Why Did She Have to Die? Read Free Page A

would cause at the junior high school if he did such a thing. “You should have him come to the house.”
    “And have Daddy give him the third degree? Russ is seventeen. Dad would never let me date him.”
    As if on cue, Mr. Rowan swooped into the kitchen. “What’s all the whispering about, girls?”
    Elly looked down guiltily at her plate of scrambled eggs.
    “Nothing,” Kathy told him.
    Their father settled into his chair at the table and reached for the newspaper. It was unusual for them to eat breakfast together because his job often demanded he leave the house before six a.m. “I have to go by the bank for the boss before I got to the site,” he explained. “You two need a ride to school?”
    “We’d rather walk,” Kathy said, a little too quickly.
    “Yeah. I’m supposed to meet Joy at the corner,” Elly added, wondering how she’d fallen so easily into the scheme with Kathy. She flashed her sister a questioning glance, but Kathy pretended not to notice. They finished their breakfast in silence.
    Later, as they walked to the corner, Elly asked, “Did Russ say he might drive by our school
today
?”
    “No. I just wanted to walk.”
    “In case he did,” Elly finished. “You’re not thinking of sneaking around with Russ, are you?”
    “I wouldn’t do that,” Kathy said. “But I would like to get to know him better. Just for fun. I mean, he can have his pick of any girl at Leon High. I don’t think he really likes me. I’m just someone new . . . different. You know?”
    Surprised by Kathy’s honesty, Elly nodded. “I—I guess I see what you mean.” They shuffled along, and Elly gave her sister a wink. “Still, it is exciting to have a sister who gets the attention of Russ Canton, Superstar.”
    Kathy smiled shyly. “Thanks for standing by me, Elly. Don’t worry. I won’t do anything dumb.”
    The two sisters locked gazes and instantly understood each other. At that moment, Elly felt wonderfully close to Kathy. “Heck, what are sisters for?”

    * * * *

    “You going out for cheerleading?” Joy asked Elly as she looked over the school bulletin posted in the hallway outside the main office.
    “Are you kidding?” Elly wrinkled her nose. “With Kathy head cheerleader this year, I don’t want to stumble along in her footsteps. I think I’ll join the newspaper staff instead.”
    “Aw, come on. Maybe because Kathy’s on top of the heap . . . ,” Joy giggled at her own joke, “you’ll have an inside track. If you go out, I will, too.”
    “No way. I want to do something that’s my own.”
    “But I can’t write!” Joy wailed. “And I want us to do the same activity next year.”
    “So maybe there’s something else you can do besides write. Mrs. Wenzel is the advisor. We can talk to her after school.”
    Joy thrust out her lip in a pout.
    “I hear Dan Richards is on the staff,” Elly offered, dangling the information like a carrot in front of a horse.
    Joy perked. “He is?”
    “Saw his name on the sign-up sheet on Mrs. Wenzel’s desk.”
    “Well, I guess working on the newspaper might have its rewards.”
    “I thought you’d think it was better than cheerleading.”
    Elly wondered why Joy was so taken with Dan. He wasn’t her type at all. After knowing guys like Russ Canton were around, Elly thought Dan seemed immature and childish. She wondered what it would be like to have a guy like Russ Canton interested in her. She almost laughed out loud. Who was she kidding? Guys like Russ were only attracted to pretty girls—like Kathy.
    “Wonder if Dan’s taking anybody to the dance. Has he asked Kathy?”
    Elly bristled. “For crying out loud, I’m not her social secretary! So far I don’t know who’s asked her, but I do know she’s real picky about who she’ll go with. I mean, what if somebody really amazing comes along?”
    Joy narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Are you keeping something from me, Elly Rowan?”
    Elly’s cheeks flushed. She felt slightly guilty.