Grandma Toady’s truck was parked in the drive. Pa helped Lolly out of the truck. With his arm around her shoulders, Pa lead her up the porch steps. She was feeling a bit woozy. Grandma Toady held the door as they passed through. As soon as they were inside, Grandma Toady took her in her arms. It was then that Lolly started to cry. Hard snuffling sobs against Grandma Toady’s shoulder. Gently Grandma Toady said, “It’s okay, Angel. Its okay.”


    Lolly didn’t feel like it was okay. No one had ever hit her that hard. What would Spence have done to her if the principal hadn’t shown up? No one had helped her, or Munch. They had just stood there staring like they were watching some fight in a movie. It had not been a movie. It had been real. A shudder went through her.


    “Come on,” said Grandma Toady. “Let’s get you in bed. I’m taking you to my room okay.” She pulled away from Lolly and lead her down the hall. As always Grandma Toady’s room was in perfect order. She took Lolly into her bathroom and helped her pull off her bloody sweater and change into pajamas. Lolly’s stomach revolted. Oh God! Not that! She fell to her knees and puked in the toilet. The shakes hit her. Pa came into the bathroom, picked her up and put her in bed.


    He told Grandma Toady, “I’m gonna go get her medication. I will be right back.”


    Grandma Toady gave him a big hug and sent him out the door.


    Fluff came into the room, curious as to why Lolly was home. He jumped up in the bed beside her. His green eyes took her in and then he rubbed his cheek against hers. She put her arms around him. He allowed himself to be held. She sure hoped she did not throw up again.


    It seemed to take forever for Pa to get back with her medicine. She took the pain pill. Within thirty minutes it had her drifting in a cloud and then everything faded. Later when she woke up, Mitzi was sitting silently on the floor beside the bed. In her arms was Puccini. When she saw that Lolly was awake, she stood up and put her forehead against Lolly’s. She asked, “Are you okay?”


    Everything inside Lolly felt fuzzy and weird. She could see the fear in Mitzi’s eyes. “Yeah, I’m gonna be okay.”


    In a soft voice, Mitzi said, "I should have picked out better Armor this morning. I''m sorry. I will do better next time."


    "Mitzi, you did the very best. I might be in worse shape if you hadn''t put me in that thick sweater. Okay?"


    "Okay.“ She glanced at the bed and asked, "Can Me and Puccini sit with you? I brought my color book. I promise I will be quiet and not jiggle the bed. Puccini says he will be very, very still."


    “Sure.”


    Mitzi carefully put Pucinni and then her coloring book and crayons on the bed. When she climbed onto the bed, the slight movement of the mattress sent a wave of nausea through Lolly. It was not a big wave, but it was a wave and she really did NOT want to throw up again. True to her word, Mitzi did not jiggle the bed. In truth Lolly was grateful for her company. She did not like being alone with her thoughts. The noise of crayon on paper was soothing. Lolly felt herself drifting. Soon...soon...sleep.


    There was a bang. It startled Lolly awake. All the sudden Munch was in the room. Mitzi was gone. He knelt on the floor and kissed her forehead. He said, “God, I am so sorry I’ve been so awful to you.”


    “Its okay. Its over.”


    “How are you feeling?”


    “Weird.”


    He asked, “Can I see your stitches?”


    Lolly honestly did not understand why people liked to look at stitches. “Sure.”


    He went to the other side of the bed, and exclaimed, “Damn!”


    “Is it that bad?”


    “It ain’t good. That bastard!”


    Tears were starting to fill her tear ducts. She did not want to cry again.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    “Oh, I got a note for you.” Munch came back around to where she could see him and handed her the note. It had Lolly written. on it, in Trevor’s handwriting.


    “Thanks.” Her hand closed over the note, but she didn’t read it. Not yet. Not while Munch was there.


    He sat down on the floor and looked up at her. “Well, the whole school is talking about you. Spence has been suspended. Which seems dumb to me. Just what we need him loose on the streets. Behind bars is where he needs to be and where his sorry ass is going to end up.”


    Lolly really didn’t want to talk about Spence or hear about him. But, Munch had already launched into one of his monologues. His voice started drifting away from her. Sleep was shoving her down again.


    The next time she woke up, the trailer was very quiet. Mitzi and Max must be with Aunt Jessie. Grandma Toady brought a tray to the bedroom with some buttered toast and milk for her supper. Lolly took a few bites, but that was all. She asked for a Sprite and Pa brought her one. Slowly she sipped the cold soft drink. It settled on her stomach okay. The pain medication was beginning to wear off a bit and she didn’t feel so fuzzy headed. Beneath her, she heard the crackle of paper. Trevor’s note. She had never read it. As soon as Grandma Today and Pa left with her tray, she opened it the note. It started with Dear Lolly. That made her smile. He was in Math and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Another smile. He actually drew a little heart and signed his name. A big smile.


    At seven the phone rang. She didn’t answer it. Pa came into the room and said, “Its that boy named Trevor. He wants to talk to you. Do you feel up to talking to him.”


    Her heart did a somersault. “Yes.”


    “Okay. Let me know when you’re on the line and I will hang up the kitchen phone.”


    Lolly waited until she heard Pa’s steps on the kitchen floor and then she picked up the receiver. Pa’s voice asked, “You got it Shortcak?"


    Did he have to call her that!? “Yes, Pa.” The phone clicked. She said, “Hello?”


    “Hey Lolly. I heard what happened. I have been kicking myself all day. I over slept and I missed the damn bus! Amber took me and I got a tardy. When I got to class everyone was whispering about you and that idiot. I want to punch him so bad. If I had been there...” He kept talking, fast, nervous and angry. Like Munch all he wanted to do was talk about getting back at Spence. Like either of them could. It was sweet of him, but every day she had to fight just to get up in the morning and face the day. Spence, mean though he was, bigot that he was, was not as big as the ridicule she risked every time she stepped into public. Her hand touched the stitches on the back of her head. Now, sewn into her skin was a reminder of the time she stood up for herself and for Munch and for everyone like them that did not quite fit. Did anyone fit? Spence didn’t. Was there anything redeemable about him? A part of her hoped there was something redeemable in everyone, but she wasn’t sure it was true. And if it was, reaching redemption was a very long, hard climb. Some people achieved it, others did not.


    She interrupted and asked, “Could you tell me about the your cross country meet?”


    “Oh, okay. Sorry. Yeah, sure.”


    She asked, “How did it feel when you crossed the finish line?”


    “It was amazing. I was in a good rhythm the whole time. I had five guys ahead of me as we neared the finish. I knew I couldn’t win, but I thought maybe I could place. I just kicked it. I passed one guy, then another one and then another one. Ahead I saw the winner cross the line. I was going to be third. My brain started dancing so hard. The second guy crossed and then I did. My dad was so proud. he actually gave me a high five.” The pleasure in Trevor’s voice was way better than the anger.


    “That’s really good, Trevor.”


    He said, “It was. I better let you go, You sound tired. Are you going to be at school tomorrow?”


    “I don’t know. I have an appointment set up with the typing teacher so I can type my Emily Dickinson paper. I guess I will have to see how I am feeling tomorrow.”


    "Okay. Talk to you later. Take care.”


    “I will.”


    “Bye.”


    “Bye.” Lolly hung up the phone. Outside the window, it was dark. She got up out of bed and pushed, Grandma Toady’s curtains open. A full moon was rising above the trees. She pressed her hand against the window. The glass was cold. From the window, she could see part of Aunt Jessie’s trailer. The lights were on. Lolly''s brain was so fuzzy she couldn''t remember whether or not Aunt Jessie was off.


    A little later, Aunt Jessie brought Max and Mitzi over. She too wanted to see Lolly''s stitches. When she saw them she said, "Shea butter helps with pregnancy stretch marks, maybe it will lighten the scar." She gave Lolly a quick squeeze and headed to work.


    After his mom left, Max came in and sat at the foot of the bed. Lolly really hoped he did not want to talk about Spence or see her stitches. He said, “You know you are the bravest person I know.”


    Completely surprised, she asked, “Really?”


    He had his head down and he was staring at the bedspread. “Yup. I know its not easy for you but you just keep being you. If Spence had been going for me, you would have stood up to him. That’s just the way you are. More people should be like you.” He looked up at her and grinned.


    “Thanks Max.”


    He got off the bed. From his back pocket, he pulled a note and tossed it onto the bed. “Night.”


    “Night.” She reached for the note. Max closed the door. Lolly opened the note. It was from Kevin. His handwriting was way better than Trevor’s. All it said was, “Hope you are feeling better soon. Kevin.” She put his note on the night stand beside the one Trevor had given her.


    Fluff crawled out from under the bed. His eyes met hers and he leapt up beside her. She ran her hand over his broad back. His purr rumbled.