Knowing how rapidly the mercury could fall, Harry tossed four blankets over her shoulder.
As she made her way to the bleachers, the Reverend Herb Jones called out, "You opening a trading post?"
"Four beaver pelts for one heavy blanket." She draped a royal-blue buffalo plaid blanket over her arm as if to display her wares.
Miranda, warm in her MacLeod tartan kilt with a matching tam-o'-shanter, soon joined them. She carried two hot thermoses, one of tea, the other of chocolate.
"You come sit by me." Herb patted the hard wooden bleacher seat next to him.
Sandy Brashiers, beaming, shook the hands of parents, telling each of them how grateful he was that St. Elizabeth's frightful ordeal was behind them. He thanked everyone for their support, and he promised the best for the remainder of the semester.
Coach Hallvard, about to face the formidable St. Catherine's team from Richmond, had not a second to glad-hand anyone.
Mim accompanied her daughter, which put Little Mim's nose out of joint because she wanted to be accompanied by Blair Bain-bridge. He, however, had been roped into setting up the hot dog stand since his Dually, the newest in town, could pull the structure. Not only did Blair's Dually have a setup for a gooseneck trailer, he also had a Reese hitch welded to the frame.
"Mother, why don't you sit with the girls?" Little Mim waved broadly at Miranda in MacLeod tartan splendor.
Mim , sotto voce, replied, "Trying to get rid of me?"
"Why, Mother, whatever gave you such a silly idea?"
"Humph. You need me to extract money out of these tightwads, Marilyn. You haven't been a raging success."
"Considering all that's happened here, I've done pretty damn well, Mother. And I don't need you to advertise my shortcomings. I'm conversant with them."
"Well, aren't we testy?"
"Yes, we are." Little Mim gave her a sickeningly sweet smile.
These last two years Little Mim had found some backbone. Her mother enjoyed friction on the odd occasion, although she wasn't accustomed to receiving it from her formerly obsequious daughter. However, it did spice up the day.
"Mimsy," Miranda called out, knowing Mim hated "Mimsy." She felt devilish. "Sit with us."
Mim , throwing her alpaca shawl, deep raspberry, over her wildly overpriced Wathne coat, paraded grandly to the bleachers, leaving Little Mim to scoot to the hot dog stand where she found, to her dismay, Cynthia Cooper helping Blair set up shop.
The home team trotted across the field as the rhythm section of the band beat the drums.
Karen Jensen ran with Brooks. "Toni Freeman has moves like a snake," Karen said about the opponent who would be covering Brooks.
"I'll be a mongoose."
"This is going to be a tough game." Karen grew increasingly fierce before the game.
"Zone. You'll be in the zone."
"Yeah. There's Rog."
Brooks waved back at Roger.
"Tossed salad." Karen laughed, meaning Roger had flipped over Brooks.
Jody loped up from behind. "Let's skin 'em alive, pound 'em senseless! Yes!" She moved by them.
As the team approached the bench, the stands erupted in a roar. St. Catherine's also shouted. The entire senior class had trekked out from Richmond. This was a grudge match because St. Catherine's had edged out St. E's in the semifinals at last year's state tournament.
The three animal friends sat with the humans on the bleachers.
Pewter hated the crowd noises. "I'm going back to the car."
"Miranda closed up the Falcon; you can't get in," Mrs. Murphy told her.
"Then I'll go to the hot dog stand." Pewter's eyes glistened.
"Stay with us," Murphy told her loudly.
"Will you two stop fussing at each other!" Harry commanded.
"She started it." Pewter oozed innocence.
A phone rang in Herb's pocket.
"What on earth?" Miranda exclaimed when he pulled a fold-up cellular out of his Norfolk jacket.
"The modern age, Miranda, the modern age." He pulled out the antenna, hit a button, and said, "Hello."
Susan answered, "Herb, tell the gang I'm on my way. Oh, and tell Harry I dropped off BoomBoom to pick up her truck. It's ready."
"Okay. Anything else?"
"No. Be there in ten minutes."
"Fine. 'Bye." He pressed the green button again, sliding the aerial down. "Harry, Susan will be here in ten minutes, and Boom-Boom is bringing your truck. Susan dropped her off."
"BoomBoom? Great. Now I have to be terminally grateful."
"No, you don't. After all, she wrecked your truck in the first place."
"Given the way she drives, she'll wreck it again."
"Mother, you're irrational about BoomBoom." Mrs. Murphy scratched her neck.
"No, she won't," Herb answered. "Here we go!"
The game started with St. Catherine's racing downfield, taking a shot on goal, saved.
"Jeez, that was fast." Harry hoped St. Elizabeth's defense would kick in soon.
"May I see that?"
"Sure." Herb handed Miranda the cellular phone.
She slipped the aerial out and held it to her ear. "It's so light."
"I'll pick up my messages; listen to how clear it is." He punched in what must have been seventeen or more numbers and held the phone to Miranda's ear.
"Amazing." Suddenly her face changed. "Herbie, look."
Parading in front of the bleachers was April Shively wearing a St. Elizabeth's jacket. She was carrying three closed cartons that she dumped at Sandy Brashiers's feet.
Blair noticed this from the hot dog stand. Cynthia hurried over, Little Mini at her heels.
"Deputy Cooper." A surprised Sandy put his hand on the boxes. "Marilyn."
"I'll take those." Little Mim bent over and picked up a rather heavy carton.
"No." Sandy smiled falsely.
April, her grin widening, turned on her heel and left. "Ta-ta!"
"Damn her," Sandy said under his breath.
"Cynthia, you can't have these." Little Mim squared her shoulders.
"Why don't we examine them together? It will only help St. Elizabeth's if everything is aboveboard from the start." Cynthia made a strong argument.
"As headmaster, I'll take charge of those documents."
"Down in front!" a fan, oblivious to the drama, yelled at them.
"Without me you won't be headmaster for long." Little Mim clipped her words, then smiled at the deputy as she changed course. "Come on, Cynthia. You're absolutely right. We should do this together."
As they hauled off the cartons, the announcer blared over the loudspeaker, "We are happy to announce that St. Elizabeth's own Sean Hallahan has regained consciousness, and we know all your prayers have helped."
A huge cheer went up from the stands.
66
After the game, won by St. Elizabeth's, Jody, who'd played brilliantly, drove alone to the University of Virginia Hospital.
Sean, removed to a private room, no longer had a guard since Kendrick had confessed. His father was sitting with him when Jody, wearing a visitor's pass, lightly knocked on the door.
"May I come in?"
Sean turned his head toward her, stared blankly for a moment, then focused. "Sure."
"Hello, Mr. Hallahan."
"Hello, Jody. I'm sorry this is such a troubling time for you."
"It can't be as bad as what you're going through." She walked over to Sean. "Hey."
"Hey." He turned his head to address his father. "Dad, could we be alone?"
In that moment Mr. Hallahan knew Jody was the girl in question, for his wife had told him Sean's words during his first, brief moment of lucidity when Cynthia Cooper was on guard.
"I'll be just down the hall if you need me."
When he had left, Jody leaned over, kissing Sean on the cheek. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
"I was stupid. It wasn't your fault."
"Yes, it was. I told you—well, the news—when I was pissed off at you and the world."
"I'll marry you if you like," he gallantly offered.
"No. Sean, I was angry because you were paying attention to Karen. I wanted to hurt you."