back on her large, fluffy pink pillow. Her hair fell
around her face like a frame, bringing out the
brightness in her eyes.
"Arnold pitched a shutout yesterday to finish
the baseball season;" Peter declared. "He went the full
nine innings and gave up only three hits!"
"Oh, don't start talking to me about sports. All I
ever hear from you boys are scores and errors and
double plays. It's boring."
"Boring?" Peter said.
Quin laughed.
"Sure it is," he said. "Jock stuff is always
boring." He leaned over the bed toward Belinda. "I
wrote a new song for the band. We're calling it 'Take
me to the Beach.' "
"You must have them play it for me," Belinda
said.
"Sure. You'll come down to the garage as soon
as you're well enough."
"I'll be well enough Monday, won't I, Belinda?"
"You look well enough right now," I said dryly. "Quin
got caught smoking in the boys' room yesterday. He
won't be in school on Monday," Arnold revealed with
a gleeful smile.
"Really! Tell me about it," Belinda said, sitting
forward excitedly as though Quin had accomplished
something significant in her absence.
"Frog-eyes came in just after I lit up. He must have been watching me from his doorway, just looking for the opportunity. He's been after me ever since I wore those funny glasses and imitated him,
remember?"
"Of course I remember. That was so funny."