Crystal (Orphans 2)

"When we get married, we'll do it to our

husbands, too," Rea said, laughing.

We all sat at the same table and ate lunch

together. I looked for Bernie, but he wasn't in the

cafeteria. Later, when I saw him in the hallway, I

asked him where he had been. He looked embarrassed

and very nervous because I had stopped him to talk.

His eyes shifted from side to side, and then he looked

down at the floor when he replied.

"I eat lunch in the bio lab. Mr. Friedman lets

me. I get work done and sometimes help him set up

his equipment for his classes. He lets me run some of

my own experiments from time to time, usually after

school," he added, and looked up. "How do you like

your first day so far?"

"It's okay. I really like my English teacher and

our math teacher," I said. Bernie was in my math

class.

He nodded.

"Mr. Albert is the best one to have for

geometry. We're lucky. I gotta go to gym," he said,

moving away. "I'm always late for gym."

I watched him walk quickly down the hallway,

and then I went to the library for my study period. I

didn't see him again until the end of the school day

when I stepped onto the bus. Helga was up front with

Alicia. She smiled at me.

"Bernie's in the back," she said.

"You're not funny," I told her, but she laughed

anyway.