Raven (Orphans 4)

There was a slight drizzle, the drops flattening against the glass and then spreading out wider to form what looked like spiderwebs. Gray skies made the morning seem more dismal than usual. Everyone on the bus was subdued. The conversations were quiet, and there was little laughter. When I gazed back, I saw Jennifer glaring my way, holding her books and bouncing with the bus. Even her normally buoyant and noisy friends looked half asleep.

The school became darker and darker inside as the clouds thickened outside. Some of the corridors weren't as well lit as others, and it felt as if I were moving through tunnels to get to my classes this particular morning. As the rain grew stronger and pounded in sheets against the school walls and windows, students grew sleepy. Even the teachers seemed to struggle with enthusiasm for the work.

Just before lunch, however, the rain stopped, and a bit of sunshine broke through. It washed away the drowsiness, and voices grew louder. Students walked faster, teased and joked with each other.

At lunchtime, Terri and I headed for the cafeteria, talking about an upcoming movie. I used to go to the movies once in a while when I lived with my mother, but now I didn't know when I would get to go again.

Suddenly, we heard a burst of loud laughter from a corner of the corridor. At least a dozen or so boys were gathered ma huddle. When they turned, I saw that Jimmy was there. I stiffened instinctively, but as the boys continued to separate, I discovered they had been surrounding poor Clarence Dunsen. He looked terrified.

"Here she . . . she . come . . . comes, Clarence," Jimmy said. "Why don't you tell her how much you la . . la . . love her," he shouted, and all the boys laughed.

"Leave him alone," I ordered.

"We're not bothering him. Clarence was just telling us about your rendezvous in his bedroom the other day," Jimmy said loudly enough for everyone around us to hear.

"You bastard," I told him, which only made him and the boys laugh harder.

I hurried into the cafeteria, Terri trailing quickly behind.

"What's that all about?" she asked.

"My cousin has been at it again," I said, fuming. I threw my books on the table and folded my arms.

"Don't do anything violent," Terri advised. She nodded toward Mr. Wizenberg, who was watching me like a nervous rabbit. I searched for Jennifer and found her holding court at a table across the cafeteria. She looked so self-satisfied, I felt like ripping out her eyes.

The boys erupted into the cafeteria behind Clarence, who tried to get to his usual table. They were chanting behind him

"I la . . . la . . . la . . . love you, Ray . . . Ray . . . Raven."

The whole cafeteria turned, and Clarence, who was bright red, dropped to his seat and stared down at the tabletop.

"Quiet!" Mr. Wizenberg shouted. "I said quiet!"

The boys stopped and spread out to their tables, laughing and congratulating themselves with pats on their backs Jimmy went to Jennifer, and they had

a good laugh together.

"What's going on?" Tern asked.

I told her what had happened, but I didn't say anything about telling Uncle Reuben about Jennifer and Brad. I couldn't get myself to fall to Jennifer's level. Maybe she had known that all the while. When she rose to go to the lunch line, I jumped up.

Terri seized my forearm. "Careful," she warned. "You'll get suspended this time for sure."

I nodded but charged forward. "You're a horrible person, Jennifer," I said, pushing my way behind her. "Don't you care who you hurt?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't tell anyone anything," she said, flipping her hair back. "Clarence bragged about you and him to a couple of his friends, and it got out."

"That's a lie. You're such a liar." I stepped closer to her, and she backed away.

"If you cause any more trouble, Daddy will put you in the street," she warned.

"I'd rather be in the street. There's less dirt."

A surge of panic ran through her eyes as she looked around to see if anyone was really listening to us.

"Don't you dare say anything terrible about me or my family, Raven. Don't you dare," she said in a weak whisper.

"You're so disgusting," I said, shaking my head. Some of the girls did pause to listen. I hesitated.