Page 25

"So?" Philip asked me as we started for class. "Have you decided yet?"

I hesitated and then told him what had happened between Clara Sue and me in the morning. I didn't tell him exactly what she had said, however, just that she warned me against him.

"That little . . . witch is the only word that fits her. Wait until I get my hands on her."

"Don't, Philip. She'll just hate me more and try to make more trouble for me."

"Then come with me for a ride," he said quickly.

"That sounds like blackmail."

"Yeah," he said, smiling, "but it's nice blackmail."

I laughed. "Are you sure you can get me home early?"

"Absolutely." He raised his hand. "On my honor."

"All right," I said. "I'll ask my daddy."

"Great. You won't regret it," Philip assured me. I was so nervous about it, however, that I almost forgot to show Mr. Moore my guitar. I was really walking in a daze when I entered his classroom and took my seat.

"Is there really a guitar in there or is that just the case?" he asked when I didn't mention it.

"What? Oh, it's a guitar!" I exclaimed. He laughed and asked me to play. Afterward he said I had done very well for someone without any formal lessons.

The kind look in his eyes made me reveal my secret hope. "My dream is to learn how to play the piano and have one of my own some day."

"I'll tell you what," he said, sitting forward and bracing his elbows on his desk so he could rest his chin on his clenched hands. "I need another flute player. If you'll take up the flute for the school orchestra, I'll spend three afternoons a week after school teaching you the piano."

"You will?" I nearly jumped out of my desk.

"We'll start tomorrow. Is it a deal?" he said, extending his hand over the desk.

"Oh, yes," I said and reached out to shake. He laughed and told me I should meet him in the music rooms right after the last class of the day tomorrow.

I couldn't wait to run down and tell Daddy. When I told Jimmy, I was worried he would be upset that he would have to wait alone for Daddy in Daddy's office those afternoons. He surprised me with an announcement of his own.

"I've decided to join the intramural basketball program," he said. "One of the boys in my math class needs another guy on his team. And then I might join the cross-country team in the spring."

"That's wonderful, Jimmy. Maybe we can make friends here; maybe we just met the wrong people yesterday."

"I didn't say I was making friends," Jimmy replied quickly. "I just figured I could kill some time twice a week."

Daddy wasn't around, so I asked Jimmy to tell him I had gone for a ride and Philip would take me home.

"I wish you wouldn't get involved with that guy," Jimmy said.

"I'm not getting involved, Jimmy. I'm just going for a ride."

"Sure," Jimmy said and slumped down sadly in a chair. I ran back upstairs to meet Philip. He had a pretty red car with soft furry white sheepskin covers on the seats. He opened the door for me and stepped back.

"Madam," he said with a sweeping bow.

I got in and he closed the door. The car was even prettier inside. I ran my hand over the soft covers and looked at the black leather dashboard and gearshift.

"You have a beautiful car, Philip," I told him when he got behind the steering wheel.

"Thank you. It was a birthday gift from my grandmother."