Free A Fate Totally Worse Than Death by Paul Fleischman Page B

well. She recalled the last twenty times they’d made up—the tears, the euphoria, the reinstating of her special discount on all his merchandise. She prayed that Danielle’s strategy would work.
    Danielle faced Brooke. “What about you? Want to spend your birthday in an open coffin?” She eyed the liver spots on Brooke’s forehead. “Or a closed coffin, for your sake.”
    Brooke closed her eyes. “I guess not.”
    â€œThen you’re in?”
    Brooke sighed. “If you’re sure, I guess. That he’ll be happy.”
    â€œWouldn’t you be?”
    She swallowed. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a boyfriend. Dead
or
alive.” She began to cry.
    â€œTrust me,” said Danielle. “You’d be doing him a favor. He and Charity can have sex and discuss
War and Peace
for eternity.”
    Brooke wiped her eyes and nodded. The three stared at each other, sealing the scheme.
    Tiffany leaned closer to the others. “Where do we do it?”
    â€œAt the park,” said Danielle. “Where we met Charity. He should die exactly where she did. Just like in
Honeymoon in Hades.”
    â€œWhen?” asked Tiffany. She hoped it was soon. If her cream didn’t work, her wrinkles would reach past her sunglasses and she’d have no choice but to drop out of school and hide in her room.
    â€œTwo days?” said Danielle.
    â€œTomorrow,” urged Tiffany.
    â€œAll right,” she agreed. “Friday night.”
    Brooke exhaled. “What about Helga?”
    â€œShe’ll be there. We want to make sure she sees the favor we’re doing for her.”
    Tiffany nervously chewed her thumbnail. “And then there’s, like, the question of how.”
    Danielle nodded. “Just leave that to me.”
    That night after dinner Danielle heard the
Serenity Cove
environmental tape rising up from the living room. She tiptoed down the stairs and saw her mother, eyes closed, reclining in a chair. Her father was stretched out on the floor. From the room’s giant speakers came the soft slap of waves and the distant squawk of seagulls. Simultaneously, from a boombox, came some New Age piano music. Danielle wondered if this potent mixture was safe or whether a doctor’s okay was needed. Could you die of a tranquility overdose? It must have been a gruesome day at work.
    She climbed the stairs and shut her door gently. She wouldn’t have to worry about her parents overhearing. Her sister was conveniently out on a date. She picked up the telephone and dialed.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œHi, Jonathan. It’s Danielle.”
    â€œOh, hi.”
    â€œAre you someplace where you can talk?”
    â€œYeah. I’m standing next to a phone.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.”
    â€œI do?”
    â€œWould you shut up and get serious.”
    â€œYou called me just to tell me to shut up?”
    Danielle sighed. “Actually, I called to ask if you wanted to make some money.”
    â€œI just got serious. How much?”
    â€œIt depends on what you charge.”
    â€œFor what?”
    Danielle lowered her voice. “You know how you drive out to Wilmington Heights and other places? To buy your
Playboys
and condoms and all that stuff in your special locker?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd how you’ve got fake I.D.’s to buy ’em with?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd how people pay you extra for all the trouble you go to?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWell, I’m willing to pay extra. I got some birthday money from my grandmother last month. Like four hundred dollars.”
    â€œWhat do you need? I’m having a special on condoms. Starting Tuesday, officially.”
    â€œThat’s not exactly what I had in mind.”
    â€œDon’t tell me. An abortion. Sorry, I don’t do ’em. I could sell you a coat hanger. Fifty-nine cents. Ten for five bucks.” He chuckled.