The Graduation Read Free Page B

been discharged from the hospital in February to the spinal injury clinic to begin rebuilding her body. But Nick had talked to her on the phone, although he wouldn’t say what they talked about.
    “I don’t know,” Nick said.
    “Does Jessie or Sara know she’s coming?”
    “No.”
    “I wonder if someone should tell them?”
    “I think Maria wants it to be a surprise.”
    “Why?”
    Nick shook his head. “I guess none of us can know what it feels like to be suddenly crippled.”
    Michael knew he was trying to make excuses for her ahead of time, and felt bad for him. “Tell her I’m looking forward to seeing her again.”
    Nick nodded. “I will, Mike.” He glanced at his watch. He had one now—and a car. His dad had begun to let him hold on to his money, or else the college recruiters had been very generous. “I better go.”
    They exchanged good-byes. Michael decided he might find Bubba in the computer room. He spotted Polly McCoy as he was on his way there. A talk with Polly was on his list of things to do.
    She was sitting by herself on a bench outside on the far side of the girls’ shower room. Her dark hair hung long, straighter than before. The weight she had lost following Alice’s death had not returned; if anything, she was thinner. She glanced up as he approached, her eyes dark and uncertain. She had been studying her palm.
    “Hi,” she said.
    “Hi, Polly. How are you?”
    “Fine…” The word trailed from her lips. Then she blinked. “Mike, it’s you. Where have you been?”
    He sat beside her on the green wooden bench. Her blue jeans were old, skintight, her white lace blouse, long and loose. She had bitten her nails down a fraction too far. The only makeup she wore was lipstick, thick and red.
    “I finished school at the semester,” he said. “Didn’t you know?”
    “Jessie didn’t tell me. She never tells me anything.”
    He forced a smile. “I don’t think I told Jessie. What are you doing way over here in the middle of nowhere?”
    “I have a headache.”
    “Oh, that’s a shame. Is it bad?”
    “No. It’s long.”
    “Long?” Mike asked.
    “I’ve had it a couple of months.” She paused. “I’ve missed seeing you. I’m glad you’ve come back to school.”
    “ She was outside when the gun went off. We’re sure of that, aren’t we? ”
    He had asked Jessica that question six months ago. The answer was still yes. That was a fact. But he still didn’t trust Polly. “Just for the day. You must be excited about graduating?”
    “I’m glad it’s almost over.” She glanced down at her hands and wove her fingers together. She answered his initial question again. “I like to be alone.”
    “Do you want me to go?”
    “No. But why do you want to talk to me?”
    “I like talking to you.”
    “Did you find him?”
    “Find who?” He knew who she was talking about.
    “Clark.”
    “No,” he lied. He had found him, he just hadn’t spoken to him. He planned to do so today. “Does he know I’m looking for him?” he asked carefully, his heartbeat accelerating.
    “I think so,” she said, her expression dreamy.
    “So you’ve seen him?”
    “Not in a long time.”
    “When was the last time, Polly?”
    “A long time ago.”
    “You don’t remember?”
    She jerked slightly, then frowned, concentrating. “It was the night Aunty died. It was raining.”
    The sun shone bright in their faces, rebounding off the light brown wall at their backs. Michael realized that he was sweating.
    Her aunt had died the night of homecoming, but there had been no storm. And since then, Polly had been alone. The court had not appointed her another guardian; apparently she was over eighteen.
    “What did he do?” Michael asked, referring to Clark.
    “The doctor said she died of natural causes.”
    “Your aunt?”
    “You don’t think he killed her, do you?” She could have been talking to herself. “I know you think he killed Alice. That’s why you’re looking for him. But he