Execution of Innocence by Christopher Pike Read Free Book Online Page B

yet at the moment he seemed relaxed, even in a good mood. She had met him once before, last year when she had gone out with Dick. He acted as if he remembered her well. After a few minutes of small talk, he turned the conversation to Stanford and Mary. Mr. Spelling sounded a grim note.
    “You know that Stanford is rated number one in the country now,” he said. “Their admission standards have gone through the roof. I’m not even sure Dick will get in.”
    “Sure he will. He practically has straight A’s. I don’t know what his SAT scores were, but I’m sure they were high.” She refrained from adding higher than mine . She continued, “He’s also school president. You know how colleges like stuff like that.”
    Mr. Spelling played with a gold paperweight on his desk. It was a solid lump, three pounds of crude metal, worth God only knew how much. He appeared thoughtful.
    “Dick has really tried to excel,” he mused.
    “Hannah doesn’t do too bad herself,” Mary said.
    It was the wrong thing to say. Mr. Spelling made a face and waved his hand. He stood up and moved to the window, staring out.
    “Hannah is hopeless,” he muttered finally.
    She felt bold. She thought he would respect that.
    “You have high standards, Mr. Spelling,” she said. “Hannah is envied at school. I consider her a good friend.”
    He snorted to the trees. “I heard you two got drunk yesterday.”
    Mary frowned. “Did Hannah tell you that?”
    “No. But I hear what goes on in this town.”
    Mary forced a smile. “In that case we drank a whole bottle of whiskey together.” She touched her head. “I still feel slightly hung over.”
    Mr. Spelling turned back to her. He smiled briefly but it was more of a reflex. “Personally I don’t care if she gets drunk once a week. It’s more her attitude that disturbs me. She has no sense of responsibility.”
    “She’s only eighteen. What sense of responsibility does any eighteen-year-old have?”
    “Dick is very responsible. I tell him to do something, and it's as good as done. You are responsible. I know you save every penny you make at the library so that you can go to school. But what does Hannah do with her time? Frankly, I don't know.”
    “She's a complex person. Give her time, Mr. Spelling.”
    “Time to do what? Get even more off track?”
    Mary was not sure what to say. “I just know that she's my friend. And that I think she'll turn out fine.”
    Mr. Spelling sat at his desk, wanting to get down to business. “Give me the facts of your record.”
    Mary spoke softly. “I have a three point seven five GPA. I got an eleven hundred and fifty on the SAT.”
    “The average student at Stanford practically got straight A’s in high school. The average SAT is well over thirteen hundred.”
    Mary gulped. “I know that.”
    “What has Dick told you about my relationship with the university's chancellor?”
    “He said you were good friends.”
    “We are not good friends. We are past business associates. There is a profound difference. If I ask him for a favor, I have to give him a favor in return.” Mr. Spelling chewed on the situation for a moment, then he sighed. “I know this means a lot to you,” he said finally.
    “It means everything to me,” Mary spoke sincerely. “But I don't want to put you on the spot, Mr. Spelling. I would appreciate anything you can do. But if I don't get in, I won't blame you. It will be my fault for not doing as well as Dick these past four years.”
    There was an awkward moment of silence. Then Mr. Spelling abruptly stood and offered his hand. “I appreciate that, Mary. Let's see what happens.”
    She shook his hand and left feeling that he would do nothing for her.
     
    The night of the Sadie Hawkins dance, Mary tried to dress as if she were someone else. Unfortunately it wasn’t a costume ball, and by the time Dick arrived she still looked like herself. A dozen times she second guessed herself about telling Charlie what she was up to,