can to balance the coverage so that your side of the story gets told. It would help if I could get some kind of quote from your friend Sammy. Do you think she would talk to me?”
“If I went with you, she might.”
“Is she playing hooky today, too?”
“Naw, she’s in school. They try to make sure kids go to school if they stay at the shelter. It’s a rule.”
“What time will she be out of school?”
“Two-thirty.”
“Okay, so, would she be back at the shelter by three?”
“I could go back to school — you know, tell them I’m feeling better. I’ll find her and ask her to meet us there if you want.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you there at three.” I pulled out a card and gave it to him. “Call me here at the paper if you need to cancel.”
He took it and read it over. “Okay,” he said.
“Do you have any idea of how Montgomery’s people knew you’d be out at this witch shindig?”
“No.”
“Any chance your friend at the Montgomery campaign might have told them?”
“No!”
“Okay, okay, take it easy. Did you tell anyone else? Or could anyone have overheard you talking about it?”
“I didn’t tell anyone. But I did have a big argument at the shelter with Sammy. Maybe someone heard us. I don’t know. The walls are kind of thin, and there are always a lot of kids hanging out there.”
“One other thing. How are you at taking advice from old fogeys?”
“Depends on the advice, I guess, and the old fogey.”
“Well, let’s say this old fogey.”
“Try me. You’re not
“Thanks, I guess. I really don’t have any business sticking my nose in, so it’s just between the two of us, okay?”
“Okay.”
“It’s just something to think about. The way I figure it, if you’re concerned enough about your dad’s campaign to come here and talk to me, maybe you’re concerned enough to fight a little of the fire Montgomery plans on setting.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’ll be using your appearance — the black clothes and black hair — to promote his ideas in people’s minds. Trust me on this — I used to work in public relations. In fact, a pal of mine named Kevin Malloy could make you an expert in this kind of stuff. People will try to place you in a box — the box you seem most likely to fit in. Those that get to know you, even for as short a time as I have, will doubt you could ever fit in a box labeled ‘witch.’ But those that don’t know you are only going to have what Montgomery says and any pictures of you they see in the paper. And believe me, there will be a picture in the paper if this comes out.”
He groaned.
“Anyway, you have every right to wear whatever clothes you want to wear, or to dye your hair pink, if you want to. But there’s a price for everything. Ask yourself if it’s worth it to change your image for a few days.”
“That sounds a lot like selling out.”
“Maybe. But again, ask yourself what set of principles you’re selling out to. The set that doesn’t want to bring harm to others, or the one that says you’re free to make any fashion statement you choose. It’s up to you. No skin off my nose.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“What do you say we get some fresh air?”
“Yeah, I’m suffocating in here.”
As we stood up, we heard the throbbing sound of the presses as they started up. Danny met us outside the door with ear protectors. “Better wear these,” he shouted, as the roaring grew. He led us back through the aisles. Jacob was enthralled with it all. I had seen it a thousand times or more, and I was still enthralled.
He shook Danny’s hand as we left, and we handed over the earmuffs. Jacob was smiling, and I was glad to see him lighten up a little. “Feel better?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m still scared about it, but I guess I feel like maybe there’s something I can do about it.”
“I’ll see you at three.”
“Okay.” He turned to leave. I had started up the stairs when I heard him call out to me.
“Miss Kelly?”
I turned around.
“What kind of classes should I take if I want to work here?”
