Free April Fools by Richie Tankersley Cusick

pay any attention to him, okay? He's just being --"
    "Frank," Belinda sounded more drained than angry. 'When are you going to stop making excuses for him?"
    "He had a bad day at practice yesterday," Hildy went on as if she hadn't heard. "He's always weird when he's been bad at practice."
    "Oh, Hildy . . ." On an impulse Belinda leaned over and hugged her friend tightly. 'Why don't you come over later. I haven't even had a chance to tell you about Noel."
    It worked, as she knew it would. Hildy perked up.
    "Who's Noel?"
    "Mrs. Thome's son. He came home yesterday. He has this wonderful dog named Sasha and --"
    "Forget the dog -- I want to hear all about this guy." She laughed, her old self again. "How about seven?"
    *Terfect. FU get pizza."
    "And I won't bring Frank."
    They laughed and ran to class, but Belinda found it hard to concentrate on anything. She'd dumped the doll's head in the trash, but the memory wouldn't go away that easily. Every time she tried to keep her mind on her books, the image of Adam would snake into her thoughts, and she debated whether to even go back to his house today.
    But I have to find out the truth . . . and I have to help Adam. ... If Belinda thought it once, she thought it a hundred times -- and she was still thinking it when she got off at her bus stop that afternoon. Fll wait you out, Adam Thome, Fll wait you out even if it kills' me.
    But Cobbs didn't look particularly encouraging when he met her at the door.
    "You are a glutton for punishment," he said dryly.
    "How is he today?"
    "At his most enchanting: unconscious."
    "Oh . . . the medicine. Darn it, Cobbs, what am I going to do?" Belinda sighed and plopped down on the porch, spilling her books at Cobbs's feet. She waited for him to answer, but when he didn't, she glanced up into his thin, old face.
    What she saw there made her draw back . . . and stare.
    For just a fleeting instant -- no more -- he'd had the strangest, almost frightening look in his eyes.
    "Cobbs?" she murmured.
    "Perhaps you should leave, miss."
    "What?"
    "And never come back here."
    Belinda's laugh was strained. "That sounds like some kind of warning or something."
    "Does it?" Cobbs drew himself up even straighter. And then the mask was back again, settling stiffly over the sharp features of his face. "I need to shut the door," he said.
    "Does that mean you're going to throw me out?"
    "It means you might as well come inside."
    Watching him now, it was as if their brief exchange had never taken place. Belinda nodded and followed him into the kitchen. Sasha was peeking in one of the patio doors, barking a welcome, and Belinda wondered where Noel was.
    "Please, Cobbs, could I let her in? She looks so lonely out there."
    "It would thrill me no end."
    Smiling to herself, Belinda opened the door, and was immediately bowled over by the deUghted dog. For several minutes she sat there on the kitchen floor scratching Sasha's ears while Cobbs stacked plates in the cabinets.
    "Tea, miss?"
    "Fd love some. But only if you have some, too."
    "As you wish."
    "Have you heard from Mrs. Thorne? Will she be in New York a long time?"
    "One can only hope." Cobbs put the kettle on to boil and began unloading the dishwasher.
    "This is probably awful of me, but I'm glad she's
    gone," Belinda thought out loud. "I'll bet she's hard to work for."
    "Attila the Hun would be a dream."
    Belinda looked back at him and laughed. "If you don't like her, why do you even stay?"
    "I work for Mr. Thome, miss. And as long as he is my employer, I stay."
    Belinda read the unspoken message. "I'm sorry, Cobbs. Is there any change?" She put her nose against Sasha's fur as he shook his head.
    "It's difficult when one can do nothing." He rinsed out a dishrag and slowly began wiping the countertop as Belinda scooted closer to him across the floor. Sasha climbed into her lap, spilling comfortably over each knee.
    "I don't Uke feeling helpless," Belinda murmured. "It's one of the worst feelings in the world. If I can ever