Part 32 (1/2)

”Uh, h.e.l.lo. There is no bed. It's the ground. And, by definition, the ground has no sides. It just keeps going and going and going. Besides, this is my spot. I like to sleep on my right side.”

”You said the ground had no sides.”

”It doesn't. I do.”

Truth was I didn't feel comfortable sleeping with my back to my unexpected roomie, which was what would happen if I slept on the left side of the tent. Yes. There's a method to my madness.

”I sleep on my right side, as well,” Keelie said.

”Yes, but it's my tent,” I pointed out. ”And you know the saying, 'beggars can't be choosers.'”

”Yes. I know it. And it's a stupid saying. How often does somebody use the word 'chooser'” anyway?”

She had a point. I shrugged.

”Fine,” Keelie said. ”Whatever. Take your stupid side.”

”You know, it's not really a side. It's a-”

”Oh, just leave it alone!” Keelie put a hand to her head. ”Can we just go to sleep? I'm stiff. I'm sore. I have a headache. I just want to sleep.”

I'd felt the same way before Red barged in. I'd been looking forward to some undisturbed slumber. But was I getting it? Nooo!

I zipped the tent entrance flap and moved back to my wall, dropping onto my bed and pulling the cover over me. I grabbed my own flashlight just in case and settled into the soft warmth of my bedroll, watching Keelie struggle to undo the cord that held her bag together.

”Stupid, stupid bag!” She said, and ripped into the sleeping bag with the same level of frustration I used on my favorite sandwich cookie packages before they switched to the easy open, re-sealable packaging.

”I think you can just slip that elastic cord off one end,” I said.

”Oh. Right.” She unrolled the sleeping bag and smoothed it out. ”Thanks.”

”Sure.”

She took off the hoodie she wore and collapsed onto the bag.

”Ahhh!”

I knew the feeling.

She shut the flashlight off. I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.

”I think it's supposed to rain,” Keelie said, sounding very young.

”Yeah. I heard the rumbling of thunder.”

”This tent won't leak. Right?”

I sure as heck hoped not.

”Of course, not.”

”What about snakes?”

d.a.m.n. She had to remind me.

”The flap's zipped. We should be good.”

”Manny says you're not the one playing the pranks,” she said.

”He's right.”

Silence.

”I wish it was you.”

I felt the pull of heartstrings again.

”Yeah. I know.”

More silence.

”Night, Keelie,” I said, my jumbled thoughts s.h.i.+fting to the five questions I would ask Manny. I'd have to make them count. No telling when I'd get another crack at him.

I yawned, exhaustion creeping over me. Just about to drift off, a hushed whisper reached me.

”Goodnight...Calamity Jayne.”

d.a.m.n! Who told?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.

”Psst! You in the tent! Open up!”

I opened one eye. Still dark. I shut my eyes again.

”Let me in! It's starting to rain!”

I sat up, opened both eyes, and pushed my hair out of my eyes.

”Who is it?”

”What's going on?” A disembodied voice from the darkness called out.

”Someone's at the flap,” I said.

”Who?”