Если я останусь
4:39 P.M.
Kimhadaswolleneyeandabadscrapeonherthighasaresultofhertrippingoverherbackpackassheattemptedtokickme.
Therewasnoheartfeltpeacemaking,noofficialdétente.Oncetheteachersseparatedus,KimandIlookedateachotherandstartedlaughing.Afterfinaglingourselvesoutofavisittotheprincipal’soffice,welimpedhome.Kimtoldmethattheonlyreasonthatshevolunteeredforteamcaptainwasthatifyoudidthatatthebeginningofaschoolyear,coachestendedtorememberandthatactuallykeptthemfrompickingyouinthefuture(ahandytrickIco-optedfromthenon).IexplainedtoherthatIactuallyagreedwithhertakeonToKillaMockingbird,whichwasoneofmyfavoritebooks.Andthenthatwasit.Wewerefriends,justaseveryonehadassumedallalongthatwewouldbe.Weneverlaidahandoneachotheragain,andeventhoughwe’dgetintoplentyofverbalclashes,ourtiffstendedtoendthewayourfistfighthad,withuscrackingup.
Afterourbigbrawl,though,Mrs.ScheinrefusedtoletKimcomeovertomyhouse,convincedthatherdaughterwouldreturnoncrutches.Momofferedtogooverandsmooththingsout,butIthinkthatDadandIbothrealizedthatgivenhertemper,herdiplomaticmissionmightendupwitharestrainingorderagainstourfamily.Intheend,DadinvitedtheScheinsoverforaroast-chickendinner,andthoughyoucouldseeMrs
