“Did you see the look Miss Tabitha gave me at cheer practice yesterday?” Joy asked.
“No. What look?” Brooke flopped onto Joy’s soft couch, sinking into the cushions.
I thought about joining her, but feared I’d never get back up. Instead, I walked over to Collin and clapped my hands and held my arms out to him. He was trapped in his high chair yet again, where he seemed to perpetually live while at Joy’s house. He squealed, waved his chubby little arms and reached for me. I laughed, pulled off the tray, released him from the belt and swept him into my arms. He patted my face with dimpled fingers and gazed up at me with obvious love. I cuddled him close, realizing he probably hadn’t been given a hug all day. Joy really didn’t seem to care much for Collin and while she wasn’t outright cruel to him, she verged on it.
“Tabitha gave me a dirty look. I think she’s jealous of me or wants the squad to herself.”
“What kind of look?” I asked. I’d never seen Tabitha be mean to anyone. My mom seemed to like her and appreciated that the squad had a team of three coaches, because it would have been a lot of work for just one person.
“A dirty one,” Joy said and sort of shook her head like I was stupid.
Brooke and Savannah laughed. I didn’t.
“Why would she give you a dirty look?” I asked.
“I told you,” Joy spoke slowly and enunciated every word as though speaking to a small child, “she is jealous of me.”
What was Joy talking about? I just shrugged my shoulders and turned my attention back to Collin. Babies were great. They didn’t talk and they didn’t have ulterior motives other than to get food or attention.
“Why do you think she’s like that?” Savannah asked.
Savannah was a good friend and had always treated me well, but she wasn’t always aware of the motives of other people. She just thought the best of everyone and never saw their fault in anything. Personally, I didn’t think Joy should be talking to us about another coach of our cheer squad. It seemed immature. If she said the wrong thing, she could turn the cheerleaders against one of their coaches. I was smart enough to realize that she really shouldn’t be talking to us kids about something like this, but I wasn’t brave enough to say anything else.
“She’s just born ugly.” Joy laughed and Savannah and Brooke laughed with her. I didn’t join in.
Joy seemed to immediately notice my lack of conformity and stood and walked to me. She put her arm around my shoulders and whispered near my ear. “Have you noticed how Tabitha’s eyes look crossed when she gets mad? Watch the next time.”
But I didn’t want to watch. This was ridiculous and Savannah and Brooke were just going along with Joy and her obvious dislike of Tabitha. I smiled at her and waited a few moments, during which she went on and on about how ugly Miss Tabitha was. After a small amount of time, I slapped my forehead and gave a shout.
“What’s wrong?” Brooke asked.
“I completely forgot I have major homework,” I said. “I’m going to call my mom to come get me. I have to get home.”
I knew I had just told a lie. I didn’t have anything due the next day. I just couldn’t take anymore of Joy’s gossip. This was why I couldn’t work with her. I didn’t really understand how Savannah could stand it, but judging by the hero worship look she was giving Joy the gossip didn’t bother her a bit.
When my mom arrived, I waved goodbye quickly. “Thanks for having me over, Joy.”
“Anytime. My door is always open.” Her smile was a bit cool and her gaze glinted with something I didn’t quite recognize.
