Leslie's Journal - Allan Stratton [39]
“But Mom—” Katie whispers urgently in her ear.
“That’s nothing to joke about.”
“I’m not.”
“Fine. Ten minutes.” She glares in my direction and disappears.
I want to die. “You told her?”
“Of course not. I said you were thinking of making a decision for the Lord.”
“You told her what?” I see myself in a white robe getting dunked in ice-cold water in the baptismal tub at Katie’s church.
“Never mind. Let’s get out of here. I’ll tell her I was so busy hearing your witness I forgot about the time.”
“She won’t believe you.”
“So? What’s she going to do? Have a fit in front of my relatives?”
Now it’s me with the bug-eyes. “You’re lying to your mom? I must be a good influence.”
Katie laughs as we hurry down the street. “I’m not as big a nerd as you think. I’ve started doing lots of bad stuff. In choir, half the time I don’t even know the words. I just move my mouth and smile.” Katie still has a ways to go in the sinning department, but I’m glad to see she’s taking a few steps in the right direction.
As we walk, we talk about my problem: do I get rid of the memory card, or keep it in case I need to make the McCreadys back off about my B&E?
“First of all,” she says, “you don’t even know for sure if you’re in trouble. Why don’t you call home and find out?” Katie’s pretty smart when she wants to be.
I use Katie’s cell. Mom answers. I tell her I called in case she was wondering where I was. Mom’s surprised. She thanks me for being considerate and says to hurry home because supper is about ready. I can tell she thinks I’m up to something.
Before she has a chance to ask me anything, I say, “Any messages?”
“Yes. Jason called. Something about missing you in the parking lot. But he said not to worry, he’ll see you tomorrow about what you were looking for. What were you looking for?”
“Nothing. I’ll be home right away. Bye.” Click.
I’m having a hemorrhage, but Katie gets me to calm down. Obviously Jason knows I trashed his room and computer and stole the memory card. Equally obviously, he hasn’t done anything about it. “And he’s not going to,” she says.
“Oh no? What about this ‘see me tomorrow’ bit? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’s trying to scare you. Come on, what can he say? ‘Leslie stole the porn I made of a bunch of under-age girls?’ I’ll bet he’s peeing himself wondering what you’re going to do. Did you ever stop to think that maybe he called to find out if you’d told?”
I’m amazed. Who would have thought Katie could be so crafty? Anyway, according to her, I don’t even need the memory card, as long as Jason thinks I have it. “Your only problem is if it gets found. If I were you, I’d ditch it. That way Jason’s history, and you’re home free. Before you know it, life will go back to normal, and you can pretend none of this ever happened.”
That makes sense, except for the last part. I’m good at pretending, but not that good.
Together we take a vow of silence. I even let Katie say a prayer. Then I pull out my Bic and burn the card. We watch as the edges melt. I toss the charred remains down a drain hole.
All of a sudden, the pressure’s gone. It’s up in smoke. I can breathe again. I’m free.
I wish I knew who the other girls were. I wish I could tell them they’re free too.
Twenty-Six
Next morning, I wake up thinking about Jason’s message. I know Katie says to relax, but I can’t. No way I want to see Jason till he’s had time to cool down.
I cough loud enough for Mom to hear. “I don’t feel well.”
Mom comes into my room and touches my forehead. “You’re fine.”
“I’m not.” Cough, cough.
Mom sighs, brings me the thermometer and goes to make breakfast. I rub it till it reads a couple of degrees high. Then I join her. “See?”
She knows I’m faking. She shakes it down and makes me do it again, this time watching me like a hawk.
“Do you mind?” I garble, lolling the thermometer around in my mouth. “I can do this myself, you know.”