The Divorce Express by Paula Danziger

Author:Paula Danziger [Danziger, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2007-06-14T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

The first meeting of KRAPS is about to take place.

KRAPS stands for Kilmerites Rebel Against Poor Sustenance. Personally I think the group name is a little obnoxious, but I was outvoted.

Rosie and I ring the doorbell. Sarah Bennett answers it. “Everyone’s in the living room. Go in. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Rosie leads the way because she’s been here before and I haven’t.

The house is absolutely beautiful, all natural wood and all the furniture in earth colors. It’s large, with high ceilings.

Everyone’s sitting by the fireplace. Some are on chairs; a lot are on cushions.

Dave’s not here yet. There are about twenty kids already present and there should be about thirty, so maybe he’ll arrive soon.

Sarah brings out dip and vegetables. There is already some great-looking food on the table—apple slices with melted cheese, granola cookies, carob candies.

Garbage Gut downs a couple of carob candies.

Jennifer Farley says, “Milt, how come you’re here? You like the school food.”

He doesn’t answer until she asks him the same question, calling him Garbage Gut.

I can’t believe it. He seems to prefer that awful nickname because he stops eating long enough to answer. “My father, the dentist, said that I should come here. Anyway, I like parties.”

His father, the dentist . . . . I think about Rosie’s comment about kids having to rebel. It’s a good thing that Garbage Gut’s father isn’t a policeman.

The kids are all sitting around talking.

Wendy Aaronson pulls out a cigarette and lights up.

Sarah walks up to her. “Listen, if you want to smoke, you’re going to have to do it outside. We don’t let anyone smoke in the house. The smell . . . plus we care too much about people to be part of their harming themselves.”

Wendy says “Okay” and goes out the side door.

“That was done nicely,” I say.

Sarah nods. “My parents used to smoke, and then my uncle died of lung cancer.”

More kids arrive. Some are from Woodstock. Others are from other towns. That’s good because sometimes only the Woodstock kids get involved in causes, like leftover hippies from the sixties. Also, it’s hard for all the kids to get together because there’s no public transportation.

Abby Streetman. Harry Marcus. The school couple. They go everywhere with their arms around each other. Most of the time his hand is in her back jeans pocket. Sometimes I wonder if it has to be surgically removed every time they go to class or home.

Pete Redding. The school clown. He does the best imitation of teachers and the Principal.

Holly Marham. Willow Smith. Meredith Cooper. The three of them are always together unless two of them decide to gang up on the third. That usually lasts for only a few days and then they are all back together until the next fight.

Still no Dave.

Oh, well, I’ve got to remember that the real reason for being here is to work on the committee.

The work begins.

Everyone starts talking about the steps already taken . . . letters sent to the Principal and the school board .

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