Lone Bean Read online

  When Ms. Sullivan first told us about the trip, I was a little worried. I mean, who was I gonna sit with on the bus? Not Carla. Not Stinky Stanley and definitely not Terrible Tanisha. But then I had a great idea. Since Mom has Fridays off from work, I asked her to be a chaperone and—guess what? She said yes! My mom is the best.

  As soon as I woke up, I got dressed and headed to the bathroom. I bumped right into Mom.

  “Good morning,” she said with a weird look on her face.

  “How come you’re wearing your hospital scrubs?” I asked.

  “Baby, I have some bad news.” She knelt down in front of me and looked right into my eyes. “I got a call from the hospital and they need me to come to work.”

  “But you don’t work on Fridays. It’s your day off.”

  “I know, but Nurse Johnson and Nurse Manning are both sick.”

  “Can’t you tell them that you’re sick too?” I pleaded.

  “No, baby, I can’t. That wouldn’t be true, and besides, they need me,” she said. “I already called the school to let them know.”

  “But you promised.”

  “I know and I’m sorry.” Mom gave me a hug. “I’ll make it up to you this weekend. Maybe we can go for ice cream, just you and me.”

  “I hate ice cream,” I said as I stomped off to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and dragged my feet downstairs to the kitchen. Dad was at the table eating scrambled eggs.

  “Can you chaperone the school trip today, Dad?” I asked, squeezing him so tight around his shoulders that he couldn’t lift his fork to his mouth.

  “Sorry, baby. I have classes all day at the college.”

  I slumped down in a seat at the table between Rose and Gardenia and scooped a spoonful of eggs into my mouth.

  “Come on, Bean. We’re gonna be late,” Rose said.

  “Bye, girls! Have a good day,” Dad called as Rose dragged me and Gardenia out the door.

  “Doubt it,” I groaned to myself.

  I was not so excited for the trip anymore and not so thankful that it was Friday. ISMIF! That stands for “I’m So Mad it’s Friday!”

  “See ya later,” Rose said as she dropped me off at the number 3 spot on the playground.

  I waved good-bye to her and got on the line. Right as I passed Terrible Tanisha, she stuck her foot out to try and trip me. Luckily, I spotted it just in time and hopped over it. Tanisha stuck her foot out again when Gabrielle skipped past. She’s not as quick as me, so she tripped. She stumbled and scuffed her shiny shoes on the pavement. I couldn’t help but giggle when she pulled a little cloth from her purse and began polishing them.

  Ms. Sullivan called roll and then we walked over to a big yellow bus. I had a pit in my stomach. Who was I gonna sit next to?

  Gabrielle was the first to get on the bus, then John, then Sam. When it was finally my turn, I climbed up the big, huge steps. Luckily, I spotted an empty row right behind Ms. Sullivan. Sitting alone wouldn’t be too bad. At least I wouldn’t have to beg someone to let me sit next to them.

  Tanisha was the last to get on. She looked around and there were no more empty rows. She was gonna have to sit next to someone.

  “Please find a seat, Tanisha,” called Ms. Sullivan. “Time to go.”

  I crossed my fingers and hoped that she wouldn’t sit in my row. But sure enough, she plopped herself down next to me and stared right at me. Take a picture, it will last longer, I thought to myself, but I didn’t dare say it out loud. Instead, I leaned my head against the cool window and watched the cars and trucks and motorcycles zoom by.

  We pulled up to the Natural History Museum, and, boy, did that change my mood. I had never seen dinosaurs in real life, and Ms. Sullivan said that they have a room full of them. I was excited!

  Everyone piled out of the bus in front of the big white building, and we all lined up by the stairs. A lady met us. She said, “I’m Ms. John,” which was funny because John is a man’s name. She was also wearing a red bow tie, which was really funny because ties are definitely for men, not women. She talked in a low whispery voice that didn’t go up and down like normal people’s do and she never stopped talking the whole time, not even when she was walking. And she refused to answer my questions, even when I raised my hand and waved it around right in front of her.

  We looked at junk in glass boxes that Ms. John called artifacts. B-o-r-i-n-g BORING! But, then I saw something shocking. Right there in broad daylight was a clay sculpture of a naked lady, about the size of a Barbie doll, on a table. Tanisha came up beside me.

  “That’s your favorite thing in the whole museum!” she teased.

  “No. I’m just looking at it because it’s old and it’s art, you know.”

  “Don’t look at her boooooooobies!” While no one was looking, Terrible Tanisha dropped a tissue on the naked statue’s head.

  I tried my hardest to stop myself from giggling, but I couldn’t. The statue was almost all covered, except for the feet, and she looked like someone dressed as a ghost on Halloween.

  When I turned, Tanisha was nowhere to be found. I didn’t want anyone to think I had done it, so I hightailed it out of there.

  At lunch, we sat around a long table in the cafeteria. I sat at the very end, right next to Sam, who sat next to Carla, who still was acting as if I didn’t exist.

  “This trip is pretty great, huh?” I said to Sam, but she didn’t hear because she was too busy listening to Carla.

  Ms. Sullivan and Ms. John passed out brown-paper-bag lunches with carrots—yuck—cheese sandwiches—yum—and cookies—double yum! Just as I finished my sandwich, I noticed Tanisha wasn’t across from me anymore. I peeked under the table, and there she was, with a big smile on her face. We both popped up just as Ms. Sullivan called, “Finish eating and throw out your trash.”

  Everyone got up to go . . . except Sam. She tripped and tumbled to the floor. Her shoelaces were tied together! Everyone laughed as she struggled to untie them and collect her lunch from the floor. I laughed harder than anyone else, because I knew who had done it. I turned and looked right at Tanisha and she grinned at me. I know she’s mean, but she is kinda funny.

  “Ms. Sullivan, can I go to the bathroom?” I asked.

  “Sure, Bean. Take a partner and meet us by the stairs.”

  I looked around. I had no one to be partners with and this was an emergency! I really needed to pee.

  “Renee, will you go to the bathroom with me?” I asked.

  “I don’t have to go,” she said, and then just walked away.

  “Sam, will you go with me to the bathroom?”

  “Naw, I just went,” she said.

  I don’t think she understood how serious this was. I really had to go to the bathroom. I crossed my legs and wiggled around as I looked for someone else.

  “I’ll go with you,” said Tanisha, and she started marching toward the bathroom. I had no other choice at this point, so I followed her. I burst through the door of the bathroom and into the first stall. Ahh!

  Tanisha was at the sink pumping pink, foamy soap into her hand. She kept pumping and pumping till it looked like a pile of cotton candy.

  “Cool,” I said, and squirted a pile of pink into my hand too. I rubbed my hands together and stuck them under the water to wash them, but not Terrible Tanisha. She slapped her hand onto the mirror, covering it with pink bubbles.

  “Your turn,” she said as she started pumping another pile of soap into her hand.

  “No, thanks. My hands are already clean.”

  I pushed the button on the hand dryer, and hot air blew like a tornado and dried my hands. When I turned around, both mirrors were covered in soap bubbles and Tanisha was standing in a stall shoving toilet paper into the toilet.

  “Come on,” she called. “Help me out.”

  I went closer and watched as she threw piles and piles of paper into the water. I grabbed a handful of those paper toilet-seat covers and dropped them in too. She gave me a high five and—flush! T
he paper churned and gurgled in the toilet, and then water started exploding everywhere.

  Tanisha howled with laughter, but I spun around and ran as fast as I could out of the bathroom, down the main hall, and to the stairs. I didn’t stop till I almost crashed into Ms. Sullivan and the rest of the class.

  “No running in the museum,” scolded Ms. John.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said. My heart was still pounding, but I tried to stay calm as we walked through the butterfly exhibit.

  “Attention, please, museum patrons,” a loudspeaker announced. “Due to a flood in the main hall, the dinosaur and fossil halls will be closed for the remainder of the day.”

  No way! Now I would never get to see the T. rex, the triceratops, or the flying one that I don’t remember the name of. This was all my fault. I dragged my feet through the rest of the museum, not even looking at anything. Well, maybe I peeked a little in the mammals’ hall, which was filled with funny-looking cavemen who looked like they were about to kill a stuffed bear.

  At the end of the day, we got on the bus and headed back to school. Tanisha sat next to me again, but I just ignored her. I leaned against the window, closed my eyes, and just felt sad. Clogging the toilet was a really b-a-d BAD idea.

  Chapter 9

  He’ll Never Catch Us

  After school, my sisters were busy giggling with their friends and flirting with boys, so I had to wait to go home. I leaned against the fence with my arms crossed and watched the crowds of kids scatter. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Carla and Sam weren’t shooting hoops and looking like they were having a ton of fun.

  Tanisha crossed the playground, dragging her dirty backpack on the cement. Instead of heading to the open gate, she walked straight toward me.

  “Whatcha doin’?” she asked, like we were friends.

  “Waiting for my sisters.” I motioned toward them.

  “Well, wanna hang out?” she asked matter-of-factly. “I’m bored.”

  I just stared at her, confused.

  “I’ll show you the drawer where Ms. Sullivan keeps all the candy she takes away from us,” Tanisha added.

  Now this was something I wanted to see. I mean, I l-o-v-e LOVE candy, and plus, maybe Carla would see us and get jealous.

  We walked back toward the building, past Carla and Sam, who didn’t even seem to notice. Rose didn’t either. Her eyes were glued to Doug, a tall, good-looking boy who was picking up his little sister from kindergarten. Me and Tanisha slid right past them and walked into the building.

  The door shut behind us. We were all alone in the school. It was quiet and kinda weird to be in the dark, empty halls. Tanisha pulled out two huge gumballs and handed me one. I chomped on it like a horse, with my mouth wide open. Mmm . . . cherry flavor!

  “Watch this,” Tanisha said. She pulled out the big red wad and stuck it over the hole of the water fountain. When she turned the knob, water sprayed from the spout like a sprinkler all over the hall. I jumped out of the way just in time!

  As we kept walking, Tanisha dragged a purple marker along the wall, making a squiggly line. Now, this made me really nervous. Students are not supposed to be in the building after school, and for sure we aren’t supposed to draw on the walls. Tanisha stopped at another water fountain right in front of our classroom.

  “Your turn.” She nudged me in the side.

  “Naw. It’s okay.”

  “Girl, do it!” Tanisha demanded; then she pushed me toward the fountain.

  I thought about it for a second. If I did it and got caught, I would be in big trouble, but if I didn’t, Tanisha might reach into my mouth and get it herself. So I went for it . . . I spit the wad of gum onto my fingers, shoved it over the hole of the fountain, took a deep breath, and turned the knob. No water came out.

  “You blocked the whole thing.” Tanisha laughed. “Move it to the side.”

  I dug my finger in and wiggled it around a little. When I turned the knob, water sprayed everywhere, and this time, we didn’t make it out of the way—water sprinkled all over us.

  “Hey! What are you two doing in here?” Mr. Hopper, the janitor, yelled from down the hall.

  “We’re okay,” said Tanisha as she grabbed my hand. “He’s so fat, he’ll never catch us.”

  “Get back here!” Mr. Hopper yelled as he ran behind us, huffing and puffing and dragging a bucket and mop.

  We turned the corner and pushed through the door and into Ms. Ring’s classroom. I could barely breathe. It was totally empty and quiet, and I remembered how safe I used to feel when I was in Ms. Ring’s class. I never ever got into trouble. I was a good girl then, but now I wasn’t so sure.

  Tanisha peered out the door.

  No Mr. Hopper, so she dragged me back into the hall. Just as we reached the big red door to go outside, Mr. Hopper popped his big head around the corner and yelled, “Get back here, you troublemakers!”

  I flew through the door and ran right to Rose’s side.

  “Bean, where have you been?” she asked.

  “We had to use the bathroom.”

  “Next time, let me know.”

  “All right,” I said, but I had absolutely no plans of running through the halls after school ever again.

  “Let’s go,” said Rose. She turned and headed toward the gate, where Gardenia was waiting.

  “Hey, Bean, can you come over and play for a little while?” Tanisha asked.

  “Maybe,” I said, to give me time to think. I hadn’t had a play date since school started and I guessed it would be kinda fun to play with someone . . . even if it was Tanisha. “Let me ask my sister.” I ran to catch Rose. “Do you think it would be okay if I go over to Tanisha’s house for a little bit?”

  Tanisha ran up too and said, “I live just down the block from you, by Jackson’s Barbershop.”

  “Let me talk to you for a second,” Rose said to me as she pulled me away from Tanisha. “Since when are you two pals?”

  “Since now.”

  “Bean, you know Tanisha is bad news and you always said she was mean to you.” Rose looked doubtful. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Please,” I begged. “I finally have someone to play with and she’s really not so bad.”

  “Fine,” she said with a shrug. “But you better be home before dark.”

  I agreed, and we all started walking toward home. Tanisha was smiling. I don’t think she ever had anyone over for a play date. She told me she has no sisters, and I definitely knew she didn’t have any friends.

  Tanisha’s apartment building was tucked in the alley. It was right behind Jackson’s Barbershop, with the swirly red-and-white pole that looks like a candy cane. I’d been to Jackson’s once with Dad to get his hair cut. I never knew Tanisha lived so close by. My house was down the block, but this part of the neighborhood felt completely different.

  “Remember, no street crossing without an adult, and be home before dark!” Rose yelled over her shoulder as she disappeared around the corner.

  I followed Tanisha to her building and up the stairs. The halls were dark and dirty and it kinda smelled like garbage and dog pee and smoke. The floorboards squeaked under my sneakers as we turned down a dark hallway and finally got to her door.

  Tanisha reached in her shirt and pulled out a key on a black string that was hanging around her neck and unlocked the door. I wondered where her mom was. I didn’t think she had a father. Well, I guess she’s gotta have one because that’s how babies are made, but she’s never talked about him at school. It made me feel so happy I have a dad. Come to think of it, I was glad to have sisters too, because Tanisha must get lonely.

  I trailed behind Tanisha as we walked inside. It was cold, but Tanisha didn’t seem to notice.

  “Want a snack or something?” she asked.

  “Sure. Whatcha got?”

  I stood in the middle of the room. It seemed like the whole house was in that one room. It was the kitchen and also the living room and maybe even the bedroom too. T
he stove, refrigerator, and sink were on one side, next to a table and a pullout couch made up like a bed, with a small TV on the other side.

  “How about some Cheetos?”

  “Sure!”

  I loosened up a little bit because Cheetos are my favorite, you know. She opened the bag and sat down on the couch bed. I sat on the edge and dug my hand in the bag. I popped a couple Cheetos in my mouth. Yum!

  Tanisha turned on a small staticky TV and we watched cartoons through the fuzz.

  “Want me to show you something cool?” Tanisha asked.

  “Okay,” I said as she dragged me into a room with another unmade bed in the middle and nothing much else.

  Tanisha got down on her hands and knees and pulled a box from under the bed. I sat next to her on the floor so I could get a look at what was inside—shiny necklaces, a pack of stinky cigarettes, and a whole bunch of money in a pile. More money than I had ever seen in one place.

  “Your mom should put that in the bank.”

  “She goes to the bank every Monday,” Tanisha said, and put two dollar bills in her back pocket. “I’m not supposed to know it’s here.”

  “What time does your mom get home?” I asked, because it was getting kind of creepy being here. I had never been in a house with no adults. Someone is always home at my house.

  “Usually, my mom gets home after dark, but it depends,” said Tanisha softly. She got up off the floor and looked out the window.

  “I think I better go,” I said. “I promised my dad I would help with dinner.”

  “You’ve gotta stay here for dinner,” she barked, but I insisted I had to go. I rushed to the front door as fast as I could.

  “I really can’t!” I called over my shoulder. I didn’t stop walking, because I was a little worried that she would grab me, tie me up, and force me to stay.

  I ran all the way home and felt much better when I swung through the back door and saw my dad. I wrapped my arms around his middle and gave him a good, long squeeze.