The Second Trial by Rosemarie Boll

Author:Rosemarie Boll
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: JUV039010, JUV000000
Publisher: Second Story Press
Published: 2004-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

Tuesday and Wednesday were reruns of Monday. He resented the morning shopping trips, but they passed the time. Afternoons dragged by in front of the TV. Eat, walk the dog, TV, bedtime. When no one was looking, he picked up the receiver of the chunky telephone. A scratched plastic tag covered a smeared number. Still no dial tone.

On Thursday morning, the warm weather surrendered to solid rain.

“We’ve got enough groceries for now,” Mom announced. “Let’s shop for school supplies. And,” she smiled, “we’ll buy an umbrella.”

Danny used to love his annual school shopping trip almost as much as picking out Hallowe’en treats. Happy memories lightened his mood and he was the first one into the mall. He browsed through a forest of Back to School signs. He kneaded neoprene ballpoint pens and pungent markers between his fingers. He bent the cellophane-wrapped packages of lined paper until they squeaked. He ran his fingers along the spines of vinyl three-ring binders that snapped open and shut and smelled like blow-up pool toys. Mom helped Jen with her list, and soon only one item remained.

“Mom, what’s a graphing calculator?” Danny asked. “I don’t see anything like that here.”

Catherine flipped through the selection of calculators hanging from metal pegs. “You’re right, I don’t either. We’ll have to ask.”

The clerk told her they were a specialty item she could buy only at an office supply store. In an upbeat voice, Catherine said “Good. I’d planned a trip downtown tomorrow, anyway. We’ll get your calculator and buy each of you some new clothes for school.”

They divided the bags and carried them home. Danny spent most of the rainy afternoon in his room, sorting through his supplies, testing each pen before laying it in a neat pile. He realized he was going to need a few more things: a pencil case and a backpack for the bus. And he’d forgotten to buy a new eraser. Every year, his mom bought him a new one, even if he hadn’t used up last year’s. He loved the velvety feel of the pink rubber, its baby-powdery smell, and the way it flexed between his fingers. He decided to make a list.

When Danny took it to the kitchen to show his mom, he found her writing some figures on a pad of graph paper. She looked up and moved her arm to cover the receipts. But when her eyes met his, she dropped her elbow.

“Don’t worry, Davey-boy, I’ve got enough money to get us through. I just have to keep track of it. Grandma and Grandpa will send us some cash when they sell our furniture and the other belongings, and after that, of course we’ll be getting the money from the house sale. The court application to divide the property is today. I have a good feeling about it, Davey.”

Thinking about the court application gave him stomach butterflies. He dropped his list on the table and strode to the basement.

He must have fallen asleep in front of the TV, because the next thing he heard was his mother calling them for dinner.

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