Free The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper Page B

will not be sorry.”
    â€œYeah, but you might,” whispered Eddie. Dana did not indicate that she heard him, but Jericho did.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9
    AFTER A LONG, FRIGID WALK BACK HOME, Jericho quietly slipped into the house with no trouble. Even Dimples slept through his tiptoed walk through the kitchen and upstairs. When he gratefully got back into his bed, he thought he’d be awake for hours thinking of the night’s unexpected turn of events. But he nodded off right away.
    The next morning at school Jericho Josh and Kofi said nothing to Dana, who sat with Arielle and November as usual in the front hall, waiting for classes to begin. If Dana meant what she had said, the girls would know nothing yet. They gave no indication that anything was different. Dana looked up at the boys, smiled sweetly, and continued her conversation.
    â€œSo what you think about Dana?” Jericho asked Josh as they sat on the other side of the hall.
    â€œMakes me nervous,” he replied. “She’s in over her head and tryin’ to mess up our stuff.”
    â€œIt sucks!” Kofi said angrily. “I’ve been dreamin’ about being a Warrior since I first set foot in this school—makin’ sure the members noticed me, workin’ my plan—here she comes tryin’ to prove some women’s lib point and messes up everything! It’s just not gonna mean the same thing!”
    â€œI don’t know, Kofi. Dana’s pretty tough. I think I’d be glad to have her back me up in a crunch situation,” Jericho said thoughtfully. “More than November, or even Arielle,” he added.
    â€œDon’t go blastin’ on my November,” Josh said with a grin. “She couldn’t whip a wet noodle, but she’d sure look good while she ran for help!”
    The bell rang then with nothing settled and no way for them to judge how Dana’s presence in the secret pledge class would make a difference. They had received no word as yet from the senior members of the club. Jericho had a feeling they were evaluating how to proceed.
    The next two weeks were extremely busy, but some of the best weeks he’d ever known, Jericho decided. He and Arielle spent hours at the warehouse, sorting and wrapping toys, laughing, sometimes dancing in the middle of the warehouse floor, and slowly getting everything ready for deliveries to be made. November came when she felt like it, and Dana never missed a session. She came early, stayed late, and never once spoke to Eddie, except to ask for an extra pair of scissors or roll of tape. The tension between them was obvious to everyone.
    Kofi moped around her, trying to get her to smile at him, but she was all business and ignored him. “This sucks, man,” he told Jericho as they were finishing up one night.“How am I gonna get my wolf girl to get back with me?”
    â€œYou still mad at her for trying to get in?”
    â€œShe can try out for the Bengals if she wants to,” Kofi admitted. “I just want her to talk to me again.”
    â€œThe way the Bengals have been playin’, she might actually help them!” laughed Jericho. “Seriously, though, just watch her back and keep an eye on Eddie. Even a wolf needs protection sometimes.”
    â€œYou’re right about that. Thanks, man,” Kofi said, glancing over at Eddie.
    Homework was minimal at this time of the school year. Christmas was quickly approaching, and Jericho talked to Arielle late into the night every evening. Even Geneva was in a good mood. She hummed while she decorated the Christmas tree, with Rory and Todd bouncing around like two little wind-up toys. She gave Jericho extra allowance money so he could go Christmas shopping, and even told him to buy a couple of toys to donate to the Warriors’ toy drive.
    Jericho practiced his trumpet every night, feeling sure that he would be ready for the competition that was now only a month away. For