It was the Monday morning break.
Sandy was at Ariel's desk, happily gossiping with the seated blond about frivolous girlie nonsense, when Esper and Selina returned to the class with a copy of the Fernham Post.
"Look at what I've got," Esper announced as she presented the paper to Ariel.
Ariel drew back. "Do I want to read it?" she asked apprehensively.
"You're not in it this time," Esper informed her.
Ariel breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's okay then."
Esper spread the newsletter on Ariel's desk. The front page report was on the grenade incident, written by Keith McDowell, reporter-in-training.
The incident was thought to be a prank. There had been no witnesses and no one was ever caught, even after police investigation. The police had taken it seriously since it had been a real grenade, though the explosive charge and fuse had been removed. The school and the police had issued a stern warning to students not to attempt such dangerous pranks.
The teacher Mr Fowler had been named the hero of the day in ensuring the safety of the students. However, the details of his involvement had been sketchy.
Ariel looked up to Selina. "There's no mention of you."
Selina shrugged. "Maybe it's better that way," she said in an even tone, "Remember what appeared in the Post when you were mentioned."
Ariel thought about it. "Yeah, maybe it's better," she agreed.
***
That evening, Sandy went back to school.
The sun was already sinking below the distant buildings. There was a little wind and though it was cold, it was not too severe. Sandy's jacket easily kept her warm.
Sandy locked her bicycle in the shed. There were around a dozen other bicycles present. The bicycles probably belonged to students still at club activities.
Before she had left, Sandy had told Momma Lois that she would be out briefly with a friend and would be home in time for dinner later. That was the truth. Earlier that day, just after school, Annie had met with her and had asked that she return later in the evening. She had hinted at another job for Sandy.
Sandy had only been too happy to comply. She had just completed Connie's job the previous week and had been paid modestly.
Annie had always paid better. And Sandy really needed the money. Despite having completed so many tasks for Annie and Connie, her wealth did not seem to be accumulating. Sandy had often wondered as to the reason why, usually while spending her hard-earned cash on treats. Was she ever going to get her foretold fortune?
Selina's warning tugged distantly at her conscience. Thus far, Sandy had failed to see the logic in it. She had worked for both Annie and Connie and yet, nothing bad had happened. Instead, she had made a lot of money.
Still, she felt that something was not right. Being unable to explain it, Sandy blamed her uneasiness on her tall friend's warning.
The school auditorium was dark. Though the lights were not on, Sandy could make out the props on the stage. As she approached the front, she identified the trees, the front of a small castle and a rock. Sandy continued on beyond the stage to the dressing room at the back.
Sandy tried the dressing room door and found that it was unlocked. She entered.
Annie was there, seated on a stool next to a lit table near the door. The little girl's pink handbag was on the otherwise empty table. There was a bottle sticking out of the handbag.
"Hey, Annie," Sandy greeted brightly as she stepped up to the little girl.
"Sandy." In contrast, Annie's greeting was as cold as the weather.
Sandy's enthusiasm dampened a little from the frosty pronunciation of her name. "So, what do you need me for?"
The little girl trained her blue eyes on Sandy. "Do you know what happened to me last Friday?"
Sandy nodded. Of course she did. She was the one who had played the prank on the other girl.
"I want vengeance on whoever did it," Annie announced.
"So, you're hiring me to do something to Connie?"
"No." Annie kept her eyes on Sandy. "I want it done on the person who did it to me. Not the one who hired her to do it."
Sandy stared at her. "What do you mean?"
"I'm hiring you to do something to yourself."
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