Free Quite an Undertaking - Devon's Story by Barbara Clanton Page A

feature, but you couldn’t just walk around telling people to look only at your nose, that would be weird. I wondered if Rebecca liked my nose.
    Gail called earlier in the day and told me she was sorry I had to go home the night before. I think she missed the closeness we used to have. I did. I missed hanging out with her like we used to, but I guess things were changing for both of us. When she asked me what I was doing that evening, I lied. I don’t know why I lied, but I told her I was going to stay home and work on newspaper stuff. For some reason I didn’t want to tell her I was going to hang out at Bruster with Rebecca.
    I didn’t know how to tell Gail I was gay. I’d have to tell her eventually, and maybe after she got over the shock, she could give me advice about Rebecca. I’d probably tell Missy first, though, and see how that went. I wasn’t sure now if Rebecca’s signs were signs at all, and I didn’t want to scare her away.
    I put the hairbrush down and stood back. So far so good, but I only had a half hour before they came to pick me up, and I still had to figure out what to wear. I wish we didn’t have to hang out in a car in November, but we had nowhere else to go. We’d already done the mall thing, so Bruster was next.
    I went into my room and pulled out a pair of black jeans, my black cowboy boots that pinched my toes a little, and a green turtleneck sweater. Actually, the sweater was Missy’s but she hadn’t taken it to Plattsburgh, so I figured she wouldn’t mind if I borrowed it this once.
    I scurried out of my robe and dressed in record time. Dad was on a thermostat kick again, so the house was arctic. I couldn’t risk frostbite before my date with Rebecca, or I’d never know if she liked me. I scolded myself. This wasn’t a date. This was just hanging out with some new friends from school.
    I checked myself one last time in the mirror and put my wallet in my back pocket. I didn’t think I’d need money, but I had ten bucks—next week’s lunch money. I was headed out my bedroom door when I noticed my robe on the floor. I turned on my heels, picked up the robe, and hung it in the closet, which was weird because I usually left my clothes on the floor and then Missy or Mom would yell at me. For some reason I felt like picking it up. I guess I was thinking that Rebecca probably would have picked up her robe, so I should, too.
    I made one quick stop in Grandma’s room and picked up my favorite snow globe. I shook it hard, and watched the snow settle over the Empire State Building. “Wish me luck tonight, Grandma. I want Rebecca to give me a sign.” I put the snow globe back on the shelf in exactly the same spot I’d taken it from.
    I practically skipped out of Grandma’s room, down the hall, and down the steps to the window by the front door. I breathed a sigh of relief. They weren’t here yet.
    I jumped when my mom spoke.
    “Are your new friends here?”
    “You scared me, Mom.” I sat on the couch next to her armchair. “No, they’re not here. Rebecca said they’d be here at seven.”
    “Now, who are these girls again?” She took her reading glasses off and put down her book.
    “They’re the same girls I went to the mall with last weekend. Rebecca is Mr. Washington’s daughter. You know— the funeral director?” I whispered the last out of respect. I didn’t want to remind my mom about our recent sadness. “A couple of Rebecca’s friends are going, too.”
    “Okay, but don’t stay out too late. With your dad working overtime, I don’t want to have to worry about both of you.”
    “I won’t be late. Don’t worry, Mom.”
    A car horn blared from the driveway, and my heart thumped into my throat.
    “Oh, that’s them,” I squeaked and hoped my Mom didn’t pick up on my nerves.
    I grabbed my hooded sweatshirt out of the closet, threw it on, and then put my jean jacket on over that. I yanked open the front door and was about to bolt outside when my mom said,