Free Love In a Small Town by Joyce Zeller

know how to explain it."
    God, I sound so pompous! I guess it comes from my own life experiences, but how else was I supposed to say it? Reaching for her cheek, he touched it softly with his finger, wiping away a tear. She looked at him, surprised.
    Surprised? Well, sure. He hardly ever touched her. It wasn't his way. He was raised in a family that didn't touch often. Anne had been a hugger, and Sarah missed that. He'd have to do better.
    "You're miserable, Sarah, trying to be someone you're not. It isn't going to get better until you're honest with yourself. For starters, you have one person who loves you—me." He squeezed her hand.
    She stared, a shocked look on her face. Was that the first time he had said he loved her? God, what was wrong with him?
    "Meanwhile, no tattoos. Tell your friends I absolutely forbid it; that I threatened to cancel your credit card or take away your cell phone. Or your father told you no. I don't care what you tell them, Sarah, but don't defy me on this."
    Throwing him a resigned look, she pushed away from the table and went into the house, leaving a pile of breadcrumbs to the sparrows that had already spotted them.
     
Chapter Nine
     
    Sarah stood in line impatiently, and tried to ignore the chaos of the school cafeteria during lunch; so much noise you had to shout to be heard. Metal trays crashing to the floor as food was dropped, kids with their hands full, bumping into each other. Being in line, waiting for food she didn't want to eat, was dumb. She longed to be allowed to go off campus for lunch.
    Eating a sub sandwich or a cheeseburger at a fast-food restaurant would be better. Lunch from home would be better yet, because she could have something she liked. David's great cooking put the school's soggy tacos and frozen pizza into barf territory. The thought of David's response to the challenge of brown bagging made her smile. Probably she'd get roasted turkey breast with truffle mayonnaise on dried tomato focaccia. She sobered instantly when she remembered that Ashley dissed anybody who brought their lunch, and had a mean way of letting them know. She'd heard the story from Tiffany.
    Last May, Tiffany noticed a seventh grader who carried her lunch every day and always ate alone. She pointed it out to Ashley, who found an old Barbie lunch box, gift wrapped it, and made a big production out of giving it to the kid in the cafeteria. Painfully embarrassed and near tears, the girl had been forced to unwrap it, with everyone watching, then they all laughed. Miss Anson was so angry, she gave Ashley detention, and let the girl eat her lunch in the office for the last three weeks of school.
    "Hey, Sarah, over here." Madonna waved at her from across the room. To get to her, Sarah had to pass Logan who sat alone. He looked up expectantly. She hesitated, wanting to say hello, but, being aware her friends watched, she moved on, ignoring the stricken look on his face.
    "Hi," Madonna greeted her, while Sarah made a place for her tray, sat down, and said 'Hi' to Tiffany and Ashley.
    "We're making plans for our tattoos," Tiffany said. "We've decided to go to The Wild Pig, downtown. You're going, aren't you?" The challenge was unmistakable. She looked at the three faces regarding her. They all wore heavy, black eye makeup, burgundy lipstick. Three short cropped hairstyles, disheveled, and sporting tiny hair clips all over added a dreary sameness to their look. Ashley dyed her hair black, but Madonna wore hers natural auburn and Tiffany sort of mousy brown. It depressed her to think that she looked the same, except today she'd colored her hair magenta.
    Might as well get it over with. "No, my dad won't let me."
    "Oh, come on." Madonna's voice resonated with scorn. "What can he do after it's over? Yell a lot and ground you?"
    Ashley added, "You have to go, Sarah. You don't want to be the only one who doesn't."
    Sarah heard the threat and was torn.
    "Besides, I've already gotten you a fake ID that says you're