Small Steps - Louis Sachar [28]
“Oh, yeah, that’s really funny!” said Kaira. God, she hated him!
“He meant unusual funny, not ha-ha funny,” explained her mother.
“That’s not how he said it.”
“It was their own fault,” said her mother’s husband. “They paid like three hundred dollars to some scalper for counterfeit tickets!” He laughed. “Some people are too stupid to live!”
“Where are they now?” asked Kaira.
“They should have the area cleared and cleaned up in about five or ten minutes. You better have Rosemary do some touch-up on your hair. It looks a little flat.”
“Where are they now?” Kaira asked again.
They were on a cot in the security area, surrounded by a half-dozen security and medical personnel. Armpit still held Ginny in his arms, but her attack had subsided into tears and hiccups.
The medical personnel were trained to handle drug overdoses and minor injuries, and knew very little about cerebral palsy.
“She doesn’t need to go to the hospital,” Armpit said. “She just needs space to breathe.”
A woman put her hand on Ginny’s wrist. “I’m just going to take your pulse.”
Ginny jerked her hand away.
The mayor also was there, despite repeated suggestions by the head of security that she return to her seat and enjoy the show. Out in the arena the crowd was calling for Kaira and stomping their feet. Armpit could feel the vibrations on the floor.
“You say he came at you?” the officer in charge asked one of the officers who handcuffed Armpit.
“I was reaching for the ticket!” Armpit tried to explain, then felt Ginny tremble at his sudden outburst.
“He made a threatening movement, but I was able to quickly gain control of the situation.”
“There’s no question he was resisting arrest,” said the other officer.
“His friend was having a seizure!” the mayor pointed out. “He only wanted to help her!”
“Please, Mayor. It would be better for everyone if you returned to your seat.”
“I’m not going to let you justify your actions by blaming the victim,” the mayor said firmly. “Let me ask you something,” she said, directing her attention to the officer. “Would the gesture have been so threatening if he was white?”
Armpit had to hand it to Cherry Lane. She was one tough lady.
“Instead of persecuting the victim,” the mayor went on, “you should be back out there, getting the names and phone numbers of everyone seated in that area. Somebody else may have bought tickets from the same scalper.”
Two more people entered the room: a gum-chewing African American teenage girl wearing a lavender sweat suit, followed by a thirty-year-old well-dressed white guy.
“Who the hell are you?” demanded the head of security.
Ginny knew who she was. Her sobs instantly ceased.
“I heard there was a problem with some tickets,” the girl said. She sat on the cot next to Armpit and asked Ginny her name.
“Ginny.”
“Hi, Ginny.”
“Hi, Kaira,” said Ginny.
When Armpit realized who she was, he couldn’t believe she was sitting right next to him, her leg almost touching his.
“Are you feeling better?” Kaira asked.
“Yes.”
“Is she going to be okay?” Kaira asked Armpit.
“She’s fine!” Armpit said, sounding a little too enthusiastic. He couldn’t believe he was talking to her. “It’s happened before. She just needs a little time and space.”
“I hear that,” Kaira said to Ginny. “It’s a madhouse out there. All these people crowded around, and then they tell you your tickets are no good.”
“My body w-went to red alert,” said Ginny.
That made Kaira smile. “You seem okay now,” she said. “Would you like to come backstage and watch the concert from there?”
“Yes.”
16
Armpit wasn’t certain if Kaira’s invitation included him as well, but he wasn’t about to be left behind. Kaira led them out of the security area and down a dark hallway.
“Sorry I walk so slow,” said Ginny.
“There’s no hurry,” said Kaira, as out in the arena the audience was stomping and clapping.
“So are you like her nurse or something?” she asked