Excerpt



Thea Pappas stormed out of the small, convenience store. She drew the back of her hand across her tear-stained face, crossed the highway to the post office and sat on a bench in front of the small building. Angry thoughts raced through her mind.

What could her mother have been thinking when she moved the family to this no-place in the mountains? It wasnt even a town. Lake Pearl, she mumbled. Humph.

Thea was used to the ocean. Her boyfriend was a surfer. Well, he wasnt really her boyfriend, but she could tell he liked her. And the city. This place was so pathetic. No theaters, no shopping

Hi.

Thea looked up to see two girls, about her age, standing there. Thea didnt answer. She looked them up and down. Where do they buy their clothes? she wondered, a sneer in her thought. Probably from the Sears catalogue. She smoothed the leg of her designer jeans.

The two girls exchanged a glance. The taller one asked, You going in the eighth?

Thea gave them a hard look. She hoped they couldnt see shed been crying. Yeah, she finally admitted.

Im Tawny Hughes and this is Alix Clark, she offered.

Thea didnt feel like talking, but how else could she find out stuff?

How many in our class? Thea asked.

Just us three and the two Anderson boys.

The conversation stalled.

Well, first day of school tomorrow, Tawny said. The bus picks us up over there. She waved her hand toward the other side of the street.

My dad drives the bus, Alix added.

After seeing that Thea was not about to comment, Tawny shrugged. Well see you then.

Thea watched the girls disappear down a side street. For some time she sat there. Well, she was stuck here. What could she do?

Tuesday dawned warm and clear. Tawny and Alix were first to arrive at the school bus stop. They exchanged a glance, and in answer to their unspoken question, Thea came out of the convenience store and crossed the open space to join them.

Alix said, Hi.

Thea shrugged one shoulder in response. She noticed Tawny and Alix wore dresses, obviously new. She wore her best jeans and a polo shirt with a logo on the pocket.

Thea stood apart from the two girls and stared down the street. The yellow bus arrived with a squeal of brakes.

As the girls stepped on, Clark greeted them with a one-sided grin. Good morning, young ladies, he said.

Tawny replied, Hi Clark.

Alix said, Hi, Dad.

Thea mumbled a brief, Morning.

Tawny and Alix settled onto the front seat by the door. Thea sank down onto the bench behind Clark, next to a small girl. My life cant possibly get any worse, she thought.

Im going to school today.

The excitement in the childs voice made Thea turn to her.

Im in first grade, she added proudly. She had blonde curls; wide, blue eyes and a radiant smile, and wore light blue cover-alls.

Thea couldnt help but respond with a grin. Whats your name? she asked.

Lyra Tilly. Its my first day.

The noise on the bus was deafening, but no one minded. Tawny bounced excitedly in her seat and turned sideways to wave and yell to friends behind her. They waved and yelled back. Talk was about teachers, classes, everything--a lot of happy talk.

The bus pulled away with thirty-six kids ranging from first to eighth grades, and headed down the last mile and a half to the school.

On one side of the rural road, the mountain rose steep and high. A small lake was on the other side; and beyond, a pasture.

A few minutes later, Clark braked to slow the bus.

Whats wrong, Dad?

I dont know, Alix, Clark answered. Theres a car off the road, and someone is flagging us down. Maybe trouble up ahead.

Clark brought the bus to a stop and opened the door as a man in faded, army fatigues approached.

Whats wrong? Clark called.

Come out. You got to see this. He had long, shaggy hair and a mustache.

What is it? Clark half-stood and peered out the windshield, but he made no move to leave the bus. The man sprang up the steps, grabbed Clark and pulled him off balance. A second man in jeans and a tee shirt appeared, and they dragged him out onto the road. The attacker shoved a rag onto Clarks face and held it until he stopped struggling. They forced Clark into the back seat of the car that was standing by. A thin-faced woman sat in the drivers seat.

Dad! Dad! Alix screamed. Hey, what are you doing to my dad? Leave him alone! she shrilled.

She jumped up and started out of the bus. The first man pushed her back. Get back to your seat and shut up or youll get some of the same, he threatened.

Alix slumped down. Oh, Tawny, they hurt my dad, she cried.

The kids crowded to the windows and every one yelled at once.

The attacker ran up the steps, sat in the drivers seat, shut the door, put the bus in drive and drove away at high speed. The children were tossed around and into each other. Some slid off the leather benches. The driver ignored their cries and sped on.

Lake Pearl Elementary School sat off the highway. The bus passed unobserved.

Brick Wallace, a big for his age seventh grader with red hair and freckles, made his way up the aisle. He clung to the pole behind the drivers seat and spoke with a slight tremor in his voice. Hey, mister, you passed the school. Where are you ?

The driver barely glanced at him. Sit down and shut up, kid. His voice was rough and threatening.

Brick swallowed hard, but he persisted. Mister, you cant

This says I can. The man lifted his shirt to expose a gun.