Mama left the room. Maggie pulled off her clothes and put on her jeans and the blouse. She brushed out her hair. She put on some mascara and a little eye shadow. Not too much because she didn't want Don and Skeeter to tease her.When she walked into the living room Bill put an arm around her. He whispered in her ear, "I don't know why my boy is taking that Brenda girl along. I'd have more sense if I was him."

Maggie grinned at Bill.

Fifteen minutes later, she was sitting beside John Carl in the cab of his truck. He kept looking at her. She tried to ignore him but she couldn't. He smiled at her. She blushed.

Don jabbed Skeeter in the shoulder, and said, "Sure is amazing the way Maggie turns red every time John Carl looks at her."

Skeeter said, "Shut up, Don."

Don started humming under his breath.

When they pulled up at Brenda's, John Carl honked. Brenda came bouncing out of the house smiling until she saw Maggie sitting by John Carl. He got out to let Brenda in. She slid onto the seat beside Maggie and said, "I didn't know we were taking a crowd tonight."

"Three extra's not a crowd unless you're one of them," Don said.

Brenda frowned at him.

Don started sniffing the air. "Something stinks." He leaned over and looked at Brenda, "Oh, it's you. Bit heavy-handed with your oudee toilet."

"Don," John Carl said.

Don shrugged and pinched his nose closed. Skeeter slapped his hand over his nose and mouth. Maggie turned her face away from Brenda and smiled. She thought, Tonight might prove to be very interesting. When she turned back she saw Brenda put her hand on John Carl's knee. Suddenly Maggie felt ill. Brenda's perfume really was a bit too strong. It was close and hot in the truck cab. She wished she could sit in back. She wanted to go home. She should have said no.

Skeeter touched her arm. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head. Her stomach churned. She felt like she was going to throw up. Skeeter pulled her head down to his cupped hand. He whispered, "You're lot's prettier than her."

"Thanks," Maggie whispered back.

Brenda said, "It's not polite to whisper."

"It ain't polite to kill people with your oudee toilet either." Don clutched his throat and gasped for air.

"Why did you bring him?" Brenda asked.

John Carl shrugged.

In a high pitched sing song voice Don said, "He bringed me cause he loves me."

Maggie couldn't stand the near proximity of Brenda a second longer. She asked Don, "Can I sit by the window."

Don leaned over and looked at Brenda. He said, "For you Maggie I would do anything. But what about poor Skeeter? He is sure to die of suffocation sitting so close to her."

"Don, that is enough," John Carl said. "You can go ahead and switch Maggie."

Maggie hopped over Don and Skeeter. She stuck her hand out the window. The rushing air made her feel calmer. Her stomach settled down.

When they got to the drive-in's pay booth Don pushed Skeeter into Brenda. "Hey, watch it," Brenda said.

"Don's doing it," Skeeter told her.

Don leaned against Skeeter digging in his pocket for his money. He handed John Carl the rumpled bills ramming them right under Brenda's nose.

"That's okay Don," John Carl said. "Tonight's my treat."

"Oh, wonderful," Brenda said. "I guess this means you'll be broke until pay day."

*

The movie, HIGH SCHOOL HEAVEN, was boring. Brenda seemed to think it was hysterical. Halfway through, Don and Skeeter disappeared. They claimed they needed to go to the restroom, but they hadn't come back. Maggie told John Carl, "I better go find Skeeter and Don."

Brenda snuggled up against John Carl and said, "That's a good idea. Take your time."

Maggie could tell by Brenda's expression what she meant. At this point Maggie didn't care. John Carl was stupid and she was having the worst time ever. She should have stayed at the house.

Slowly Maggie threaded her way through the parked cars. She found the boys staring wide-eyed at one couple. In a low voice she heard Don say, "I think he is trying to eat her." Then he burst into a chorus of smacking noises.

Maggie grabbed his arm and said, "Shh." The couple in the car didn't even notice them. Maggie led the boys away from the car.

Don whined, "This movie is so dumb."

"Well, you're the one who wanted to come."

Don rolled his eyes. "What do I know? I'm just a kid."

Maggie took the boys over to the concession stand. At the counter she placed her order then turned to ask the boys what they wanted. They were gone. The woman at the counter waited. Maggie said, "Never mind."

As she started back toward the truck she noticed the light in the women's restroom flickered on and off, on and off. Surely they wouldn't be in there. Maggie went into the restroom.

Don whispered, "Quick, someone's coming." The room went dark.

Maggie heard a stall door slowly creak as it opened. She could make out the shadowy form of her brother riding the stall door. She reached up and grabbed his foot. Skeeter screamed. The lights flashed on. Skeeter muttered, "Its just you."

From the over turned trashcan by the light switch, Don grinned down at her and said "Skeeter screams like a girl."

"Get out of here now." Maggie marched the boys to the concession stand and stayed behind them so they wouldn't run off again. As they walked back to the truck, Don and Skeeter tossed popcorn into the open cars.

When they got to John Carl's truck Don climbed up on its roof. He sat down cross-legged. The car behind them beeped.

"Aw, knock it off," Don yelled. "You can see over me. I'm a short kid."

John Carl jumped out and pulled Don down.

"You wonder why I don't take you anywhere." He tossed him in the truck bed. "You stay put." John Carl got back inside.

Maggie and Skeeter joined Don in the back. They threw popcorn into the air and tried to catch it with their mouths. Skeeter was the best.

Finally the movie was over. Don jumped up and yelled, "Praise the Lord."

John Carl turned and frowned at him. Then he looked at Maggie and asked, "How about coming back up front?"

She shook her head. "No thanks."

John Carl's truck rumbled. Slowly they drove out of the Drive-in. The truck turned on the highway, then accelerated. The wind pulled at her hair. Maggie looked up at the sky. There were so many stars. The night air felt wonderful as they zoomed down the open highway. It felt like flying.

When they pulled up to Brenda's house Brenda got out on the opposite side of the truck. John Carl didn't get out at all. Brenda slammed the door and then stomped to her front door. Just before she slammed it closed Don yelled, "Good night, oh woman of great odor."

Maggie clamped her hand over her mouth to keep from giggling.

With great satisfaction, Don said, "She ain't too fond of me."

John Carl leaned out his window and tugged at Maggie's shirt sleeve. "Will you ride up front with me now?" he asked.

Skeeter nudged Maggie and nodded.

"I guess," she said. She crawled over the boys and climbed through the opposite window.

John Carl started the truck. As they pulled out on to the road he said, "I'm sorry you didn't have much fun."

"That's okay," Maggie said. She didn’t know what else to say. Silence hung heavy between them. She wished she was in back with Don and Skeeter. John Carl rested his right arm on the back of the seat. His fingers were just inches away from her shoulder.

She took a deep breath. The silence was unbearable. In a shaky voice she asked, "Why did you ask us to come along? Brenda obviously didn't want us around."

John Carl glanced at her. Maggie looked away. She couldn't meet his eyes.

He said, "I figured you must get tired of being stuck at the house. I knew if I asked you I'd have to ask Skeeter too. I took Don along for Skeeter."

Wasn't that nice of you, Maggie thought. Aloud she said, "Oh, I don't mind being at the house. It has been a little lonely since Daniel, well you know. He used to play cards with me or I'd read a Zane Grey novel to him. He didn't go off all the time like you and Billy do."

"He didn't have a girlfriend," John Carl said.

Maggie didn't respond. Inwardly she groaned.

"Daniel and me were talking about you a couple weeks ago," he continued.

"You were?"

John Carl stretched his arm out further behind her and touched her shoulder with his fingertips. "He told me you've got a crush on me."

Maggie felt like she had been hit. Why did Daniel betray her confidence? She was angry and confused. Was she allowed to be mad at someone who was dead? Daniel promised he wouldn't tell.

"I was real flattered," John Carl said. "A girl as pretty as you." He ran his fingers along the base of her neck.

Maggie looked out the window. Her throat was tight. He was flattered, that was all.

Still touching her he said, "You're going to be starting high school soon."

Maggie managed to mumble, "Yeah, in two more weeks."

John Carl sighed. "I can't believe I will be graduating this year. It's gone by too fast. I'm not sure what I'm going to do next year." He squeezed Maggie's neck gently then let go. He kept his hand on the seat behind her.

Maggie looked at him. He smiled at her. To her amazement, she smiled back. Why?

A few minutes later they were home. Maggie got out of the truck. John Carl came around to her and extended his arm to her. Did he want her to take his arm? "May I escort you home?" he asked.

Maggie nodded. She wrapped her hand around his bicep. Touching him felt good. If only the house were a million miles away.

Don and Skeeter ran ahead of them. Don was spending the night.

John Carl stopped Maggie just before they went inside. "I was afraid you weren't going to come when I got home this evening. I'm really glad you came tonight."

"Me too."

*

Maggie was on the front porch couch reading Zane Grey's novel, NEVADA, by flashlight. She heard Billy's car pull in under the oak tree. His boots crunched across the gravel. "Hey," he said as he swung open the screen door. Maggie rolled over and sat up. She shone the flashlight directly into his eyes. Billy yanked it away from her and flipped it off. He sat down beside her and sighed.

"What did you and Sally do tonight?" Maggie asked.

"Drove around mostly." Billy fumbled with his pack of cigarettes.

Maggie put her hand on his and said, "Don't."

"Okay, Miss Health Police. How was the movie?"

"Awful," Maggie said. "Billy?"

"Mmm?"

"Can you tell me what's so wonderful about Brenda?"

Billy scratched his chin and looked at Maggie. "Well she's built and she knows how to get her way. She has this look that makes guys jump and take notice. She also knows how to flirt."

"I don't know how to flirt," Maggie said. "Sally's not a flirt and you like her just fine."

"That's 'cause I'm the flirt in our relationship." He grinned at Maggie.

"Why do you think John Carl asked me to go tonight?"

"I don't know. Maybe he likes you. Maybe he just likes to be seen at the drive-in with two pretty girls. I can't figure him out," he said.

Billy got up.

Maggie grabbed his hand. "Do you think John Carl's just flirting with me?"

Billy leaned over and kissed her full on the mouth. "I don't know about John Carl, but I sure am."

Maggie pushed him away. "You are awful," she said wiping her mouth off.

Billy laughed. "Tis sad but true." He patted her head then went inside.

Maggie flipped the flashlight back on and continued to read.