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Authors: Rona Jaffe
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did you go?” she demanded. “I was scared to death.”
“I’ll tell you when I’m ready,” he said smugly.
“I fed Merlin and put the cover on his cage,” she said reproachfully. “That was a terrible note to leave. I didn’t know what you were going to do. If that was another one of your stupid jokes it wasn’t funny.”
“I’ll tell you tonight if you’re free,” he said.
“We’re playing the game tonight,” she said. “Aren’t we?”
“I’ll tell you before the game,” Jay Jay said. “When we’re all together.”
Sitting in Daniel’s room, in their circle, Jay Jay told them his plan. They looked at him and then at each other, confused, each waiting for someone else to tell them what to do. He could tell that they were both horrified and intrigued.
“It’s awfully dangerous,” Daniel said.
“That’s the point,” said Jay Jay.
“You spent the night there?” Kate said. “All by yourself?”
“Yup.”
“Did you see bones?”
Jay Jay smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Bones … of course, he would have to get some bones too. “However, if you’re too afraid to try my idea …”
“There’s a difference between being brave and being reckless,” Kate said.
“We’re still playing this game,” Daniel said. He sounded hurt.
Jay Jay shrugged. “Think about it. We have plenty of time.”
Robbie hadn’t said a word. “What do you think, Robbie?” Kate asked.
“I’ll do whatever everybody else decides,” Robbie said.
“Don’t you have your own opinion?” Jay Jay asked acidly. It annoyed him the way Robbie always deferred to Kate. Just like a henpecked husband.
“I think it would be kind of exciting,” Robbie said.
“You see?” Jay Jay said. “He’s the only one with imagination.”
“Let’s just play my game till we finish it,” Daniel said. “I worked like hell on this game.”
Jay Jay smiled his guileless little smile. “There’s plenty of time,” he said. “I’ll bring this up again.”
Kate glanced at Daniel as if to say, He’ll forget it. It’s just another of his crazy ideas.
But Jay Jay knew he would never forget it, and he wouldn’t give up. He had never been so excited by anything in his whole life.
CHAPTER 10
Robbie was not allowed to sleep in Kate’s room every night; she said the bed was too small and he disturbed her. He understood. It was difficult to pay attention in classes, do homework, and keep alert in the game when you hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep. For him it was even more difficult than for her, because he had to keep up his stamina in swimming practice. Her practicality was mature and sensible, and he agreed with her plan that they only sleep together overnight on weekends, but still he couldn’t help feeling a little rejected. If she really loved him she would find a way … He drove into town and went to the thrift shop and bought a double mattress which looked quite clean, and dragged it up the dormitory stairs and into his room. He bought a set of sheets and a blanket in the shopping mall, made their bed, and brought Kate into his room triumphantly to show her his surprise.
“Now we can live together,” he told her.
A flicker of fear came into her eyes and her face was grave. “It’s too soon,” she said.
“What’s too soon?” Her rejection hit him like a physical pain. He could actually feel it, a tightening in his chest. “We’re together all the time anyway.”
“Robbie, I never lived with anybody before. I’m not ready. I love you, but sometimes I like to be all alone.”
“Why would anybody want to be all alone?”
“It’s too soon,” she said again, sadly. “I’ve got all these pressures of school … us being together is the best thing in my life, but please don’t try to change it yet.”
“I’m never going to leave you,” he said, “if that’s what you’re worried about.” Over her shoulder he could look out the window at his ugly view of the parking
“I’ll tell you when I’m ready,” he said smugly.
“I fed Merlin and put the cover on his cage,” she said reproachfully. “That was a terrible note to leave. I didn’t know what you were going to do. If that was another one of your stupid jokes it wasn’t funny.”
“I’ll tell you tonight if you’re free,” he said.
“We’re playing the game tonight,” she said. “Aren’t we?”
“I’ll tell you before the game,” Jay Jay said. “When we’re all together.”
Sitting in Daniel’s room, in their circle, Jay Jay told them his plan. They looked at him and then at each other, confused, each waiting for someone else to tell them what to do. He could tell that they were both horrified and intrigued.
“It’s awfully dangerous,” Daniel said.
“That’s the point,” said Jay Jay.
“You spent the night there?” Kate said. “All by yourself?”
“Yup.”
“Did you see bones?”
Jay Jay smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Bones … of course, he would have to get some bones too. “However, if you’re too afraid to try my idea …”
“There’s a difference between being brave and being reckless,” Kate said.
“We’re still playing this game,” Daniel said. He sounded hurt.
Jay Jay shrugged. “Think about it. We have plenty of time.”
Robbie hadn’t said a word. “What do you think, Robbie?” Kate asked.
“I’ll do whatever everybody else decides,” Robbie said.
“Don’t you have your own opinion?” Jay Jay asked acidly. It annoyed him the way Robbie always deferred to Kate. Just like a henpecked husband.
“I think it would be kind of exciting,” Robbie said.
“You see?” Jay Jay said. “He’s the only one with imagination.”
“Let’s just play my game till we finish it,” Daniel said. “I worked like hell on this game.”
Jay Jay smiled his guileless little smile. “There’s plenty of time,” he said. “I’ll bring this up again.”
Kate glanced at Daniel as if to say, He’ll forget it. It’s just another of his crazy ideas.
But Jay Jay knew he would never forget it, and he wouldn’t give up. He had never been so excited by anything in his whole life.
CHAPTER 10
Robbie was not allowed to sleep in Kate’s room every night; she said the bed was too small and he disturbed her. He understood. It was difficult to pay attention in classes, do homework, and keep alert in the game when you hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep. For him it was even more difficult than for her, because he had to keep up his stamina in swimming practice. Her practicality was mature and sensible, and he agreed with her plan that they only sleep together overnight on weekends, but still he couldn’t help feeling a little rejected. If she really loved him she would find a way … He drove into town and went to the thrift shop and bought a double mattress which looked quite clean, and dragged it up the dormitory stairs and into his room. He bought a set of sheets and a blanket in the shopping mall, made their bed, and brought Kate into his room triumphantly to show her his surprise.
“Now we can live together,” he told her.
A flicker of fear came into her eyes and her face was grave. “It’s too soon,” she said.
“What’s too soon?” Her rejection hit him like a physical pain. He could actually feel it, a tightening in his chest. “We’re together all the time anyway.”
“Robbie, I never lived with anybody before. I’m not ready. I love you, but sometimes I like to be all alone.”
“Why would anybody want to be all alone?”
“It’s too soon,” she said again, sadly. “I’ve got all these pressures of school … us being together is the best thing in my life, but please don’t try to change it yet.”
“I’m never going to leave you,” he said, “if that’s what you’re worried about.” Over her shoulder he could look out the window at his ugly view of the parking
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