Free Pretense by Lori Wick

answers came to Shay's tortured mind, and she drove home in a fit of despondency.
    The phone was ringing when she walked in the door, and without thought she picked it up. Rage exploded inside of her when she heard Dante's voice, and after calling him a few choice names, she slammed the phone back into its cradle. When she realized what she'd done, she burst into fresh tears, but her anger had done the trick. She did not hear from Dante Casale again.
    "What if none of the other girls will play with me?"
    "They will, D.J. You'll see." Marrell's voice was kind, but her heart was preoccupied. They had been shopping for the school clothes Marrell didn't care to make, and at the moment she was just plain tired.
    "Can Micki come into my class?"
    "No, honey, she's a year ahead of you. You know that won't work."
    "I'll probably see you at recess," Mackenzie offered. She wasn't all that interested in comforting her sister, but with Delancey's surfacing fears came Mackenzie's. This was the first time they had ever been forced to change schools. She liked her school and her teacher in San Antonio. The year hadn't even started yet, but she feared it could be awful.
    "Mackenzie, are you listening to me?"
    "What?"
    "I asked whether you tried these jeans on."
    "Yeah. They're fine."
    "Well, they have them in black. Do you want a black pair?"
    "I do," Delancey spoke up.
    "She asked me, D.J. Yes, I do."
    Delancey's tongue came out the minute her mother's back was turned, but Mackenzie ignored her.
    "Now, I think you need new nightgowns too. You can't go to Shay's looking like a rag bag."
    "When do we go?"
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    "Saturday."
    "This Saturday?" Mackenzie asked.
    "What day is this?" Delancey wanted to know.
    "This is Thursday, and you'll be staying the night at Shay's in just two days."
    The girls' irritation was put aside. They exchanged smiles and thought about all that Shay had told them they would do.
    Shay Elliot had become something of a fixture at the Bishop house. She came at least once a week for dinner and stopped by other times just to visit or bring ice cream and cookies. Their mother said she was getting fat with all of Shay's goodies, but the girls hoped it would never end. Now the big weekend had come.
    Paul and Marrell's twelfth anniversary was Sunday, August 28. The girls were going to spend Saturday night at Shay's, her gift to the couple, so they could be alone for most of the weekend. Marrell was thrilled with the offer, and the girls were ecstatic over everything Shay had promised them-television for as late as they wanted and anything they cared to eat, even in bed. It was a little girl's dream come true.
    "Okay, I think we're all set. We need to get home. Your dad will be arriving, and I forgot to leave a note."
    Once in the car, the girls said they were starving. Too tired to even speak, Marrell didn't need much coaxing before she agreed to pick up fried chicken. Paul was glad to see them and always up for chicken. He teased his wife, however, when she told him how much money she'd saved shopping for the girls' clothes on sale.
    "So you stop and buy take-out chicken and cancel out all your savings."
    Marrell opened her mouth and shut it again. She had no argument, and all she wanted to do was giggle. He was still teasing her when the meal was over, but with a little food in her, Marrell was ready to fight back.
    "I bought a new nightgown to wear on Saturday night, Paul Bishop," she said softly as they cleared the table. "But if you don't stop teasing me, I'll just take it back."
    With two sentences, her eyes holding his, the issue was settled. Looking much like a Boy Scout, Paul's hand went in the air. "I won't say another word."
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    T he first day of school arrived as everyone knew itwould. The school looked larger than ever, butunlike the mob scene in the girls' minds, kids were clustered in small groups, and some were even standing alone. Another misconception was put to rest when Marrell parked the car and got out with