Story Time Read Free Page A

written about in a lot of magazines."
    "Like what?
Geek World?
"
    "No. Like education magazines."
    "Same thing."
    George cupped one hand over his reddened earlobe. "The Whittaker School is modeled on a Japanes
juku,
an after-school program where kids go to cram for exams. Except at Whittaker, they cram all day long, too."
    Kate started into her bedroom. "Like she said, it's a very geeky school."
    The girls closed the door on George and his web search just as he spotted a curious hypertext link: "See also:
Haunted Buildings of the Midwest
." George scratched his chin thoughtfully. Then he looked over both shoulders, to ensure that he was alone, and clicked on it.

    "We have our first band meeting scheduled already," Molly said. "Can you believe it? The first day of school? We're supposed to get the sheet music for
Peter Pan.
"
    Kate flopped back on her bed. "Have you heard anything about auditions?"
    "Nothing official. But Lisette told me that Derek Arroyo is definitely trying out."
    Kate let her tongue drop down like she was dying of thirst. "He is
so
hot. It'd be almost worth it to play a girl so I could kiss him onstage."
    "Lisette said he wants to be Captain Hook."
    "Captain Hook? Does he kiss anybody? Like, Tiger Lily?"
    Molly frowned. "No. I don't think Captain Hook kisses anybody. I think he's gay. At least that guy who played him on TV was gay. I think all of the pirates were gay."
    "Then why would Derek try out for it?"
    "You don't have to be gay to play Captain Hook. I'm just saying that the guy who played him on TV was."
    "Great. The guy I love wants to play a gay pirate. Where does that leave me? Are there any straight guys in it?"
    Molly scratched her head. "Well, yes and no. The boys are, like, John and Michael Darling. But what kind of last name is that? And they wear these gay pajamas all the time, you know? Like ladies' pajamas? Except they wear black top hats with them. Nice touch."
    "How about Peter Pan?"
    "He's not gay, although he was played by a lady on TV. But he's supposed to be a guy. Except in that scene where he's pretending to be a lady. It's all very complicated. Think about it, Kate. Let's say Derek plays Captain Hook, and you have to kiss him. You'll be a girl pretending to be a guy, dressed as a lady, kissing a guy who may be gay. It'll ruin any relationship you two could ever have." Molly fell silent. She raised her hand to the wall to feel it vibrate. "You may as well go to that geek school."
    "No way. I don't care if I have to kiss Nana the dog. I'm going to Lincoln."
    "Well, what about your father? Couldn't you call him? Maybe there's something he could do."
    Kate's eyes drifted to a framed photo of her father in his wedding-day tuxedo. He looked tall, handsome, and confident. "He doesn't have a phone number."
    "No? Well, then, maybe you could write to him?"
    Kate pressed her lips together. "He doesn't have an address."
    "How can he not have an address? Everybody has an address! What, is he one of those homeless guys who lives in a big cardboard box? You know, like refrigerators come in?"
    Kate's eyes flashed angrily. "He doesn't live in a cardboard box. And he's not homeless. He's a teacher."
    "You never told me he was a teacher."
    "You never asked."
    The girls fell silent until Molly explained, "I didn't want to sound like my grandmother. I knew your parents were divorced, but I didn't want to pump you for information. I figured you would tell me when you wanted to."
    "And I've been waiting for you to ask. You should have asked."
    Molly placed her hand on the vibrating wall for a long minute. Then she tried, "So, your father's a teacher?"
    Kate answered evenly. "He is. He is a teacher."
    "What's the name of his school?"
    Kate pointed to a brochure wedged into the side of her mirror. "It's not a school. It's a company that runs foreign schools. The American Schools Abroad Program. I write letters to that company's address, and they forward them to him wherever he is."
    "Like where?"
    "I