Hit Squad (7 page)

He looked over at Birgit. Their eyes met. He tried to read them but could see nothing there. To think that just a short time ago those beautiful eyes had bewitched him. Not anymore. Birgit's words—
he's just a big nobody
—still rang in his ears.

Heck's death had changed Mickey, although he didn't fully understand all that was different. He did know that he had been a fool. His need to belong to the Grandview in-group had blinded him. He had never really liked Whisper or Peter. Only Birgit. Or had admired her. Was that the same as liking? He wasn't sure. But he realized now that Grandview people were no better than anyone else. And that Grandview High was no better than Creekside High.

The minister had stopped speaking. The Hobbits were trickling brown soil through their fingers into the open grave and onto Heck's coffin.

Candy dropped her flower onto the coffin and stood with her head bowed. Then she turned away from the graveside and headed across the grass towards the cemetery gate.

Mickey turned away from Birgit and hurried after Candy. He fell into step beside her. Her eyes were smudged with tears. “I'm sorry,” he said.

“I know you are. But that won't bring Heck back, will it?”

“No.”

They walked.

Mickey said, “Are we still friends, Candy?”

“I don't know, Mickey. I don't think I can trust you enough to be a friend. Real friends aren't so stuck on themselves that they always put themselves first. Real friends are thoughtful and kind.”

“I could change, Candy. I could change.”

Heck's empty chair was filled before the week was out. The Hobbits had a new kid, a fourteen-year-old boy. He had been kicked out of his previous foster home for lighting matches in his room and causing a fire. No
one was hurt, but the foster parents said they couldn't take any chances. They had to let him go.

Supper was homemade baked beans and salad. Larry and Annie sat in their usual places at the ends of the table. Mickey sat on one side with the new kid beside him, in Heck's old chair. Candy, Jimmy and Sammy sat opposite. Jimmy and Sammy couldn't stop staring at the new kid.

It was Candy's turn to say grace. “For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us thankful.”

“Amen,” came the response.

“Amen,” said Dietrich loudly, several seconds later.

Sammy laughed.

Larry frowned at him.

“Sorry,” said Sammy.

Dietrich giggled. “That's all right, Jimmy,” he said, smiling at Sammy.

“Sammy,” said Sammy. “I'm Sammy.” He turned to Jimmy. “This is Jimmy.”

The new kid's name was Dietrich
Mueller. He was having trouble getting everyone's name straight. He was a student at Grandview. “I seen you at school,” Dietrich said to Mickey as he helped himself to the beans. “Beans are good. They make you fart.” He giggled loudly.

Mickey looked at the others to see how they were taking this. Jimmy blushed. Sammy laughed and pounded the table with his fist. Candy smiled. Larry frowned at Sammy. Sammy stopped being noisy. Annie had a coughing fit.

When it came to helping himself to the salad, Dietrich dropped the wooden serving fork and spoon. They fell with a clatter onto the table beside Mickey. Dietrich's coordination seemed poor. “Here, let me help,” said Mickey, serving him.

“Thanks, Mick,” said Dietrich.

“It's Mickey,” said Mickey.

“Sorry.”

Mickey smiled. “That's okay, Dietrich. You'll soon get used to us.”

“At school everyone calls me Deet.”

Larry said, “Dietrich is a good name. I hope you won't mind if I call you that, Dietrich?”

“Me too,” said Mickey. “I will call you Dietrich.”

“We will all call you Dietrich,” said Annie.

So that was settled.

Larry said, “We'll need to get you an old bicycle, Dietrich, so you can bike to Grand-view with Mickey each day.”

Mickey said to Larry and Annie, “I'll be putting in for a transfer back to Creekside.” He turned to Dietrich. “You could do the same if you want, Dietrich. We could walk together. It's only a few blocks.”

Dietrich looked confused. Then he smiled. “Walk together. I like that.”

Mickey looked across at Candy. Her brown eyes were reading his mind again, he could tell. But it was okay; she was smiling her tilted smile back at him.