Why Did She Have to Die? by Lurlene McDaniel Read Free Book Online Page A

darkness. “I’m so sorry.”

NINE
    “I thought they’d canceled it,” Elly said to Joy as they stood staring at the newly painted poster on the school’s bulletin board. SPRING FANCY was printed in a bright, daisy chain of spring flowers.
    “They just moved it to another weekend. It’s the biggest event of the year and everybody still wants to go. So the administration decided to postpone it.” Joy poked Elly’s arm playfully. “Aren’t you still going to be my date? You helped plan the dance. I figured you’d still want to go. Even if it is with me.”
    Kathy had helped plan the dance, too
. Elly thought of it as Kathy’s dance, Kathy’s theme, Kathy’s committee. No, she didn’t want to go. It had only been a month since the accident, but in some ways it seemed as if a million years had passed. She’d forgotten all about the dance until she saw the poster.
    “Florists are donating bunches of flowers,” Joy continued. “The old cafeteria will look like a garden, just like . . .” Her voice faded.
    “. . . just like Kathy wanted,” Elly finished. “You don’t have to be so jittery, Joy. I can talk about her, you know. She’s gone, but I’m not going to fall apart at the mention of her name. I forgot about the dance, that’s all. I didn’t really think they’d cancel it just because—” Elly turned on the rubber tips of her crutches. “Come on. We’ll be late for class.”
    The girls walked down the hall, past rows of lockers, through groups of kids milling around. A traffic jam near the water fountain made Elly mad. In a strange act of revenge, Elly planted the tip of her crutch on the sneaker-clad toe of one of the boys. He yelped with pain. “Hey! Watch out or I’ll—” He stopped when he saw it was Elly. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know it was you.” He stepped aside, allowing her to pass.
    Elly gave him a smile as if she was sorry for what she’d done. But deep down she didn’t mean it. She was glad she’d hurt him. She told herself that if anyone else got in her way, then she’d hurt them, too. Why not? Life was full of pain.

    * * * *

    Elly propped her back against the rough bark of the tree. She squirmed for a few minutes, trying to get comfortable so she could study. The cast bothered her more and more lately. She shoved the end of her pencil inside the opening at the top. She could reach the itch she was trying for.
    “What if it falls down inside?” The question came from Kenny Hughes and startled her. Elly glanced up at the dark-haired boy. Afternoon sunlight framed him against the blue sky and sent sparkles off his dark brown hair.
    “Aren’t you supposed to be in P.E.?”
    “I’m taking a break. The coach doesn’t care. Besides I’m better with the soccer ball than anybody else out there.” To prove his claim, Kenny dropped the soccer ball he held. He bounced it several times off his toes and knees. It didn’t hit the ground once.
    “I’m impressed,” Elly said with a bored tone. She ignored him and opened her English book. He still didn’t leave. Instead he plopped down under the tree next to her.
    “You—uh—you studying?”
    “Aren’t you clever? Picked right up on it, didn’t you?”
    “You know, Elly, you’ve got a real mean mouth on you lately.” Kenny’s blue eyes narrowed.
    The truth in his words embarrassed her. She gave him a half-hearted shrug. “I don’t know why I sounded so nasty. I didn’t mean to.” She smiled weakly at his glowering stare. “Sorry.”
    He leaned back on his elbow and spun the soccer ball on the tip of his forefinger. “So, when’s the cast coming off?”
    “A few more weeks. Then I have to build up my leg muscles again. The doctor says it’ll take a while.”
    “Playing soccer would help. I could show you some moves.”
    She grinned shyly. “I don’t think I can start with soccer. The doctor says I need to be careful at first. I don’t want to break it again.”
    An awkward silence filled the space