Free Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn

meaningless. It's tempting fate to say it.
    "Mommy, I'm so scared," Ellie sobs. "I saw him on the bridge. He was there, so close to where, to where ... where they were. He must have done it just before we got there. He could have killed us but he didn't have the gun, he must have hidden it in the bushes, he might come after us and shoot us later."
    "Buddy's still at the police station," Mrs. O'Brien tells Ellie. "I hear they plan to keep him as long as they can. They're looking for the murder weapon. As soon as they find it..."
    She strokes Ellie's hair. "Nothing will happen to you, sweetie. Your dad and I won't let you come to any harm."
    I don't believe her. Mrs. Boyd couldn't keep Bobbi Jo safe. Mrs. Miller couldn't keep Cheryl safe. Danger is here, there, everywhere. Death strikes without warning on warm summer mornings as well as in the dark of night.
    Finally Mrs. O'Brien and my mother pry Ellie and me apart. I go to the car with her. "Be careful," I beg her. "If you see him, run."
    I stand in the street and wave until she's out of sight, then I go inside, climb the stairs to my room, sit on my bed, and stare out my window at the house next door. My head is a jumble of unfinished thoughts, unanswered questions, bits and pieces of songs, images of last night—Cheryl and Ralph dancing, Bobbi Jo and Ellie and me in the creek, the stones falling in the water, the Shadow's laugh ... and Charlie. Charlie and me.

Later the Same Day
Friday, June 15
Nora
    B ILLY'S voice wakes me from a nap. I'm hot, grumpy. Dizzy from the heat. For a moment I don't remember what happened. Then it hits me like a punch in the stomach and I see the park and the kids running toward Ellie and me, crying, shouting.
    "Hey, Mom," Billy is shouting downstairs. "Did you hear about those girls getting killed in the park? I wonder if Nora knows them. One of them went to Eastern. I bet she—"
    Mom says something in a low voice. Billy bellows, "Really? She was
there?
"
    Mom says more. "But I want to talk to her," Billy says.
    "Not now, I said!" This time Mom speaks loudly enough for me to hear every word. "Let her rest. If she feels like talking to you later, she will. Otherwise, leave her alone. She's very upset."
    I lie back on the bed and close my eyes. Thank you, Mom.
    My thoughts drift back to the party. I see Cheryl with Ralph, her blond hair catching the last of the summer sunlight. I hear Buddy say he could kill her. I see the hatred in his eyes, I hear him say, "If you died tomorrow, I wouldn't shed one tear." I smell rubber burning as he speeds out of the parking lot. I see him on the bridge, cigarette dangling from his lower lip. I see his knee next to mine in his car, I see him at the top of the hill on Eastern Avenue. I think of the picnic we were supposed to have, the hot dogs and soda and potato chips, all of us there, planning our summer.
    I glance at the Baby Ben clock on my nightstand. Five thirty. This time yesterday, none of this had happened. While we were making our plans, Death was making his plans.
    I roll over and shut my eyes. I'm so tired. The soles of my feet hurt, my throat is raw from crying, my eyes burn. Later I'll take a bath, wash my hair, put some lotion on my feet, but not now, not yet. I just want to sleep.
    I sink like a stone to the bottom of my mind, to a place so dark, there are no memories. No dreams. Nothing.
    Â 
    Hours later, I wake up. It's dark. Mom is leaning over me. "Are you hungry? I saved some dinner for you."
    I shake my head. I'm not hungry. I don't want anything to eat. "How long have I been asleep?"
    "It's almost ten."
    When I sit up, my head feels light. My feet hurt. My legs are weak. I'm sick, I think, too sick to get out of bed, too sick to do anything for myself. "Can I have something to drink?"
    Mom hands me a glass of iced tea. "I thought you'd want this."
    I take it gratefully and drink it all.
    "Would you like to talk about it?" Mom asks. She looks worried.
    "Why did it happen?" I ask.