?

Grace looked down at her wrist. “They’re stupid.” She poked a stick into the sand at her feet.

Boy alert.

Grace sat up straighter and looked around. Sure enough, Austin Klimes was coming this way. His face was big and fat, like someone had konked him in the head with a pan. “Uh, you wanna come play hopscotch with us?” he said, breathing heavily. His cheeks were flushed, too.

The teacher had made him come over here. Grace could see the other kids huddled together across the beach, watching her and giggling. They thought it was funny that no one liked her.

“Ariel isn’t allowed to hopscotch.”

Austin frowned. “Everyone’s allowed to play hopscotch.”

“Not a princess.”

“Your fake friend isn’t a princess.”

“Shows what you know.”

“You’re a big fat liar.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.” He crossed his big arms across his chest.

Calm down, Gracerina. He’s just a bully.

“Your only friend is invisible,” Austin laughed.

Grace was on her feet before she could stop herself. “You take that back, lardo.”

“Who’s gonna make me, you? Or your invisible friend?”

Grace punched him right in his piggy nose. He screamed like a baby and ran for the teacher.

Oh, boy.

Grace watched the kids huddle around Austin. They turned to point at her and then huddled again. Mrs. Skitter led Austin over to the ice chest, where she kept all her teacher stuff. In no time at all, Austin must have been fine, because he ran off to play hopscotch.

Here she comes.

Grace didn’t need Ariel to tell her she was in trouble. She leaned forward and rested her arms on her thighs.

“Grace?”

She cocked her head up. Fine blond hair fell across her face. “Yeah?”

“May I sit down?”

Grace shrugged. “I guess.”

“You know you shouldn’t have punched Austin in the nose.”

“I know. And you’re gonna have to tell his parents.”

“And your dad.”

Grace sighed. “Yeah.”

“I shouldn’t have sent him over.”

“They don’t wanna play with me. And I don’t care.”

“Everyone wants friends.”

“I have Ariel.”

“She’s been a good friend to you.”

“She never makes fun of me.”

Mrs. Skitter nodded. “I’ve lived on this island a long time, Grace, and I’ve seen a lot of kids come and go. I used to know your daddy, did I ever tell you that? I worked in the lunch room when he was in high school. Anyway, the point is, everyone makes friends sooner or later.”

Grace shook her head. “Not me. No one likes me. And I don’t care.”

“Things change, Gracie. You’ll see.” Mrs. Skitter sighed, put her hands on her thighs. “Well, I was going to collect some beach stones. The pretty kind. You want to help?”

“I might not find any.”

“Or you might.”

Mrs. Skitter stood up, put her hand out.

Grace stared at her teacher’s white hand. A simple gold band on one finger meant she was married.

“My daddy’s not married,” she said impulsively.

“I know.”

“That’s cuz my mom is a super spy.”

Mrs. Skitter frowned seriously. “Really? How exciting. You must miss her.”

“I do. But I’m not s’posed to.”

For the next two hours, she followed Mrs. Skitter around, bent over, peering down at the rocks at her feet. One by one, the other kids went home, until finally it was only Grace and her teacher on the beach. Mrs. Skitter kept looking at her watch and making a tsking sound. Grace knew what that meant.

It was getting dark when Papa showed up.

“Hey, Gracie,” her grandfather said, smiling down at her.

“Grandma forgot me again,” Grace said, letting the fistful of rocks tumble from her hand.

“She’s not feeling well. But I’m here, and I thought I’d take my best girl for ice cream.” He bent down and scooped Grace into his arms. She clung to him, wrapping her legs around him like a little monkey.

He carried her over to Mrs. Skitter, and they said good-bye. Then he put her into the car seat in the back of Grandma’s big black car.

“You have something to tell me,” he said, starting the engine.

“I do?” She looked up, saw her grandpa looking at her in the rearview mirror.

“The fight with Austin Klimes.”

“Oh,” Grace said, sighing. “That.”

“You know you’re not supposed to hit other kids, Gracie.”