In Lit class, seated on her stool at the front of the room, Mrs. Beasley read the poem of the day. Lolly’s mind was so cluttered she did not drink in the words spoken in Mrs. Beasley’s fine British accent until she reached the very last lines,

O luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.

I have been one acquainted with the night.*

The words of Robert Frost seemed to echo deep inside of her. The night as metaphor was something she had experienced many times. The idea that the moon did not proclaim "the time wrong nor right," offered her an odd comfort. One could never know what time would offer or how time would change one's initial perspective.

When class was over, Mrs. Beasley called Lolly to her desk. She asked, “How are you doing Lolly, girl?”

“I’m better. Thanks for letting me turn my paper in late."

“Good. It takes a while to recover from something like that, so be patient with yourself. As for your paper, Michael Dutchendorph told me on Wednesday that you had it finished. I suspected you did." She opened the side drawer of her desk and said, "I came across this book and I thought you might like it.” From the drawer, she pulled out a paper back and handed it to Lolly. On the cover was a girl with a German Shepherd. The title was, Light A Single Candle, by Beverly Butler. Mrs. Beasely said, “The title references an old Chinese Proverb, It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. Lolly, that is what I feel you do in your own quiet way. I think you will really like the story. I did. Plus, there is a sequal."

Lolly was a sucker for sequels. “Thank you, I know I will.” She slipped the book in her backpack with Puccini and headed into the hall.

Munch was waiting for her. He was still in a grim mood. As they walked down the hall to their next class, she said, “Look,” and unzipped her backpack.

Munch peered inside and exclaimed, “You kidnapped Puccini?!”

Lolly frowned at him. “Like I would do that! Mitzi put him in there without me knowing.”

“That was really a cool thing to do.”

“I know right. I am going to talk to Aunt Jessie and tell her about Mitzi's selflessness. I am hoping it will get Mitzi back in your fashion show.” Though she did not say it out loud, she was also going to tell Aunt Jessie that the show had been postponed again.

“I hope she lets her. I think I will make her and Puccini Angel wings to go with their outfits. Because in her own weird way Mitzi is an angel, and today Puccini is your guardian angel.” He grinned. It was the first smile he had given her that day.

*

Banner festooned the halls. The cheerleaders had been really busy with their tempra paint and butcher paper. So many well wishes to the team and declarations of violence to their opponents were taped to the walls. When she reached the cafeteria, the noise was an assault to Lolly's ears. She made her way to the table where she and Munch ate. Much was not alone, Lisa was with him. When she reached them, he said, “Guess what I have a new model.” He gave her a huge smile. “Lisa has agreed to be in the show. I have some sketches to do.”

Lolly sat down beside him. “That is fantastic Munch.” She glanced at Lisa. She was smiling too. It was a real honest smile, without a trace of fear.

After they finished their lunches, Munch went to the art room and Lolly and Lisa went to the library. Lisa got out her vocabulary list. She seemed embarrassed. “I love to read, but I am such a bad speller. I would like to get a B this time if at all possible.”

Since they were in the library, Lolly would whisper a word to her, and Lisa would write it down. She really was bad speller, but Lolly was determined. In frustration, Lisa threw her pencil down. “I am never going to get this. Maybe I should just be thankful I am passing.”

Lolly told her, “I feel the same way about Geometry. No matter how hard I try, I just don’t get it. Grandma Toady says, its not the grade that matters most, its the effort.”

“I will have to remember that.” She glanced at the clock and groaned. “Ugh, I do not want to take this test. I have it next period.”

“Do you want to study some more?”

“No, we just have five minutes before the bell. I need to clear my head. Let’s talk about something else. Did you see The Waltons on Thursday?”

Suddenly, Lolly was lonesome for Pa. The episode had been a sad one. She had cried and Pa had put his arm around her. “Yeah, I saw it.”

“I just bawled. That show!” She dropped her voice and said, “I wish real boys were like John Boy. I have the worst crush on him.”

Lolly confessed, “Me too.”

"I just love Grandpa Walton. He is so wise and he says the funniest things."

Lolly thought so too. It was strange. She and Lisa had known each other for years and never had a real conversation until today. They actually had things in common.

When the bell rang, Lisa asked, “Can I join you tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Was it possible she had just made a new old friend?

Out in the hall they seperated. Lolly was headed for dreaded Geometry, when a hand cupped her elbow. She turned, it was Trevor.

His face was flushed, he said, “I was afraid, I wouldn’t find you before I left." The Regional qualifiers were checking out of school early to head to Coprus Christi for the Cross Country Meet. His hand tightened around her elbow. "Wish me luck." He was scared. She always thought he was so confident. "I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe me coming in third was a fluke."

"It wasn't. Have a little faith in yourself."

The smile he gave her was worried. His eyes searched her face for reasurance. She gave him a quick hug and said in his ear, "You earned this chance. Like they say about the Oscars, at least you were nominated."

"Thanks Lolly." His lips brushed the side of her face. His lips were soft. Lolly felt a bit peculiar. Did he just kiss her? There had not been any smacking noise, not even a tiny one.

The warning bell rang. They let go of each other. As Trevor backed his way toward the cafeteria, he said, “I will call you tomorrow night to tell you how I did.”

"Okay."

He turned and sprinted to the cafeteria. Lolly glanced at the wall clock. Could she make it to Geometry in time? Maybe. She rushed to the math hall.

After Geometry, Lisa met her in the hall. She asked, "Did I see Trevor kiss your cheek in the hall? I was kinda far away, but it looked like he did. Did he?"

So Lisa thought it was a kiss. Lolly didn't say anything, but she could feel her face getting warm.

"He did,"

Lolly had spent a lot of her life pretending. It was okay some of the time, but not now. Finally, she got the words out, "I really don't know. Maybe he accidently brushed my cheek with his lips."

Lisa smiled and shook her head. "Aww, Sweetie, boys don't ever accidentally do anything with their lips."

"Really?"

"Really!"

They both giggled.

Lisa said, "A new film called, The Other Side of the Mountain is opening on Friday. It is supposed to be the sweetest love story and a real tear jerker. Do you want to go see it with me? I can come pick you up?"

"Uh, sure. That would be great."

"Excellent. I have to go to the early show, because of my curfew. Hey, I have an idea." Lisa's face lit up. "Why don't you spend the night?"

Lolly had never had been to a sleep over before. When she was little Grandma Toady had taken a dim view of Sleep overs. She did not trust other parents to watch their children or her grandchild. "I'd like that, but I gotta check with my Grandma first."

"Okay, call me and let me know." Lisa pulled out an ink pen and a little square of pink paper. On it she wrote her name and number.

Lolly took the paper and said, "Thanks."

"We are going to have so much fun and you missy are going to tell me all about Trevor Long!"

Girl talk. Lolly didn't know if she was going to be any good at that, but deep down, she was so grateful she was finally going to get to find out.

*

Lolly had survived the school day. It had not been as aweful as she thought it would be. In fact it had actually been a good day. Mrs. Anderson opened the bus doors. Lolly got on and took her seat. The bus filled. Where was Munch? For a minute or two, Mrs. Anderson waited. She glanced at her watch and reached for the handle that closed the door. Before she could pull it, the distant voice of Munch yelled, "Wait for me!" Lolly looked toward the school. Munch was actually running! His sewing bag was flying behind him. Again, he shouted, "Wait for me!" Mrs. Anderson left the doors open.

Munch stumbled into the bus. "Thank you Mrs. Anderson! You are an angel sent from heaven."

"Sit down Munch." Mrs. Anderson closed the door.

Munch plopped onto the seat beside Lolly. He was flushed. The bus roared away from the curb. He turned to Lolly and said, "I heard that Trevor french kissed you outside the library in front of everyone. Viv saw and she turned PURPLE!"

Oh, my God, rumors! Lolly said, "No, that did not happen."

"Mmm." Munch cocked his head, "Well, Viv thinks it did, so I find pleasure in that." He looked at her and did a double take. He said, "That is a fine blouse you are wearing. Where did you get it?"

"It's Grandma Toady's. Mitzi picked it out."

"That child is a fashion Savant. There will always be room for Mitzi in the House of Munch. You have got to get your Aunt Jessie to let her be in my show."

"I will." Lolly didn't know how she was going to do it, but she was going to do it.