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one occasion. Yet Jenny kept persisting. Virginia could not understand it. She knew that if she had crossed Jenny as many times as Jamison already had, she’d be out. No parole. No forgiveness. No pardon.
    “He wouldn’t … he wouldn’t listen to me,” she was mumbling to Jenny.
    “’Course he would. I think he likes you,” cut in Ruthie and received a look from Jenny that stopped her rush of words. “Sort of,” she finished lamely.
    Virginia again shook her head. Jamison Curtis was a good two years her senior. He sat with the bigger boys in church. He took his faith seriously. Very seriously. The pastor himself had his eye on Jamison for great things. Oh, he’d never really come right out and said so, but Virginia could tell. He always smiled at Jamison in a special way, and he gave him unique little jobs to do with the young people. Every kid in church knew it—and accepted it. Jamison was geared for leadership—not for following. And especially not for following someone like Jenny.
    “He’ll never do it—no matter who asks him,” Virginia maintained stoutly, chancing Jenny’s wrath.
    “We aren’t going to do anything bad,” insisted Jenny. “Just have a bit of fun. Maybe just … just go for a malt … or soda or something.”
    Virginia thought back to that other time they had gone for a soda. It had been fun. She loved sodas. But she sure wondered if yielding to the temptation had been worth it. She still remembered all those nights of dishwashing. She didn’t like doing dishes. And she didn’t like being on the outs with her family.
    Her mind hurried on, wondering almost against her will if Freddie might have another nickel that he would be willing to spend so they could share another soda together. That had been fun, too. At the time. But things were changing somehow. She didn’t know how or why, but she didn’t feel the same way about Freddie that she once had. It bothered her when he pushed close up against her side and seemed to think he had a right to be there. Sort of like she was his girl or something. In one way, it made her feel a bit special. In another way, it made her feel cornered. And what if her parents ever saw that? She wanted to back away—or push Freddie back a step.
    But Jenny was speaking again.
    “Just a quick soda.”
    That seemed a rather tame plan after some of the other proposals that Jenny had made. For one moment Virginia considered being Jenny’s messenger. Then she hesitated.
    “He has chores,” she said flatly.
    “Every night?”
    Virginia nodded.
    “Well, he can still do his chores. It only takes a few minutes to have a soda.”
    “He goes right home.”
    “Well surely he doesn’t need—”
    “You ask him,” cut in Virginia and was rewarded with a withering glare. She stammered, trying to think of some way to express her thoughts without challenging Jenny.
    “I … I just … well …” She shrugged. “What do we need him for anyway? Why bother?”
    It was a total mystery to her. What was Jenny’s reason for continuing to pursue Jamison? He had made it quite clear that he had no intention of doing her bidding. Or was that what this was all about? Was it a challenge of wills? Did Jenny feel threatened when she wasn’t in control—of everyone? Yet there were several of the other fellows and girls that Jenny never bothered with at all. So why Jamison? Virginia couldn’t sort it out.
    “She thinks he’s cute,” Ruthie offered, giving a titter as she disclosed the information.
    Virginia’s eyes opened wide. Never once had she thought of Jenny nursing a crush on Jamison. They were so … so different. So totally unlike each other. Surely Ruthie was teasing.
    A quick elbow aimed at Ruthie’s ribs made the girl gasp. “Shut your mouth, Ruth,” Jenny said sharply, but her face was flushed, and there was no denial on her lips.
    It was true. It was really true. Jenny had a crush on Jamison. If Virginia had dared, she would have laughed at the very