Kingdom Keepers(22)
“What deal?”
“Our deal.”
“Do we have a deal?” he asked.
“We do now.”
“Maybe you missed the part where I told you I was grounded. I gotta get home after school.”
“Did you ride the bus?”
“My bike.”
“Well, there you go,” she said. “Me too. We’ll just happen to stop there on the way home.”
Amanda lifted her head as if she’d heard something. Her hair whipped around as she turned to look down the hall. “Uh-oh,” she said.
All at once, Finn felt a numbing coldness pass through him, a wave of nausea, as if all the blood had suddenly drained out of him. He sank to his knees.
Amanda caught him as he was going down. Her books spilled. Some kids stepped out of her way.
“Finn? Finn? Are you okay?”
“Cold…” he managed to explain.
She hugged him, trying to warm him. Finn couldn’t keep his teeth from chattering. His whole body was shaking.
Amanda pleaded with him. “Finn…” She rubbed his arms. “Think of someplace warm. A beach. A boat. Hot, hot sun…It’s a hot beach on a summer day.”
Finn felt himself warming. The more he thought of the beach, the warmer he felt.
A moment later he felt fine. He leaned away from her. “Whoa,” he said. “That was some kind of strange.”
A small group of kids that had gathered moved on.
Finn stood up.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.
“Felt like I blew a fuse,” he told her. “Thanks for the coaching. Where’d you learn that?”
“So much of that stuff is in our minds,” was all she said. She giggled. “I thought you’d fainted.”
He said, “You turned…just before…like you heard something. What was with that?”
“I—” She looked away. She didn’t offer an answer.
Now it dawned on him what had just happened.
“‘It isn’t safe,’” he mumbled.
Amanda’s brow knit in grave concern. The second bell rang.
Finn whispered dryly, “Now I know I’ve got to get to Willa and Maybeck. I’ll meet you out by the bikes after the last bell.”
11
Crazy Glaze was crowded with mothers and their children busily painting blank pottery at brightly lit tables. There were several connected rooms, all filled with color and the murmur of activity.
Finn and Amanda locked their bikes out front. Once inside, they were directed to a heavyset gray-haired African American woman who wore hoop earrings and dark purple eye shadow.
“I’m looking for Donnie Maybeck,” Finn said.
“You mean Terry,” she said, a smile overcoming her. “Donnie’s his stage name. Say, aren’t you a sweet-looking girl,” she said, noticing Amanda and studying her features.
“Who should I say is calling? Wait a minute!” she interrupted herself. “Don’t I know you?” she asked Finn. “You’re a host, right? I saw you at MGM, during the film shoot.”
Yes, ma am.
She nodded, proud of herself. “That’s it exactly. I was over there nearly every day you all were shooting. But you, girl. I’d remember you, and I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Amanda. A friend of Finn’s.”
“Well, I’m pleased to meet you both. I’m Terry’s Aunt Bess. I run this place. Own it too!” As she grinned, the room seemed a bit brighter. “Kids around here call me Jelly.”
“Jelly?” Amanda said.
“It’s a long story. It started with jelly donuts, and got out of control from there. Don’t ask me!”
“Is Terry around?” Finn asked.
“Terry’s out back. But he’s taking it easy today. Not feeling exactly top-notch. I’m not sure this is the best day for a visit.”
“He didn’t happen to feel faint, did he?” Finn blurted out.
The woman’s face hardened. She crossed her arms tightly and looked down at Finn. “Now why would you go and ask that?”
“I think I need to see him, Ms.…Jelly.” Finn saw the way his guess had struck her.
“School nurse said there’s a bug going around,” she said.
“And maybe that’s all it is,” Finn said.
“What is it you’re not telling me, son?” Jelly asked.
“I really need to see him,” Finn pleaded.
When she nodded, her double chin turned into a triple. “Okay. Just not too long. Hear?”
* * *
“You!” Maybeck said to Finn, looking up. He was a head taller than either of them. His expression was defiant; there was a hardness in his eyes. He was in the midst of unpacking unglazed ceramics. He didn’t want them there.