“Brody, my boy, I hope your family doesn’t think it was negligence on my part. I got called away on an important phone call.” Mr. West placed his hand on Brody’s shoulder and gave a wary glance toward Mr. Brimwell. Turning toward the rest of the students, he called out in the tone that only a teacher can do, “All right students, let’s load up.”
Mina filed behind Nan and Pri, and waited to board the bus. She watched Savannah led the unsteady Brody up the steps on onto the bus.
“Well, I guess that was the shortest breakup in history,” Pri mumbled.
“Don’t be too sure about that,” Nan said, thoughtfully glancing at Brody.
Mina watched him take a window seat and stare balefully out it in her direction. He seemed to be staring at her! Mina immediately looked at the ground, but when she looked back up, she still had his gaze. It was a tad uncomfortable.
“I mean, I don’t even know what he sees in her,” Pri continued.
“Don’t worry, Pri. I have a feeling that the makeup is only temporary.”
As Mina boarded the bus, students began clapping and calling her name, reaching out to give her high-fives and congratulate her on her heroic act. Except for one, who was still staring out the window.
She felt like she was going to be sick; her guilt was making her a nervous wreck. Should she apologize to Brody? That would mean she would have to go up to him and actually speak to the world’s most handsome boy, who didn’t seem eager to talk to her. Definitely not. Maybe she could slip him a note? That wouldn’t do. What if his family sued hers? Yep, Mina was definitely going to puke.
Keeping her head down, Mina hastily made her way to the back of the bus and slid down as far as she could into her seat in an attempt to hide. Nan slid in next to her.
“Kinda nice to be sitting next to a celebrity.” Nan laughed.
“No, it’s not. It’s horrible,” Mina said. “You were wrong. I don’t want to be popular.”
“Maybe I should get your autograph and sell it on eBay. Or better yet, I could auction off your old English papers. I wonder how much money I would get for a D-plus?” Mina was terrified at the prospect. “Then I could buy that new handbag I wanted,” Nan said.
“I hope you choke on the handbag,” Mina shot back.
Nan chuckled, but she quit making ribs at Mina’s expense. She leaned out the bus aisle to take a peek. Sure enough, everyone was still looking toward her, pointing and whispering in her direction. Sighing in regret, she leaned back dramatically and drummed her fingers on her thighs.
“Aren’t you going to tweet this?” Mina said, noticing the lack of an electronic accessory in Nan’s hands. “I thought for sure you would have taken fifty photos by now.”
“Can’t,” Nan sighed wistfully.
“Why not?”
“I don’t have my iPhone anymore.”
“What happened?”
“I threw it off the catwalk as soon as I saw you were in trouble. I mean, come on, it was either hold on to my stupid phone or save my best friend’s life,” she said, holding out her hands and weighing imaginary items. “Duh! Not a tough decision.”
Mina reached over and hugged Nan as tightly as she could. She knew how much Nan’s life revolved around that stupid phone, and her friend did help save her.
Nan made gagging noises as she squeezed harder and harder. “Gee, let go, let go.”
“Thank you, Nan.” Mina smiled.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re indebted to me for life. You’re my eternal slave and must sacrifice yourself to save me now. Blah, blah, blah.” Nan waved her hands in the air like it was nothing.
Mina and Nan sat back down in their seats and listened to the harmony of a busload of students texting, talking, and playing games on their cell phones. The chiming noise was a constant reminder of Nan’s sacrifice.
“Nan?” Mina began, getting ready to apologize again.
“Don’t!” Nan snapped, holding her pink polished finger up to silence any more words. “I already regret it.”
Mina laughed.
Chapter 3
Mina hadn’t told her mother what happened at Babushka’s, knowing exactly how she would react. Sara was an extremely overprotective mother, far beyond what seemed normal or even sane. Anytime a crazy unexplained accident happened to Mina, Sara would pick up the family and move, no questions asked. Mina wasn’t really sure why.
In first grade, Mina took a trip to the zoo and was overcome with anxiety as all the animals in the petting zoo started following her around. They had moved the following week.
In fourth grade, Mina’s garden-variety science project produced two car-sized pumpkins overnight. They moved the next day.
In seventh grade during Home-Ec, Mina kept falling asleep during her knitting projects. Sara told the school it was mono, and their family was packed by the time Mina got home.
Mina knew that what had happened yesterday was worse than any of her other unpleasant accidents, which was why she kept the list. She hoped to one day find hidden a link between these disasters and figure out what made her mother want to move.