Olivia (Logan 5)

When Belinda laughed, they all laughed.

"And people wonder why I don't want to go

into teaching," I muttered. They turned to me. "You said you didn't like Mr. Garner either

when you were in high school, Olivia," Belinda said. "I said he wasn't very enthusiastic about his

work, but I didn't say he was a frog."

They all laughed again as if I had meant it to be

funny.

"Jerry gave Barbara a pretty expensive ring. It's

the closest thing to an engagement ring," Peter

continued. "He told me they intend to get married

soon after graduation."

"I already know about that. Marcia Gleason

told me last night on the phone," Belinda said. "Suicide Jerry, that's what we call him," Quin

said laughing.

"Don't make fun of him," Belinda moaned as if

she were seconds from bursting into tears. "He and

Barbara are really in love. It's wonderful when you can find someone with whom to spend your whole life, someone who will care more about you than he

does about himself, someone like my father." The three boys stopped smiling and accepted

her rebuke. How she dangled them on strings, I

thought, studying them each more closely. Who was

the father of her dead fetus? Certainly not Peter

Wilkes, unless Belinda got him to get her something

expensive in a trade. She could do that, I thought. "Anyone else come down with the flu this

week?" I inquired. One of them surely knew the truth

about Belinda.

Quin and Arnold looked at each other and then

shook their heads.

"I don't think so," Arnold said. "Bobby Lester

was out, but he twisted his ankle at the game." "We only have a couple of weeks until finals.

It's hard to miss class now," Peter said, "which