The Confession Read Free

see you around here much anymore,” Mom said to Al.
    â€œI’ve been kind of busy,” Al replied. His ears were still bright red. He said good-bye and hurried out the door.
    Mom turned to us. “Why is he dressed all in black?” she demanded. “Did somebody die?”
    She didn’t give any of us a chance to answer. She let out a cry of surprise—and pointed furiously at the floor.
    I saw instantly what she was pointing at. Al’s cigarette.
    â€œMom—” I started.
    She bent and picked it up, her face tightening in anger. “It’s still lit.”
    â€œIt was Al’s!” I cried. “We weren’t smoking. It was Al’s!”
    â€œThat’s the truth, Mrs. Carlson,” Hillary said. She and Taylor both stood awkwardly at the table. Iknew they wanted to fade away, to disappear. They’d both seen my mother when she went into one of her flying rages.
    â€œI don’t care who was smoking, Julie,” Mom said, clenching her jaw and speaking each word slowly and distinctly. “You’re in charge while I’m away and—”
    She carried the cigarette to the sink. And let out a loud gasp.
    â€œA beer can too?” she demanded shrilly.
    â€œThat’s Al’s!” Taylor and I cried in unison. I glimpsed Hillary shrink back against the wall, trying to blend in with the flowery wallpaper.
    â€œYou just threw it into the sink?” Mom demanded shrilly.
    I started to reply, but what was the point? I mean, I knew I was in major trouble.
    It didn’t matter that Al left the can and the cigarette butt. Ever since she caught Hillary and me smoking in my bedroom three years ago, I don’t think Mom has trusted me completely.
    I’m sure she suspects that all kinds of things go on here while she’s at work. And now, she came home and what did she find?
    â€œJulie, I’m grounding you for the weekend,” Mom said in a low voice. I could see her jaw muscles twitch. She talked softly because she was trying to control her anger.
    â€œNo! You can’t do that!” I screeched. I didn’t mean to sound so desperate, but how could I help it?
    â€œThe party!” I cried. “Reva’s party! Mom—if you ground me, I’ll miss the party!”
    Mom raised a finger to her lips. “Not another word.”
    â€œYou can’t do this!” I wailed. “I’m seventeen years old and I won’t—”
    â€œI won’t have your friends drinking beer and smoking while I’m not here,” Mom shouted, losing control. “I don’t care if the party is at Buckingham Palace! You’re grounded. You’re missing it. One more word, and I’ll ground you for two weeks!”
    I shook my fists in the air and let out a cry of rage. I could see Hillary and Taylor behind the table, both avoiding my eyes, both feeling embarrassed—and terribly sorry for me.
    This is all Al’s fault , I told myself. He has become such a total creep. This is all his fault .
    What a horrible afternoon.
    I think all three of us—Hillary, Taylor, and me—felt the same way. I think all three of us wanted to kill Al that afternoon.
    Of course we had no way of knowing that Al would be dead in two weeks.

Chapter
    3

    S o I missed the party.
    Will I ever forgive my mother? Maybe sometime in the next decade.
    Hillary reported that it was the best party in the history of Shadyside High. She has a mean streak, that girl.
    She could have told me that it was the most boring night of her life. Instead, she told me how awesome the two bands were. How she danced until two in the morning. And then had a late moonlight swim in the Dalbys’ heated pool. How she never laughed so much in her life. And how everyone kept asking her where I was.
    I told Hillary never to mention the party again. That was a week ago, and she kept her promise—until the two of us were walking to Sandy’s house