Two Good Dogs by Susan Wilson

Author:Susan Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

CHAPTER 19

“My dad will give us a ride into North Adams.” Black Molly leans over Cody as she does her math work sheets. “I thought we’d hang out.”

Cody is hoping that the other kids in study hall aren’t noticing this tête-à-tête. She hates that she’s embarrassed about Molly’s attention, that it signals her as even more of an outsider to have it. If Black Molly is the quintessential outlier, she, Cody, is fast becoming the second most typical by being seen as her friend. Taylor and Tyler and that wretched a-hole Ryan have stepped up their torment of her, adding innuendo and suggestive noises to their repertoire of torture, all of it implying that she and Molly are lesbians. Cody can’t say for sure, but it is possible that Molly is. And that’s fine. In this world, you have to be open-minded. But she hates it when they make it sound like she is, too. Still, a ride into town is a tempting thing. If she can get into town, maybe she can bump into Mingo. Even if she is seen getting into that beat-up old truck Molly’s dad drives, it would be worth it. “Okay.”

“See you after school.” Black Molly gives Cody a playful shove.

Mr. Frost pulls up ten minutes after the busses have left the yard, so there are few students left to see Cody get into the cab, squeezed on either side by the double bulk of Mr. Frost and Molly. Mr. Frost doesn’t insist on seat belts, and Cody is too overwhelmed to ask to get the catch for the middle lap belt out from under the bench. She just hopes that the bodies on either side of her will act like an air bag in case of emergency. Unlike her own mother, Mr. Frost doesn’t ask one question about Molly’s day. In fact, he is completely silent. Molly is, too. Cody thinks that this is going to be the longest ride of her life. She waits for Molly to say something, and when she doesn’t, Cody asks, “So, where do you want to go?”

Molly shrugs. “McDonald’s?”

McDonald’s is just fine. She’s got three bucks in her pocket and a cheeseburger sounds good. This vegetarian thing is getting old. A little animal protein would taste real good. Of course, Cody won’t tell her mother that she’s broken her vegetarian fast.

Mr. Frost pulls into the drive-through and speaks for the first time in Cody’s hearing, ordering up a bagful of food. Molly swings the truck door open and she and Cody slide out. “Thank you, Mr. Frost.”

He just looks at her with dull eyes. “What? Yeah. Okay.” He moves the truck up in line.

As the two girls enter the building, it occurs to Cody that no one has spoken about a ride home.

* * *

Black Molly and Cody finish their sandwiches, suck down their shakes. Like good fast-food patrons, they clear their tables, dumping the trash, stacking their trays. They head across the street to the Dollar Tree. Cody is out of money, but there really isn’t anything there she wants.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.