Monday afternoon Munch stood at the cursed mat cutter looking at his latest fail. Thanh Ho came up and asked, “Need some help?”

“Yes, please.”

She took the measurements and scored the mat precicely. It was perfect. The edges were beveled. He wanted to hug her! “Thank you so much.”

Shyly she smiled, “I can help you with the rest. I don’t mind.”

“That would be great.” Side by side they worked. He placed his drawings and watercolor painting in the mats while she cut them. The rhythm between them was good. Munch’s brain took a trip into the future. How awesome would it be to live life with someone who loved and understood art like he did.

When they were just about finished, Thahn Ho asked, “Are you matting these for a reason?”

Munch had not yet told her. He didn’t know why he hadn’t but he hadn’t. A sudden fear clutched in his stomach. “Uh, yeah, Mademoiselle Petite wants me to apply to Houstons school of Visual and Performing arts.”

Thahn Ho’s eyes got bright. “She wants me to do the same.”

“Really? That is wonderful!” Inside Munch’s heart was dancing fast. Maybe they would both get accepted! That would be so very cool. Afear shot up in Munch’s brain. What if only one of them got accepted?

*

The bush was ready and loaded except for Lolly. Where was she? What was she doing? He sure hoped her and Trevor were not having WORDS. They just couldn’t break up. If they did Munch would lose some of his faith in humanity. Lolly came flying through the front doors. It had been a while since he had seen her run. She had this weird kind of stutter step run that always cracked him up when they were kids. On her face was a smile. She actually looked happy. The instant she got on she gave him a big grin. Good news would be a change of pace for her. Munch smiled back. Lolly flopped down beside him and the bus pulled off.

As soon as the bus roared away from the curb, Lolly leaned close and said, “Quack asked Lisa out.” Dramatic Pause.

Munch waited a few seconds before he asked, “So?”

“She freaking said, YES. I guess that stunt he pulled with Trevor worked. I have no idea what she sees in him. I just don’t get it.”

Actually, Munch did get it, but he didn’t say so. Deep down Quack could be decent and sometimes even kind. His biggest obstacle at the moment was the fact he was a teenage boy. That in itself caused all kinds of stupid. Did Munch think this thing with Lisa and Quack would last? Nope, but he might be wrong. One never knew what was going to work or not work.

Lolly asked, “Did you hear me? What do you think she sees in that doofus?”

“I heard you. I don’t know what she sees in him, but Quack is really good at his art. He’s dedicated too. There are kids in our classes that are good at painting or drawing, but its not vital. For Quack, its like breathing. Its necessary.”

Lolly leaned back in her seat and stared at him. Another smile tugged at her lips. “What in the world has come over you Michael Dutchendorph? Could it be you have an new best friend?”

Aggravated, Munch said, “No. He’s not as bad as you think he is, that’s all.”

“I don’t think he’s bad. I just don’t think he’s not Lisa’s type or yours.”

Munch leveled his eyes at her and said, “You don’t know everything Lollipop.”

The bus stopped in front of the junior high and Max and Kevin got on with the rest of the junior high kids. Max had his head ducked down. When he passed Lolly and Munch he didn’t look at them, but they sure looked at him. He had a black eye and a blood stained bandaid on his chin. Lolly whispered to Munch, “He’s been in a fight and I can guess with who.”

When the bus stopped at their stop, Mrs. Anderson gave Max a curious look, but she didn’t ask any questions. Once they were all off the bus, Max shot passed them. Lolly tried to grab hold of Max’s sweat shirt, but she wasn’t quick enough. Her eyes followed Max to the trailers.

Munch said, “Let him be. Give him some time to cool off.”

“That would probably be best.”

Together, they walked down the drive and parted at the trailers. Munch made his way up the porch steps. A peculiar odor was emanating from the kitchen. Mama was at the stove cooking something that smelled like stew. She turned from the stove. The grin on her face was so complete and so happy, Munch knew she must have heard from that man.

Shouting erupted outside. It sounded like Aunt Jessie. Munch and Mama rushed out into the yard. Aunt Jessie stood on her trailer porch yelling, “Come back here now and tell me why you got in a fight! Did the principal call your dad because he sure didn’t call me?”

Max was half way down the cow trail that lead to the abandoned cotton fields. The boy was running fast.

Mama said, “I think we best let them handle it.”

Munch nodded, but he was worried. He was also sympathetic. If he had a choice between calling Aunt Jessie or Luke, Max’s dad, when he was in trouble, he’d choose Luke. Aunt Jessie had a fiery temper and a heavy hand. Plus, she had no idea how hard it was to be a teenage boy.

Without looking at any of them, Aunt Jessie went back into the trailer and slammed the door. It was then that Munch saw Mitzi, standing by the porch watching her brother run. Tears were rolling down her face. Clutched in her arms was Puccini.

Lolly and Grandma Toady were standing on their porch. Grandma Toady went to Mitzi and held out her arms. Mitzi ran into them. The little girl began to sob. Seeing Mitzi cry made Munch’s heart hurt. Quietly, he and Mama went back inside.

*

From his bedroom window, Munch could see the trailers. As far as he could tell Max hadn’t returned and Aunt Jessie hadn’t gone after him. Was Max okay? Not wanting to disturb his mother’s foray into the cooking world, he slipped out his bedroom window and headed for the stream. He went as quickly and as quietly as he could. He didn’t want to walk up on Max unexpectedly. His plan was to call out when he got close enough to hear if Max was around. His other plan was just to get close enough to check on him and then if he seemed okay, he would head back home.

In the distance he heard the sound of someone, most likely Max, skimming stones across the surface of the stream. Munch crept as close as he could and hid behind a tree. He felt kind of ridiculous, but he also knew if he wasn’t careful, Max might unleash his unholy temper on him. He did not want that. As he stood weighing his options on what to do, Munch felt like such a girl. God. Why was he out here? Max’s back pack had been dumped at the top of the steep bank. His back was to Munch. A pile of flat stones were beside him on the ground. One by one he skipped them across the water. The stones touched one, two, three times before they sunk.

The tension in Max’s body was clearly visible.

Silently Munch turned. His foot snagged on a vine with thorns. The vine whipped up and the thorns went straight through the leg of his pants. Before he could stop himself he said, “Dammit! Stupid vine!” The stones stopped skipping. Munch clutched his punctured shin. The pain did not effect him as much as the small tears in his pants. He’d only worn them once. Again he said, “Dammit,” in hopes that Max might invite his company. Nothing. If Max wanted to be left alone, he would leave him alone, but even though he started to go, he couldn’t, he couldn’t just go. He called out, “Hey Max,” and waved like an idiot.

Slowly Max turned. He asked, “What are you doing out here?”

Munch shrugged and said, “I had to get out to the house, Mama’s cooking. You know how good she is at that.”

“Yeah.” Max turned back to the stream.

Against his better judgement, Munch made his way down the steep bank and stood beside Max.

Max closed his eyes. In a low voice he said, “Guess you want to know what happened.”

“Only if you want to tell me.”

He sighed and said, “After lunch I was walking down the hall and I saw Tina talking to Tim Nelson. If they had just been talking I would have been okay, but he had his hand on her shoulder and the way she was looking up at him, well, something just went off inside of me and I slugged him right there.” Munch saw Max’s right fist, it was bruised. He continued, “He took a swing at me and he hit solid. I’ve never been hit that hard before. He smashed my face into the floor and said, ‘She’s my girl now, loser.’” Max ducked his head, tears clung to his lashes. His voice broke when he said, “When I looked at Tina, she was looking at him and not me. That’s when I knew it was true.” A single tear slid down his cheek. “Why would she choose him over me?”

Anger surged through Munch. Max could be an ass, but he had a good heart and he was a good friend. Munch said, “I don’t know. She’s and idiot.”

For a second Max chewed on his lip and said, “Trouble is, Grace might hear about what happened. She told me that if I did anything to hurt her sister she would kick my ass. Do you think she will kick Tim’s ass if he hurts Tina?”

“For sure. He best watch his ass.”

Max’s shoulder’s drew up and a slight grin twisted his lips. “Huh, Tim has no idea how scary Grace Thibodaux is.”

Yup, Grace was scary beautiful. Tim Nelson had no idea what he had just signed up for.