Olivia (Logan 5)

"I just wanted to say I was thinking of you. This

one's for Belinda, I thought," Arnold told her. "Oh." She perked up, her dimple flashing.

"Well that's different. You won because of me. I want

everyone to know that," she declared. Arnold nodded

like a soldier taking orders to go forth and bellow the

news in the streets of Provincetown.

"They asked my band to play at the graduation

party on the beach," Quin blurted, attempting to win

back her attention.

"That's wonderful," Belinda cried.

"Can I pick you up and take you to the party?"

Arnold asked quickly.

"I can get my father's Cadillac," Peter

suggested. "I'll just come by with my motorcycle. You

can watch us set up," Quin added.

Belinda considered the offers and looked at me.

"What would you do, Olivia?"

"Walk," I said dryly.

She broke into a long, loud laugh and clapped

her hands.

"Walk. I love it. Yes, who will walk with me?" "If that's what you want to do," Arnold said

quickly. "I will."

Maybe he was the father after all, I thought.

She had denied it too quickly.

"I'm not sure yet. I'll think about it," Belinda

said coyly. She dangled her promise of acceptance

like bait and the three stood there nibbling like poor

dumb fish.

I retreated to the corner of the room where I sat

and watched and listened to them all go on and on