Free Kid Power by Susan Beth Pfeffer Page B

left the house and walked to Mrs. Marks’s in silence. Harriet held on tightly to my book.
    â€œWe’re almost there,” she said to me when we reached Mrs. Marks’s block. “Come on, start talking.”
    â€œAbout what?” I asked.
    â€œAnything,” Harriet said. “Just so Gran thinks we spent all our time talking.”
    â€œOh,” I said. “So what are your favorite subjects, Harriet?” Adults always ask me that when they can’t think of anything else to say.
    â€œEnglish,” she said. “And social studies.”
    English and social studies were my favorite subjects, too. It was amazing how much Harriet and I had in common and how horrible she was. “I like them, too,” I said, and couldn’t think of another polite thing to say.
    â€œAre you excited about starting junior high?” she asked.
    â€œI guess so,” I said, relieved to reach the front door. “Carol seems to enjoy it.”
    â€œI wish I had a sister,” Harriet said loudly and rang the bell. I just stared at her. “Hi Gran,” she said, as Mrs. Marks opened the door for us. “Did you have a nice afternoon?”
    â€œVery nice,” Mrs. Marks said, and kissed Harriet on the cheek. “Did you girls enjoy yourselves?”
    â€œWe had a great time,” Harriet said. “Too bad we don’t have any more time to spend together.”
    â€œIt is a shame,” Mrs. Marks said. “Well Janie, would you like to come in and tell me what you girls did?”
    I swallowed hard. “I’d love to,” I said. “But my mom’s expecting me home to help her with supper.”
    â€œJanie’s mom invited me to stay for supper,” Harriet said. “But I said I wanted to eat with you more.”
    â€œYou should have had dinner with your new friend,” Mrs. Marks protested, but she was beaming. I had to hand it to Harriet. She was the single best liar I’d ever met.
    â€œWell, I’ve got to be going,” I said, eager to get home.
    â€œHarriet, would you be a darling and get my glasses for me?” Mrs. Marks said. “I think I left them on the kitchen table.”
    â€œSure, Gran,” Harriet said. “Bye, Janie.”
    â€œGood-bye,” I said and watched her leave.
    Mrs. Marks took an envelope out of her skirt pocket. “Here, Janie,” she said. “That little bonus I promised you.”
    â€œThank you,” I said and took the envelope from her. I didn’t even think about what might be in it, I was so eager to escape.
    â€œYou’ve been an angel,” Mrs. Marks said. “Harriet and I both appreciate it.”
    â€œOkay,” I said. “Well, good-bye Mrs. Marks.”
    â€œGood-bye, dear,” she said, and closed the door. I walked down her front steps and all the way to the end of the block before I thought about opening the envelope and seeing what was in it. I stood at the intersection and ripped the envelope open. In it was a five dollar bill. No note or anything. Just money for spending the afternoon with Harriet and pretending to like her.
    I understood then what people meant when they called it dirty money.

Chapter Eight
    Whether I wanted to or not, I was committed to keeping Kid Power going, at least until Mrs. Townsend came back from the hospital and sued me. So I gritted my teeth and kept earning money. By that point I couldn’t have cared less about getting a new bike. I’d never been all that crazy for one anyway; it was always more Carol’s idea than mine. There was nothing I really wanted at that point except my freedom and a job for Mom. And Kid Power could supply me with neither.
    At least my work with Mrs. Marks was over with. A couple of weeks earlier I would have been upset to lose all that money coming in regularly, but a couple of weeks ago I hadn’t lost my best friend or my self-respect. I wished a lot that it was a couple