When You Believe by Deborah Bedford Read Free Book Online Page A

administration
     office. She wound her way through five different staff members doing five different things, yanked open the third drawer,
     and rifled through the queue of green, dog-eared forms.
    Tanner.
    Tasker.
    Tattersall.
    Ah, there she was.
Tatum, S.
Lydia seized the paper from its place and squired the St. Clair County School District Emergency Information Form back to
     her quiet cubicle, reading the entire time.
    Social security number, birth date, insurance policy. Mother or guardian’s name
: Tamara Tatum Olin, who resides at 913 Sweetwater Court, Shadrach.
Physician:
Dr. Stanley Lerch, with his clinic in Osceola.
In case of emergency contact:
Mr. Milburn Woodruff, same address, different number.
Relationship to student:
grandfather.
Yes, the box was checked, my child may have Tylenol and topical first-aid preparation. No, my child does not have any known
     allergies. Yes, my child may participate in field trips.
    There were no notes saying:
Yes, this child can exaggerate. Yes, this girl often tells stories for attention. Yes, she sometimes fibs and causes problems.
    Lydia dragged her telephone across her desk, punched a button for an open line and dialed the establishment listed as mother’s
     workplace.
    “Shadrach Land Title,” a girl answered like she was singing a Branson country song. “You can’t
lien
on us.”
    “Tamara Olin, please.”
    “Just a moment, please.”
    What has happened at your house, Mrs. Olin? Why isn’t your daughter in my office today?
    A quiet whirring came, and the line was connected. Someone else picked it up, asked, “You looking for Tammy?”
    “Yes.”
    “She isn’t in, I’m afraid. Some sort of family emergency or something.”
    The adrenaline buzz began in Lydia’s ears again, heavy and unnavigable, stealing her senses.
    “Perhaps someone else in the office can help you.”
    “No… I mean, well, this is a personal call.”
    “She may be at home. You might want to try her there.”
    “I will.”
    Lydia dialed a second string of digits and waited, her hand gripping the earpiece as if everything depended on it; if she
     clasped the receiver hard enough against her head, Shelby might answer the phone.
    I didn’t know the name you were going to give me was Charlie’s.
    After all I coaxed you to say, you have to find someone else to do this for you. I can’t get tied up in this, do you understand?
    The answering machine picked up and all the breath went out of her. She sat through a garbled message and a long series of
     beeps before she finally admitted that no one would be answering at the house.
    Where could they be, if Shelby was sick? If she was trying to change a lie? Or if she had broken down, trying to make them
     hear her?
    The fourth period bell rang. From outside the counseling office, conversation spilled in. “At senior night there were seven
     of them, a couple of big girls that are coming up, two sophomores, and one little point guard. But I don’t—”
    The conversation faded down the hall.
    Oh, Father. How do I know what to believe?
    On Lydia’s desk sat a half-empty jar of candy Kisses. She dug for one, took it out and twisted, twisted the wrapper until
     the foil fell to pieces between her fingers.
    Of course, I believe Charlie. I’m in love with Charlie.
    With painful care, she set the tear-shaped chocolate on her desk. She stared at it until it began to swim before her eyes.
    IN MAYHEM CENTRAL , the copier was acting up. Patrice Saunders stood leafing through the Xerox instruction booklet while some unknown staff
     member—unrecognizable from the body parts that protruded from the midsection of the machine—yanked wads of paper from its
     path of rubber rollers. Some sophomore with a bloody rag under his nose stood dripping on the floor while the secretary, Marie
     Jones, went in search of Mo. At Marie’s station, the telephone was ringing and three holding lines flashed off and on at the
     same time.
    Lydia returned the Tatum form to