help it. I started imagining the enemy planes shooting at Blackieâs bomber.
All of a sudden the words went: âWe live in fame or go down in flame.â
Blackie went down in flames, I thought, down in flames.
Tears welled up in my eyes and my throat began to choke and it was hard to breathe. I jumped up. I couldnât help it. I ran out of the music room, down the hall, to the second floor boysâ room. I fell against the wall and started to sob and sob and sob.
Suddenly, Mr. Conklin came in.
âTommy,â he said, âwhatever is the matter?â
I could hardly talk, I was crying so hard. Mr. Conklin lifted me up and took me out into the hallway. Miss Mulligan took me by the shoulders into the teachersâ room. The doors to the classrooms were open and kids looked out at me.
When we got inside the teachersâ room, Miss Mulligan asked me very quietly, âCan you tell me whatâs wrong, Tommy?â
âMy cousin Blackie was killed when his plane was shot down. The Air Corps song made me think about it and I couldnât stop,â I sobbed.
âHere,â Miss Mulligan said, handing me some tissues. âWipe your nose and try to dry your eyes. Iâm going to take you down to the nurseâs office, where you can lie down.â
We went down the stairs to Miss Lubyâs office. I lay down on the little cot that was against the wall. Miss Mulligan gave me a paper cup of water and pulled down the window shade so the room wasnât bright anymore.
âYou rest and Iâll be back in a minute,â said Miss Mulligan. She went out the door and closed it.
As much as I tried, I just couldnât stop my tears from coming. My stomach hurt. I couldnât catch my breath. I just wanted to go home.
The door to the room opened and there were Miss Mulligan, Miss Burke, the principal, Miss Gardner, my teacher, and my brother, Buddy. Miss Gardner had my jacket.
âTommy,â Miss Burke said, âJoseph will take you home. We called your mother and sheâs waiting for you. Now, put on your jacket and weâll see you on Monday.â
Buddy and I left even though school wasnât over yet.
Buddy looked mad. âHurry up!â he yelled. He walked fast and ahead of me.
I had to run to keep up.
âThanks a lot,â Buddy said. âMy friends are going to laugh at me because of you.â
I didnât say anything. I didnât know what was wrong.
When we got home, Mom was waiting at the door. She hugged me.
âYou go right upstairs to the bathroom, Tomie, and wash your face with a cold cloth.â
While I was in the bathroom, I heard Buddy talking to Mom. âIâm so glad that I go to Lincoln Junior High School next year and wonât ever have to be in the same school as him as long as I live!â
âBuddy, watch your tone,â Mom scolded.
âI donât care. All my friends are going to laugh at me. Itâs all over the school: Tomie dePaola ran out of the music room, crying like a BABY!â
âJust you be careful, young man,â I heard Mom say. âTomie got very upset about the Air Corps song. He couldnât help it. You know how much he loved Blackie.â
âHe always does stuff so everyone pays attention to him,â Buddy answered. âIt embarrasses me! Heâs a big sissy. Everyone thinks so.â
âThatâs enough, Buddy,â Mom said. âI think youâd better go up to your room and cool off.â
Mom came to the stairs. âTomie,â she called, âcome down.â
Buddy stormed up the stairs.
I was just coming out of the bathroom. As Buddy passed me, he punched meâhardâin the arm.
âIâll get even with you!â he growled.
I ran down the stairs. That night I slept on the daybed in my baby sister Maureenâs room. Mom said Buddy needed to âsimmer down.â
Chapter Two
I love going to Miss Leahâs Dancing
Adriane Leigh
Cindy Bell
Elizabeth Rosner
Richard D. Parker
t. h. snyder
Michelle Diener
Jackie Ivie
Jay McLean
Peter Hallett
Tw Brown