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An Excerpt From: Belle Teal

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Belle Teal
By Ann M. Martin

Ages 9-12; 224 pages
ISBN 0-439-09823-8
Scholastic; $15.95

Chapter 7

On the way to school the next morning, I make up my mind. I am going to say something to Little Boss about the spitting. Big Boss can be as mean as he wants, but if Little Boss is going to follow in his daddy's footsteps, then he is going to have to deal with me.

Clarice and me are sitting near the back of the bus again. Clarice has already filled me in on The Edge of Night and now she is looking ahead in our fifth-grade reader, sneaking a peak at the tall tales we will be studying later. In front of the bus, in the very first seat is HRH, the Supreme Goddess of Everything, wearing a different skirt-and-sweater set. This one is pink, and Lord, I hate to admit it, but it is the exact color of strawberry ice cream, and if we could ever afford a skirt-and-sweater set for me, that is probably the one I would want, although I am usually not one for pink.

I myself am wearing the same outfit I had on yesterday. Gran, she looked so sorry when she said this, but she told me I would have to make do with the green shift until the next day when she could get around to letting out the hems on the two skirts from fourth grade that I can still wear. She said maybe on the weekend she and Mama and I can run over to Mechanicsville and look through the clothing rack at Woolworth's. I am hoping that the Sears catalog will arrive in the meantime, since there is nothing I like less than trying on colthes. Anyway, what I really want is a pair of boots, ones that won't pinch my toes.

HRH has turned around in her seat, and her eyes have gloomed on to me. What is she staring at? I took a bath and washed my hair this morning, so I am as fine as I am going to get.

I concentrate on what to say to Little Boss. He is a funny one. Threats don't usually work with him. But once last year when I had enough of him, I told him I wasn't going to be his friend anymore, and right away he stopped teasing Clarice about her new glasses.

The bus pulls up in front of Coker Creek Elementary, and I realize I am holding my breath, waiting to see what those parents are up to.

"Look," I say to Clarice as Bernette brings the bus to a stop. I am pointing to the walk in front of school, where only four parents are standing, and only one of them has a sign. I guess they have gotten the message that Darryl and the others are here to stay.

"But look at that," replies Clarice.

I feel my stomach turn over when I see Big Boss sitting in his pickup by himself. Just sitting.

"I wonder if Darryl is here yet." I scan the kids who are walking into school, but I don't see him.

Clarice and me, we step off the bus and run by Big Boss's truck as fast as we can. We have already reached the front doors of the school when we hear a commotion behind us. I dare to turn around and look. There's Big Boss yelling and banging on the sides of the pickup truck with his bare hands.

Darryl has arrived. He's with his mom again, along with the other two colored kids and their moms. Because of where Big Boss is parked, the six of them have to walk by his truck. Either that or walk across the school lawn, which is not allowed, and I do not think they are going to break any rules. So they look straight ahead and just keep walking.

Big Boss starts swearing to beat the band. I think maybe he has had something to drink.

"Where's Little Boss?" Clarice whispers to me as we run inside.

I shake my head.

We reach the door with the yellow paper sin taped to it and hurry to our desks. I see Little Boss standing at the windows, looking out at the pickup truck, and his eyes, they are so confused. Maybe even a little sad. I almost forget about the speech I have planned for him. But then I remember the spitting, and decide to go ahead with it. I grab his elbow and pull him to the back of the room.

"Little Boss, if I ever see you spit at Darryl or anyone again --" I start to say.

"Yeah?" Little Boss sticks out his jaw, defiant.

"Then I'm not..." I almost can't say it. "I won't be your friend anymore. And I mean it."

"What are you, some kind of ni --" Little Boss stops himself.

"I mean it," I say again.

"All right." He jerks his elbow away and stalks across the room to Chas and Vernon.

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