Free Afraid by Jo Gibson

moving again! They were coming closer and closer, and she had to do something to stop them!
    But the rats had been quiet when she’d recited her nursery rhyme. Rondelle didn’t take the time to wonder why. She just started to recite again.
    â€œThere was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.”
    The moment Rondelle started reciting again, the noises stopped. It was working! The rats liked nursery rhymes! If she kept on rocking and reciting, she could keep them away!
    Rondelle recited on and on, into the night, huddled in the old fur coat. She recited every nursery rhyme she could remember: Old Mother Hubbard, Jack Be Nimble, Hey Diddle Diddle, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and Jack and Jill. When Rondelle had gone through every nursery rhyme she knew, she started all over again. She recited hour after hour, afraid to stop for even a moment, rocking back and forth like a pendulum.
    The rats stayed away as long as she recited and rocked, even though her voice faded to a hoarse whisper. And in the middle of one of her favorite nursery rhymes, something snapped in Rondelle Green’s mind.

Seven
    S teve pulled up in front of Donna’s house at five minutes before midnight. The party had been wonderful, with incredible food and a really great band. Donna had danced with Steve all night, and now they were here, in front of her house. Donna wasn’t quite sure how she should end their date. Would Steve want to kiss her? And should she let him?
    â€œYou look worried, Donna.” Steve sounded amused. “Were you wondering if I was going to kiss you?”
    Donna felt her cheeks grow hot and she knew she was blushing. But Steve was right, and she nodded. “Yes, I was.”
    â€œWell, you can stop worrying.” Steve sounded even more amused. “I just saw your mother pull back the curtains so I’d better walk you up to the door.”
    Donna waited until Steve had walked around the car to open her door. He was old-fashioned that way and she liked it. Even though she was entirely capable of opening it by herself, it made her feel special when he did it for her.
    They walked up the steps to Donna’s front door, and Steve reached out for her hand. “So what are you doing tomorrow afternoon?”
    â€œNot much.” Donna felt her heart beat faster. Was Steve going to ask her for another date? “I don’t really have any plans. I was just going to hang around the house.”
    â€œLet’s drive to Rondelle’s house and ask her some questions. I talked to a couple of people at the party, and they were sure the red shoes were still in the dressing room when she used it.”
    Donna frowned slightly. “But will it do any good to confront Rondelle?”
    â€œWe won’t confront her. We’ll just say we know she had a lot of other things on her mind, playing the lead in the play, and then landing a part in Mr. Michaels’ movie.”
    â€œYou’re right,” said Donna. “With all those other things on her mind, she probably forgot about seeing the red shoes. But now that she’s had a chance to calm down from all the excitement, she might remember.”
    â€œExactly! We’ll be giving her an excuse she can use. Rondelle might have lied to us deliberately, but this’ll give her a second chance to tell the truth.”
    â€œWhat do you really think, Steve?” Donna was very serious. “Did Rondelle take the red shoes?”
    Steve shrugged. “They were there when she used the dressing room, and they were gone when we checked it later. Mr. Parks said that Rondelle was the last person to leave the theater, and the red shoes couldn’t walk away all by themselves.”
    â€œI don’t know about that.” Donna couldn’t resist teasing him. “You’re forgetting that the red shoes are cursed, and cursed shoes could have magical powers. They might have