back. ?Anyway. I knew about the knife thing because, well, I tried
to stab you once, too,? she continued bashfully. ?But I already
knew you?d be fine because of what happened with Gretchen and
the scissors in second grade. Remember??
Helen grimaced. ?Oh, yeah! Gretchen and the scissors! She really
was trying to kill me, wasn?t she??
?Yeah, she was. She was crazy jealous of you. But I never wanted
to hurt you, I just had to be sure I wasn?t losing my mind. It was
scary, you know?? she asked apologetically.
Helen smiled, forgiving her instantly.
?I guess I can?t blame you. But how?d you know about the
lightning-bolt thing??
?Remember when we were nine, we were going off island on the
ferry to see the Boston Aquarium, and that creepy guy with that
huge gut kept trying to talk to us? Remember how he kept ?accidentally?
bumping up against you and stroking your hair??
Helen did remember, even though she had spent a lot of time trying
to forget. There had been that horrible smell of burnt hair, and
the empty look in his eyes. Helen nodded, shivering at the thought,
and dreading where Claire was going.
?Remember how he just disappeared suddenly before we docked?
Well, he didn?t just disappear. He tried to grab you, Len, and I saw
an electric spark jump from you to him. It blew him right off the
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deck of the ferry. It looked like lightning, except it came out of
you.?
?I think I killed him,? Helen whispered, needing finally to admit
what she had done.
?Good! He was a child molester! You should probably get a
medal,? Claire insisted. Helen looked at Claire?s earnest face. The