Part 4 (1/2)
”And put them in the dishwasher,” Amanda called after me.
I did so, my teeth clenched. Then I turned on a smile (a stiff one), walked back into the family room, and switched off the TV. ”Time to go outside,” I announced. ”Come on.”
Amanda and Max reluctantly followed me to the front door. So did Priscilla.
”Priscilla's a beautiful cat,” I said to the kids, hoping, maybe, to start a conversation.
”She cost four hundred dollars,” replied Amanda.
”I know. You told me.” (Boy, what sn.o.bs.) ”You know how much my dog Louie cost? Nothing. He was free.”
”Oh, a mutt,” said Max knowingly. ”Too bad.”
I rolled my eyes.
Then I opened the front door and who should I find there, hand poised to ring the bell, but David Michael. Louie was at his side.
”Hi!” I cried, unusually glad to see him. ”What are you doing here?”
”Who's that?” interrupted Amanda before David Michael could answer.
”This is my brother, David Michael,” I told her. ”David Michael, this is Amanda Delaney and this is Max. Do you guys know each other?”
”I've seen them around,” my brother said, just as Amanda said, ”No.”
The Sn.o.b kids and Priscilla and I joined David Michael and Louie outside. ”What are you doing here?” I asked David Michael again.
”I just walked Louie over,” he said.
”Is Louie your mutt?” asked Max.
”Louie is our collie,” David Michael replied indignantly.
”He's not very pretty.”
David Michael was completely taken aback.
”He's nothing like Priscilla,” added Amanda. ”Now she is beautiful. Look what good care she takes of her coat. Your dog - ”
”Yeah?” David Michael challenged her, finally finding his voice.
”Well, he's just not pretty.”
”Boys,” David Michael informed her, ”are not supposed to be pretty. Besides, he's old and he has arthritis.”
”Ew,” said Amanda. ”I hope that never happens to Priscilla.”
”David Michael, is anything wrong?” I asked him.
”I don't think Louie feels well,” he said, his voice trembling.
”Well, Dr. Smith said he wouldn't. Remember?”
”I thought the pills were supposed to make him better.”
”They're supposed to help take the pain away, but he still has arthritis,” I pointed out.
At that moment, Louie lowered his head and sneezed loudly - whoof!
”Ew! Ew!” cried Amanda. ”Disgusting. His sneeze got all over me! I'm going to wash my hands. You come with me, Kristy.”
I looked at David Michael sympathetically. ”I have to go inside. Why don't you take Louie home and let him rest? Maybe Mom could call Dr. Smith tomorrow.”
”All right,” David Michael agreed reluctantly. He turned and walked down the steps. ”Come on, Louie,” he urged. ”Just three steps. You can do it.” Louie followed him with his stiff-legged gait. As I looked after them, I sighed.
In the Sn.o.bs' opulent bathroom, Amanda commanded me to find first some violet-scented soap, and then a certain hand towel.
”Are you disinfected now?” I couldn't resist asking her when she was through was.h.i.+ng her hands.
She gave me a dark look. ”I don't know what that means. But at least your dog's germs are off me.”
The phone rang then and Max said, ”You get it, Kristy. It's in the kitchen.”
(What? No phone in the bathroom?) ”h.e.l.lo, Delaney residence,” I said when I'd picked up the receiver. (h.e.l.lo, Sn.o.b residence, I thought.) ”Kristy? Kristy? Is that you? This is Shannon.”
My heart sank. She must have seen me when I crossed the Delaneys' yard. Had she figured out that I'd sent Mr. Stork to her?
”I'm baby-sitting at the Papadakises',” she said nervously. ”I've been here dozens of times and nothing like this has ever happened.”
”What's wrong?”
”Sari's crying and I can't get her to stop. She seems to like you, so I thought - ”
”I'll be right over,” I said, and hung up the phone. I wasn't sure I could trust Shannon, but I couldn't ignore a crying child. Sari could be sick or in pain. . . . ”Amanda, Max, come on. We have to go to the Papadakises'. Now.” Amid moans and groans, I rushed the kids out the door, across the Kilbournes' lawn, and to the Papadakises' front steps. I rang the bell and Shannon answered it. One of the bus stop girls (the brown-haired one) was with her.
”Yes?” said Shannon coolly.
”Here I am,” I said, trying to catch my breath. ”Where's Sari?”
”Why do you want to know?”
”I'm here to help - ”I paused, listening. The house was silent. Shannon and her friend were trying not to laugh. I'd been tricked again.
At that moment, Hannie and Linny appeared. ”Hi, Kr - ” they started to say to me. Then they stopped, seeing Amanda and Max.
Amanda and Max immediately began whispering and giggling. Hannie and Linny frowned. Amanda pointed to her head, then to Linny, and said ”Cuckoo” - just loudly enough for everyone to hear.