Free Come Sit By Me by Thomas Hoobler Page A

shouldn’t include too many details.
    I took a deep breath and called her phone number. She answered after three rings.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œUh, hi, Colleen. This is Paul. How you doing?”
    â€œFine, and you?” Did she sound happy to hear from me? I thought so, but it wasn’t like she was overjoyed or anything.
    â€œGood, yeah, I’m good. Listen, I just thought I’d call to tell you I had a good time last night.”
    She giggled. What did that mean? That she thought it was funny that the only word I could say was “good”?
    â€œI hoped you did,” she said. It sort of sounded like she was smiling. Too bad I didn’t Skype her.
    â€œDo you have Skype?” I asked.
    She paused. I realized I had switched subjects abruptly. “I mean, I was just thinking it would be nice to see you,” I said.
    â€œOh, you wouldn’t want to see me now,” she said. “I look awful.”
    â€œI’ll bet.”
    â€œNo, really, I’m still lounging around with practically nothing on.”
    I had to press the phone against my ear to stop my hand from shaking. “I wouldn’t mind,” I said, trying to sound cool.
    She laughed. It was a great sound. “Well, I would,” she said. “You’d hate me if you saw me.”
    Right. I’d probably turn away in horror . “Anyway,” I said, “I’d like to go out again sometime.”
    â€œSo would I,” she said. “I’ll let you know.”
    Let me know? Let me know? What about tonight? But all I said was, “O.K.”
    â€œMy mom wants me to do something, so I’ve got to get dressed,” she said. “But I’ll see you at school.”
    â€œRight. See you then,” I said.
    After we hung up, I felt shot down. What was she doing tonight? Or Sunday afternoon? She’ll see me at school? Right. And then walk right on by like nothing ever happened.
    I spent the rest of the day doing homework, writing the article about the football game, and trying to read Look Homeward, Angel . None of which I enjoyed.
    Even when my Dad fixed sloppy joes for dinner, my mood didn’t improve. He asked me if I was going out with my friends tonight, which only reminded me that I didn’t exactly have any friends.
    â€œI’m staying in to read Look Homeward, Angel ,” I told him.
    He was impressed. Great. Now I’d really have to read it.

chapter eleven
    I TRIED. I REALLY DID . Got to page 55 before I gave up. Took me two and a half hours. It made me see why everybody today reads vampire novels. I believed Terry when she said she was the only person in the class to finish the book.
    Remembering that made me decide to call her. I pretended that I needed some help on the football game story. Before I could ask her anything, though, she said, “I heard you were out with Colleen Donnelly.”
    â€œRight. I guess we should bring out a special edition about that.”
    She didn’t get it. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œEverybody seems to know I was out with Colleen. My sister, you….”
    â€œWell, people saw her go off with you after the football game. I guess you went to the cemetery.”
    â€œDon’t you have spies there too? You should know how long we were there and what—” I couldn’t quite say “what we did” to Terry. I was afraid she already knew.
    â€œI don’t know why you’re upset,” she said, “unless you’re ashamed of something.”
    She had me there. Still, I replied, “I just mean it’s not anybody’s business who I go out with.”
    â€œWell, partly it’s because people are curious about you. You’re from New York. You got Cale’s locker.”
    â€œNot my fault.”
    â€œNo, but you keep asking people about him.”
    â€œAsking questions is part of being a journalist,” I said, hoping to make her feel