The Pink Sneakers Club: Sometime Around Midnight. Christian Bertoni
I’m gonna bring her some hot chocolate and maybe we’ll watch a movie or something. She’ll be fine. She’s a lot stronger than we give her credit.”
“That’s true. Want me to make you guys some popcorn?”
“Maybe later. What’s dad doing?”
“Watching T.V.”
“Did he say anything?”
“Same as you. He checked everywhere and can’t understand what happened.”
“I won’t lie mom it was weird. I mean the words covered her whole room. I don’t think there was a blank space on the wall or the ceiling.”
“And it said, sometime around midnight?”
“Yeah. Weird.”
“What does it mean?”
“How should I know I didn’t write it?” And with that I took the two cups of hot chocolate up to my room.
I banged on the door with my foot Deirdre opened it, “sorry.” She must’ve just finished taking a shower cause she was towel drying her hair.
“It’s okay. How are you feeling?”
“Better.” I handed her the cup of hot chocolate, “thanks.” She took a couple of sips.
I sat at my desk and she sat on the floor looking up at me, “any idea who could’ve done that?”
“None. You?”
“No.” she paused for a moment, “you don’t think . . . Jackson could’ve done it do you?”
“Even if he could, my dad checked the whole house before you went inside. He said it was clear.”
“Maybe he didn’t check my room.”
“Not my dad. If he says he checked the whole house. He checked the whole house. Trust me.”
“Then who?”
“I don’t know I’m still trying to figure out what sometime around midnight means.”
“Weird huh?”
“Yeah . . . “ all of a sudden I had a brilliant idea. “What if something is gonna happen at midnight?”
“Oh no you don’t. You’re getting another one of your ideas aren’t you?”
“Hear me out. What if we go to your house and hide out in the bushes and see what happens at midnight. It couldn’t hurt anything. Come on what do you say? We could see if the others want to join us.”
“Randi I don’t know.”
“Look we won’t go in, I swearish.”
“Swearish?”
“Yeah it means I swear but I reserve the right to change my mind if I need to.”
“No. If we do this we spy only, maybe take pictures but we don’t go in. No swearish. Swear!”
“Fine.” I said a little exasperated, “I swear. Happy?” I had my fingers crossed.
While we were sipping our hot chocolate I texted everyone. Kaye and Caren were in but Natalie was – working? I didn’t even know. I don’t know why I’m surprised we’ve just started being friends. “Well everyone’s in except Natalie.”
“She’s not coming?”
“Nope she’s working.”
“Where?”
“Didn’t say.”
“Alright I told them to meet us at your house at 11:30 so let’s hang out for a few hours and then we’ll go.” I paused for a moment, “you okay with doing this?”
“Yes. I’m not some delicate flower. I can handle it. I just got freaked out that’s all.”
“Ookkaay, relax. I’m just making sure.”
“I’m fine. I’m fine.”
Deirdre
Chapter 8
11:30 came a lot quicker than I had hoped. Don’t get me wrong I’m not scared per se, but . . . the fact that someone has the ability to torment me like that has me a little freaked. Don’t worry I’ll be fine I just need to catch whoever’s doing this to me.
Randi and I parked in front of my house Caren and Kaye were sitting in the car waiting for us. They came over and got in the car with us. All the lights in the house were still on.
“So what’s going on?” Kaye asked.
Randi and I filled them in on what happened.
“Really? Wow. Who do you think did it?” Kaye asked.
“Deirdre thinks it might be Jackson.” Randi said.
“Nah I don’t see it. He’s too stupid. Whoever’s doing it has put a lot of thought into it.” Kaye said.
“I think Kaye’s right. Any idea why someone would write sometime around midnight?” Caren asked.
“None. That’s why we’re here. To see if something happens.” Randi said. She clapped her hands together, “okay let’s get into position.”
“What time is it?” Caren asked.
I answered, “11:42.”
We sat and sat and sat.
Caren asked again, “what time is it?”
“11:43.” I answered.
“Really? Sure does feel like we’ve been sitting in here for a while. Anyone want to play I Spy?”
“Yeah why not.” Randi said.
“I’ll go first.” Caren said. “Okay, I Spy with my little eye, a girl.”
We all looked around the street, the houses, the yards, everywhere a girl would be spotted. After about five minutes of searching we gave up.
Randi said. “I don’t see any girl. You’re not making this up are you like that time you thought you saw Rihanna at Lady Footlocker. Like Rihanna would ever shop there.”
Caren got real defensive. “No. I thought Rihanna worked at Lady Footlocker. Anyways, it turns out it wasn’t her.”
“Fine. We give up.” Kaye said. “Where’s this elusive girl.”
“Upstairs window in Deirdre’s house.”
Kaye
Chapter 9
“WHAT!?!?!?!” We said looking at her. We looked out the car window furiously trying to catch a glimpse of Caren’s girl.
“Where?” Randi said, “I don’t see anyone!”
“C’mon! Let’s check it out!” I yelled out.
Deirdre grabbed Randi’s arm, “you swore we wouldn’t go in!”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious why a girl is in your house!?!? Besides yeah I had my fingers crossed.”
“Maybe she’s homeless.” Caren added.
“Only one way to find out!” I said getting out of the car and limping as fast as I could up the front steps. I opened the front door and entered. The others followed with Deirdre bringing up the rear, reluctantly. “C’mon you slow pokes. Caren said she saw her up here.” We walked quietly up the stairs.
Once we approached the second floor hallway we