Free Midnight Caller by Diane Burke Page B

me ask you a question. Did those boys walk with you to class today?”
    Jack nodded.
    “Did they sit at the lunch table with you?”
    He nodded again.
    “See, Jack. They’re your friends. Just because you can’t do everything with them doesn’t mean they don’t like you.”
    Tony rested an arm across the boy’s shoulders, cradlinghim gently against his side. “There is only one you, Jack. Your friends like you just the way you are.”
    Jack lowered his head. “But I wanted to go bike riding with them.”
    “I understand, buddy. But sometimes we don’t get everything we want.” He lifted the boy’s chin. “We’ll just have to come up with other things you can do together.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like go to a movie or have a sleepover.”
    “What movie?”
    “I don’t know. We’ll have to look in the paper and see what’s playing.”
    The boy’s shoulders sagged again.
    “Or I could borrow a police car and take your friends for a ride. I might even run the siren.”
    Jack’s eyes widened. “A real police car! Can we, Tony? Really?”
    “Absolutely.”
    Jack grinned. “Wait until I tell Mom.” He grabbed his walker, today’s disappointment already forgotten, and headed for the bedroom door.

SIX
    C arol weaved through the cafeteria crowd like a drunken sailor on the Titanic . Arriving without spillage, she placed the tray on the table and plopped down beside Erin. “People are so inconsiderate.”
    “Sounds like someone woke up on the grumpy side of the bed today,” Erin said.
    “Don’t start. I’m not irritable.”
    Erin’s eyes widened, but she knew better than to speak.
    Carol looked at her friend. “What? Okay, maybe I’m a little grumpy.”
    Erin laughed and slid her chocolate pudding onto Carol’s tray. “Here, you need it more than I do.”
    Carol grinned. “That bad, huh?”
    “How can I help?”
    Before she could answer Lenny approached with tray in hand. “Hi, Erin. Mind if I join you?”
    “Sorry, Lenny,” Carol interjected. “These seats are saved. We’re waiting for friends and there won’t be room today.”
    Erin blinked in astonishment at her friend’s comments.
    Lenny glared at Carol, then turned his attention to Erin. “I guess we’ll have to make it another time.”
    Erin opened her mouth to speak, but Carol spoke first. “Another time would be good.”
    Lenny’s expression darkened. He made a point not to look in Carol’s direction. “Bye, Miss Erin.” As he turned, he tripped over his own feet and fell on the floor.
    Erin jumped up from the table. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry.” She squatted beside him and swept her napkin over the spilled food. Mr. Peters, the janitor, rushed over, grasped Lenny’s arm and helped the man to his feet. As Lenny shuffled toward the door, Mr. Peters shot a disapproving glare at both Erin and Carol and went back to emptying the cafeteria trash cans.
    Erin’s cheeks burned with anger and embarrassment. She turned on her friend with a vengeance. “Why did you do that?”
    “I’m sorry. I really am.” Carol bowed her head. “I can’t help it,” she mumbled. “The guy gives me the creeps.”
    Erin fought to keep her voice down. “I didn’t think you had a mean bone in your body. You deliberately hurt him. What’s going on?”
    “I haven’t been sleeping well lately.” Carol played with her food.
    “That’s your excuse?” Erin placed her fists on her hips.
    “I know. I shouldn’t have spoken to him like that.” An angry expression twisted her mouth. “Even if part of me feels he deserved it.”
    “No one deserves to be purposely embarrassed,” Erin said. “What’s going on with you?” She recognized guilt in Carol’s eyes. And there was something more. Fear?
    “I’ve been getting anonymous phone calls,” Carol said.
    Erin drew in a deep breath. “You never told me about any calls.”
    “In the beginning, I thought it was just a prank. I let theanswering machine handle the calls. It didn’t