Unspeakable Things(37)
“Those are birth control pills!”
He held them close to his face, as if he’d be able to spot a picture of a baby with a red line through it, like a no smoking sign. “You sure?”
“Hundred percent. Mrs. Smith passed some around in health class this past winter. They were in a different packet, but there were twenty-one white and seven green, just like those.”
“Aw dang.”
I thought about telling him I could get him real drugs, if he wanted them. The temptation to impress him was strong, but then he looked at me with those ocean eyes and I decided I’d rather be kind. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
It was a nobber question and he knew it, but we both wanted to change the subject. “A pilot,” he said.
I gasped. “Just like my boyfriend!”
He squinted and returned his mother’s birth control pills to her drawer. “Who’s your boyfriend?”
“We’re not technically dating. Yet.” I followed Frank back to the living room. Julia and Marie were still asleep, Julia audibly snoring. “You know how you sometimes get a sense about something before it happens?”
Frank wasn’t buying it. He was still sore from being wrong about the pills. “Naw. And you shouldn’t say you have a boyfriend if you don’t.”
Headlights played across the ceiling. His parents were home. I didn’t want to end the night like this. I wanted to ask him if he’d come to my place next. I hadn’t had a slumber party in forever, but you can’t ask boys to spend the night. “Want to go biking with me?”
“When?”
“This week. We could investigate the abduction of those boys. We’d be heroes if we cracked that mystery.” It felt right when I said it. He could be my sidekick, and then I wouldn’t be so scared.
His shoulder twitched. “We’ll see.”
“I pity the fool who doesn’t bike with me.” I poked his armpit. He pushed me away, but he was smiling.
“I have to use the bathroom real quick before I go,” I said. “Will you tuck the girls in tighter so it looks like we took really good care of them?”
Frank was leaning over his sisters when I darted back toward the master bedroom. My plan wasn’t fully formed, just a foggy vision of Gabriel and me kissing, and another of Mrs. Smith passing around those birth control pills, lecturing past the point of hearing. Sally wouldn’t miss one out of her packet, and I’d need it if Gabriel and I decided to make love. I yanked open the drawer, popped the top of the clamshell, and dispensed a tiny white pill into my hand before closing the container and stuffing it back into the drawer. I ignored the icky feeling of stealing from Mrs. Gomez. It would be better to be a thief than to be pregnant, and I knew she’d agree with that.
Frank was sitting on the couch holding a book when I came out. “You might as well meet my dad outside,” he said, tossing his thumb toward the front door. “He doesn’t like to get in and out of the truck more times than he needs to.”
I grabbed my jacket. “Bye.” My heart was still bumping.
“Bye.”
CHAPTER 21
May 26, 1983
Dear Jin:
Thank you for the Nellie Bly’s Trust It or Don’t! You probably know my birthday isn’t until June—finally, I’ll be a teenager!
I don’t know if you’ve heard that a boy was attacked in Lilydale, maybe two? People are really jumpy around here, you wouldn’t believe it! I’m going to find out if it’s true about the second boy so I can let you know in my next letter.
School is officially out, and 7th grade wasn’t so bad. I ended up second in my class. I have a plan to catch and pass Erica next year. It involves a tinfoil hat, electrodes, and a summer storm. Just joshing! I do have some great plans for this summer, though, and I’ll tell you all about them next time you come by. I’ll just start by saying that I am going to begin shaving my legs (I know!!!) as soon as I can convince Mom.
I babysat tonight and met my new best friend. His name is Frank, and he lives up the road. I know—a boy for a friend! Maybe one of these days I’ll have an actual boyfriend. JJ 2!
Toronto looks beautiful from the pictures you sent (and thanks for the PO box #!). I looked at a map and you’re not that far from Minnesota. Maybe you could stop by? Dad has been extra-weird lately, and Mom and Dad are having one of their parties Saturday.
Maybe I’ll sneak out on my own. Send help if I go missing (haha!). Just kidding. But I know you’ll always save me if I need it.
XOXOXO,
Cassie
CHAPTER 22
Morning was a muddy-brown promise against the flat line of the horizon, and Dad, Sephie, and me were already outside, working. Mom had to take a phone call with the school. Dad said when she was done, we’d start butchering, but he’d said that over half an hour ago.
The air chilled my meat. My heart and arms, anyhow, which is why I wore my hooded jacket zipped to my chin. My legs were bare. I hadn’t bothered brushing my hair, because it would only get messy. I’d been too tired to even wash the crust out of my eyes, though the nip of spring-coated summer air was bracing, waking me up against my will.
“You can carry more.” Sephie had been growly since we’d started.