Free Disappearing Acts by Betsy Byars Page A

narrowed. “Are you making fun of me, too?”
    â€œNo, no, of myself. That was research I did for my routine at the club.”
    â€œYou’re not fat.”
    â€œI’m not?” A shiver of pleasure shot through his fear. “Do you mean that?”
    The smile froze on his face as he saw the intent look on hers. She began to relive that terrible night.
    â€œHe had said we would talk at the club, but he pushed right on past me when I got there. He didn’t even speak. I followed him inside. He went into the men’s room. I even followed him in there.”
    Meat waited with growing horror.
    â€œHe stood by the basin. He was looking in the mirror. I was behind him. I said, ‘I’m really unhappy, Benny. I’m beginning to think you don’t care about me anymore.’
    â€œHe said one word. ‘Anymore?’
    â€œAnd the way he said that word made me realize he never had cared. It made me realize that the only reason he went out with me in the first place was for material.”
    â€œOh,” Meat said. It was a moan of sympathy and dread.
    â€œAnd then I came closer to him.”
    And as she said that, she came forward toward him—him, Meat!
    She was moving carefully, as if she were trying to hold his attention with her eyes. Snakes did stuff like this before they struck. He glanced down and saw what was in her hand—the knife she had used to open the locked door of Funny Bonz.
    He took a step backward, another. He remembered the small shiver of pleasure her compliment had given him and he tried the same thing. “Anyway, I don’t think you’re fat either,” he lied.
    â€œOh, yes, I’m fat. I’m so fat that when I tripped on Fourth Avenue, I landed on Twelfth.” Another smile. He hated it when she did that. “And when I play hopscotch, I go, ‘New York, L.A., Chicago.’”
    The way she said Chicago chilled his blood, because it was the sound of a conductor calling the absolute last stop in the world.
    He tried desperately to think of one last joke to distract her. The Bermuda Triangle, what was it, exactly? Kids run around me and what? Are lost forever?
    Whatever it was, Meat was never to say it. His throat had closed as if by a hangman’s noose. His mouth was dry. The blood pounded in his head so hard, he couldn’t hear.
    And then with a smile, a strange smile that showed she was both victim and killer, she raised the knife. Then she became all killer, and the smile on her face, the last thing he knew he would see in this world, was the smile of a crocodile.

20
    MERCULEAH’S HAIR
    â€œThere’s something wrong with Meat.”
    Herculeah was beside her dad on the front seat of the car. They were on their way to Pizza House. She gave her dad a worried look.
    â€œWell, anytime Meat turns down pizza, there’s something wrong.”
    â€œI’m serious. First, I was avoiding him, because of the pictures of his dad. Now he’s avoiding me.”
    â€œMeat’s like a lot of people who are innocently involved in a crime. The world’s not as steady as it used to be. Anything can happen. Their world’s shifting beneath their feet. Meat will come around.”
    â€œTurn around, Dad! Turn around!” Herculeah said.
    â€œWe’re almost there. I drove three miles out of my way because you specifically wanted Pizza House.”
    â€œTurn around.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œJust do it.”
    â€œI thought you were so hungry.”
    â€œI am! I was! Look at my hair!”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œIt’s frizzling, Dad. This is the most my hair has ever frizzled in its life!”
    Her father glanced at her and U-turned the car. “Where are we going?”
    â€œBack to Funny Bonz.”
    â€œYou think Meat’s there?”
    â€œMy hair thinks so.”
    â€œHerculeah—”
    â€œAnd I do, too.”

21
    A STAB IN THE DARK
    Meat staggered