The Same Stuff as Stars Read Free

was already jammed. Angel leaned forward, anxious. If Verna couldn’t find a spot right away, she was apt to just turn around and go home. It was funny. As little as she wanted to come, Angel felt somehow that they had to, that something awful happened those Saturdays they didn’t. There was nothing she could put her finger on, just a feeling that they must come, they
had
to come or else....The else part was cloudy but seemed very real to her. Like money they owed somebody and had to pay regularly, or every Saturday there’d be some terrible punishment for their failure. Besides, there was Bernie’s awful star wish last night. She’d have to work hard to make up for that.
    â€œI see one!” she cried out.
    â€œWhere?” Verna slammed on the brakes, throwing Angel and Bernie forward against their seat belts.
    â€œThere—beside the Buick.”
    â€œHuh. That ain’t wide enough for a kiddie car.”
    But just then a rusting Pontiac behind them on the other side of the lane began to back out. Verna threw the gears into reverse and screeched back to claim it. “C’mon,” she said, hopping out. “We’re late.”
    â€œI—I gotta put on my sneakers.”
    â€œFor crying out loud, Angel. You had all morning. Hurry up.”
    She hurried as fast as she could. “Okay, Bernie,” she said, unbuckling his seat belt before opening her door and jumping to the pavement. “Out.”
    But Bernie had that stubborn look on his face. “I’ll give you money for a pack of M&M’s if you just come on in.”
    She could see him weakening, but he still wasn’t moving. “And a Pepsi,” he said.
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œAnd potato chips.”
    â€œNo.”
    He folded his arms across his chest.
    â€œOh, Bernie. I’m not made of money. Just come on.”
    Verna was already across the lot. When she reached the door to the building, she turned and yelled, “You kids don’t get over here this minute, I’m taking a belt to the both of you.”
    Bernie scrambled out. Did that mean Angel still owed him the bribe? Oh, well, she’d have to worry about that later.

 
    Â 
    TWO
The Saturday Visit
    Verna was signing in at the window when Angel and Bernie pushed open the heavy front door. “Bout time you two showed up,” she said. “Honestly.” The woman on the other side half stood up from her chair to peer down over the sill at them. It made Angel feel like she was standing there in her underwear. Too late, she remembered that she hadn’t brushed her hair. Not that it mattered. It was ugly hair, dirty blond, straight. She’d cut it herself a couple of weeks ago.

    Finally, Verna put down the ballpoint and jerked her head at the children. She shoved her shoulder against the inner door, and the three of them crowded through it into the room and toward the metal detector.
    â€œPurses here,” ordered the guard. “All your metal in the tray.” Verna handed over her cracked vinyl bag. Angel took the key from around her neck and dropped it into the plastic basket, hoping Verna wouldn’t ask her why she was wearing it when it wasn’t even a school day, but Verna wasn’t paying attention. She was pushing Bernie through the detector ahead of her while the guard did a thorough search of her purse.
    Angel followed. The alarm screamed. “Okay. Just a minute, girly. Empty your pockets.”
    â€œI don’t have any pockets.” Her voice was trembling. “See.”
    â€œWell, you got metal on you somewhere. Go back. Take off your shoes and hand them here.”
    The coins in her socks. She’d forgotten about them. She took the socks off, too, and held them out to the guard. He screwed up his face and sniffed. The socks were dirty from when she’d run across the yard. “I got some money in my socks,” she mumbled, hoping Verna wouldn’t