Real feelings

Reva sat between Hank and Robb on the long wooden bench. They huddled together, hunched in their coats, collars up, squinting against the bright glare of the lights above them.

Footsteps echoed on the marble floors, and from time to time a door would open and a uniformed police officer would hurry past.

Reva and the two boys had been sitting outside the Shadyside police hearing room for nearly an hour, staring at the tile walls, not talking much, nervously waiting for Pam to come out.

“What’s it like in there?” Hank asked Robb, gesturing to the tall double doors that led inside.

“It’s not bad,” Robb said, shivering. “It’s warmer than out here.”

“The North Pole is warmer than out here,” Reva cracked, holding on to the arm of Hank’s overcoat.

“There are a bunch of little rooms back there,” Robb said. “With chairs and desks and stuff. That’s all.”

“And one-way mirrors, right?” Hank asked. “So they can spy on you?”

Robb chuckled. “I don’t think so. I didn’t see any mirrors at all.”

“How long were you in there?” Reva asked, glancing expectantly at the door, then checking her wristwatch.

“About an hour. Maybe a little more,” Robb replied. “I was scared. But I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong.” He blushed. “Except for those mean things I did to you.”

“I deserved it,” Reva said softly. Then she laughed. “Besides, I’ll find a way to pay you back. It’s my turn.”

Robb became concerned. “You’re joking—right?”

Reva nodded slyly. “Maybe.”

They sat in silence for a while, staring at the double doors, willing them to open. Reva gripped Hank’s hand tightly. “What do you think will happen to Pam?”

Hank shrugged.

The doors opened.

Pam came walking out, weary and pale, flanked by her somber parents. She brightened a little when she saw Reva and the two boys waiting for her.

They jumped to their feet as Pam and her parents approached, their footsteps echoing in the high ceilinged waiting room.

“Pam—what happened?” Reva asked, hurrying to her.

Pam shrugged and glanced back at her mom and dad. “There’s going to be a hearing,” she said. “In the meantime, I’m in my parents’ custody.”

“Custody?” Reva exclaimed. “What a horrible word.”

“Pam’s going to be okay,” her father said brusquely.

“She’s never been in trouble before,” her mother added. “So they’re only going to charge her with trespassing.”

“And what about Mickey and Clay?” Robb asked.

“I don’t know,” Pam said, shaking her head sadly. “Mickey’s hearing won’t be until after his father’s funeral. He’s staying with his aunt. Clay’s hearing is next week.”

They all walked out the door and down the steps of the police station. A light snow had begun to fall, tiny, wet flakes that tickled Reva’s nose and felt good on her cheeks. The sidewalk and ground were already white. She searched for the moon, but it was covered by clouds.

Holding Hank’s hand, Reva glanced at Pam on her other side. Pam smiled at her, and Reva stopped, turned away from Hank, and gave Pam a long hug.

I feel so warm, Reva thought, so light, as if a layer of ice had melted away from me. If I hadn’t been so cold, so bottled up, so hateful, maybe none of this would have happened.

What a shame that such horrors had to take place before I could feel again, Reva thought. Now she felt sadness, and relief that it was all over.

I have real feelings now, she realized. Warm feelings. Sad feelings.

Silently she made a New Year’s resolution to herself never to lose those feelings again.

Then, leaning against Hank, she walked with the others through the silent night into the soft falling snow.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20