Belle Teal by Ann Martin

Mama and Gran and I do not have a bomb shelter, but Clarice says we can always go to their house if a war starts.
    We sit on the rumpus-room couch and drink Cokes and help ourselves to a dish of Halloween candy.
    â€œI’ve got to talk to Little Boss,” I say. “This is killing me.”
    â€œCall him, then,” says Clarice, waving her hand toward the phone.
    â€œI can’t. They don’t have a phone, remember?”
    â€œThen let’s go over there.”
    â€œAnd run into Big Boss? Are you kidding?”
    â€œIt’s Thursday. He should be at work.”
    â€œWith Big Boss, you never know. I’m not going over there.”
    We lean back in the couch and each eat a Tootsie Roll.
    â€œYour grandmother thought you all were at church last night?” Clarice says after a moment.
    â€œYeah. And I’m not sure who she thought I was. Maybe Mama, when Mama was little. She was talking about Sunday school and church gloves. You know she made Mama and Lyman go to Sunday school and church every single Sunday while they were growing up. That’s why Mama won’t hold with church stuff now.”
    â€œBut how could your grandmother look around the Halloween party and think she was in church?”
    â€œI don’t know. How could she look at me and call me Adele? Or Lyman ?”
    Clarice shrugs. We are stumped.
    â€œWant to watch TV?” asks Clarice.
    I shake my head. I don’t want to go upstairs. I want us to be alone. But there isn’t much to do down here. We try looking at one of Shari’s fashion magazines, but it just isn’t us. Hairdos and makeup and all.
    â€œDo you think we’ll ever care about this stuff?” Clarice wants to know. She is wrinkling her nose at a photo of a girl about Shari’s age who’s holding up a tube of lipstick.
    â€œMaybe when we’re older,” I say. I don’t want to rule out any possibilities. Then I heave an enormous sigh and add, “One thing, Clarice, do you think Little Boss might have a crush on me?”
    Clarice drops the magazine. “What?”
    â€œI don’t know. Last night, when he thought Darryl was me, he got him a plate of food, and he won him that prize and all. And you know how he’s always teasing me. Could be that he likes me.”
    I half expect Clarice to laugh, but she does not. Instead, all serious-like, she says, “I guess it could be. Lord, no wonder he was so embarrassed last night. It wasn’t even just our trick. Or that Big Boss saw him get tricked.”
    â€œI know.” Now I feel more miserable than ever. I decide there is nothing to do but wait until Monday and talk to him at school.
    Â 
    On Monday morning I am the first one off the bus. I fly down the steps and along the walk to the front door of Coker Creek. When I get to our classroom I look inside. Little Boss isn’t there yet. I will wait for him by the door.
    I wait until the last bell has rung and Miss Casey is about to take attendance. No Little Boss.
    He shows up the next morning, though. I am posted by our door again. Clarice, Chas, and Vernon, they are all in the classroom.
    â€œLittle Boss!” I cry when I see him.
    â€œHey, Belle Teal,” he answers. He does not sound too mad. Then I notice that he is holding his notebook and lunch and everything all in one arm, and keeping his other arm pulled against his chest.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” I ask. “Did you hurt yourself?” I try to roll back the sleeve of his jacket for a better look.
    Little Boss jumps a mile.
    â€œTake off your coat,” I command.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWell, you’re going to have to. Miss Casey won’t let you wear it inside.”
    Little Boss shrugs out of his jacket. His left wrist is in a splint.
    â€œWhat happened?” I say, suspicious-like.
    â€œI fell down the stairs. That’s why I didn’t come to school yesterday.”
    â€œHow did you