After the second ghost story, Lolly kicked them out. True to their word, the boys left. But neither of them wanted to. Max was pretty hyped up. “Wow those Thibodaux girls are something else. So pretty.”

Munch couldn’t help but wonder if he was referring especially to Tina, but he didn’t ask. Releasing Thahn’s hand had been difficult. He wasn’t sure if anyone had seen them holding hands. Max certainly hadn’t or he would be grilling him right now. As they neared the house and the trailers, it looked like everyone was still sleeping. They parted at the drive.

Munch went to his bedroom window, took off his work boots and climbed inside. To his dismay, he saw the shadowy form of his mother on his bed.

“Michael, were you and Max spying on those girls?”

That had been the plan, at least it had been Max’s plan. Honestly he could say, “No Mama. They invited us inside and Grace told some ghost stories. Not sure I will be able to sleep tonight.” The last part was only partially true. If he couldn’t sleep, it wouldn’t be because of any ghosts, it would be because of Thahn Ho.

In a weary voice Mama said, “Well, I’m thankful to know you aren’t a peeping Tom. We will talk about this more in the morning.” She stood, came to him and kissed him on the top of his head. Before she left his room, she closed and locked his window. When she closed the door, Munch turned back to the window. From his vantage point he could just make out the right side of the barn. A little light shown through some of the cracks. Would the girls be out there all night? He had failed to notice if they’d brought their sleeping bags.

It was cold in his room. He went to his bed and climbed under the covers. The spot where Mama had been sitting was still warm. He was just about to doze off when he heard the girls’ voices outside. Sleep left him. He hopped out of bed and went to the window. The girls were a pack of indistinct shadows in the midst of flash light beams as they made their way back to the trailer. Grandma Toady’s porch light was on. They stepped onto the porch. For just an instant, Thanh Ho turned and looked toward his house. He knew it was too dark for her to see him, but he waved anyway just in case. She didn’t see him. The girls disappeared inside.

Back under his covers he relived every instant of that night over again. It was after 2:00 a.m. He got up one last time and looked out his window. There weren’t any lights on in the trailer. The girls were sleeping or whispering their secrets to each other.

*

Morning came early. Munch heard a car door slam and he was out of bed like as shot. He rushed to the window. The sun was just rising. The car in Grandma Toady’s drive was the green Volvo. Munch strained to see Thahn Ho. He could just make out her form climbing into her mother’s car, only her dad was driving. Instinctively, Munch ducked down. The last thing he wanted was for Mr. Duong to see him staring at his daughter. He heard the car leave. Tomorrow was Sunday, and he would see her at church. He sighed.

In the kitchen he heard his mother fixing breakfast. The smell of french toast wafted into his room. It had been a long time since he last ate. The food called to him but he hesitated. No telling what frame of mind Mama was in. Plus, he really didn’t want another lecture. In the battle of the wills, his stomach caved in, it was hungry and it wanted food. Cautiously, Much walked into the kitchen, Mama gave him a rueful smile. She motioned for him to take a seat. In silence they ate their french toast. It was hot and sweet and gooey just like he liked it.

When they finished, Mama asked, “What do you think your punishment should be for sneaking out?”

WHAT? Had Mama read some article in that magazine, Psychology Today about teenage boys? Regardless, this felt like a trap. What if he over punished himself? What if he under punished himself? How would he punish himself? He said, “Well let me give it a think?”

Mama raised her eyebrows.

Confused, he said, “Okay, okay. Go ahead and ground me.”

“From what?”

One thing was for sure, she would not ground him from church or the field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts. “Uh, I guess you could ground me from Goodwill for a month.”

“Michael, I am not going to punish your creativity. It doesn’t have to be grounding, It can be a chore or something.”

Exasperated Munch said, “Why don’t you just pick something? Punishing me is your job. I am NOT doing your Mama work for you.”

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Mama’s lips twitched ever so slightly, but she kept her voice firm. “You will clean out the chicken coop.”

“Oh, Lord not that.” Chickens were poop machines.

“Yes, that. Also, you are grounded for the next two weekends. That includes, going over to Jessie’s and Grandma Toady’s.”

Oh, crap. The weight of his mother’s words hit Munch hard. Next weekend, THAT MAN would be in the house. He would be stuck with Mama and THAT MAN. Dammit, he should have come up with his own punishment. He was such an idiot.

Mama asked, “Agreed?”

“Can we rethink this?”

“You had your chance. Now, go get dressed. The chickens are waiting.”

The chickens were not waiting for him. The only reason they ever came to him was because he had their food.

*

Sunday Morning. Munch dressed with care. He wasn’t just dressing for Thahn Ho, he was dressing for her entire family. Since holding her hand, this wild hope had taken root in him that some how, some way they might accept him as more than Thahn Ho’s friend. This was 1976 and it was a far fetched hope, very far fetched and yet it still quivered inside of him. When he came out of his room, Mama asked, “Going to Mass with me again? Not that I’m discouraging it, but I have to ask what gives?”

Okay, this was when Mama asked a question she most likely knew the answer to. He lied, “I have just realized I need God in my life.”

Mama’s eyes narrowed. “Right.” She did not say more.

After breakfast they got in the red Volkswagen and headed for Mass. Mitzi did not join them them this week. All the way to church Munch could feel butterflies in his stomach. He was so excited to see Than Ho. The green Volvo was in the church parking lot. In seconds he would see her. They walked inside. In the pew sat Mr. Duong and Le. Mrs. Duong and Thahn Ho weren’t there. She wasn’t’ there. All the butterflies in Munch’s stomach came to a dead halt. Disappointment rushed through him. Now he had to sit through an entire service for no reason. Mama crossed herself and walked to their pew. She greeted Mr. Duong and Le. Munch crossed himself and sat down beside his mother. The space where Mrs. Duong and Thahn Ho usually sat was empty. Where were they? Was everything okay?

Loudly, Le volunteered the answer to this question. “My sister is sick. She threw up every where, all over the carpet and the floor and herself. It was SO GROSS.” Dramatically he added, "And she's got the SQUIRTS!"

Mr. Duong said, "Le, that is enough."

Mama said, “Oh, I am so sorry to hear that.” To Mr. Duong, she asked, “Is she okay?”

He looked a bit grim, “Yes, it is food poisoning, we think. No one else got sick though.”

“I hope she gets to feeling better.”

“Me too.”

It might be food poisoning. It might not. Munch had a fear of throwing up. It was something he did not do. What if Thahn Ho had a stomach virus? What if Le and Mr. Duong were coming down with it and at this minute they were poisoning the air every time they breathed? When he had held Thahn Ho’s hand, it had been cold and clammy. What if she had a fever? What if she was delirious and didn’t even remember she had held his hand? Had he caught this virus when he held her hand? God he hoped not. As his mind raced from one worst case scenario to the next the music began. The choir warbled. Incense filled the tiny church. The smell of it made Munch feel a bit nauseous. Was he getting sick? What if he threw up in church, on everything? Nervously, he took in a slow breath of air.

Father Henri stood at the lectern and began his homily. All the while he was speaking about the goodness of God, Munch’s imagination was running away from him, he really needed to calm down. People threw up all the time and it didn’t kill them. No it didn’t but it was…he took in another slow breath of air and focused on the stained glass windows. Morning light was filtering through them creating patterns on the floor. The patterns looked like lit vomit to him.He ALWAYS completely freaked out when it came to vomit. Firmly he told himself, “Stop you idiot. If you are infected you are infected. Just stop.” He tried to focus on the homily but his mind was just a white storm of stupidity.

After awhile the peace of the sanctuary began to penetrate his panic. It was then that he realized, Thahn Ho probably wouldn’t be at school tomorrow and he wouldn’t get to see her. Poor thing. Instantly he felt stupid. Here she was sick and all he could think about was his own stupid stomach. While he might be afraid of getting sick, she was actually sick.

When the service ended, Munch went up to Mr. Duong and told him, “If Thahn Ho is too sick to go to school tomorrow, I can get her assignments.”

Mr. Duong said, “That is very kind of you. I will tell her.” He bowed to Munch, unsure of what to do, Munch bowed back. When he stood up, his eyes met Mr. Duong’s. This man was a man like Daddy, he could feel it. He was honorable and a straight arrow. He was not like THAT MAN. He didn’t live away from his family, he lived with them. Not that Munch wanted THAT MAN to live with him all the time, but he did want that for Lolly. He had had a father that was always there, Lolly had never had a father like that and she never would.

The ride home from church was quiet. Mama was rather preoccupied and he didn’t feel like talking. This time next week, THAT MAN would be in the house. Would Mama go to Mass?

As soon as he got home, he started to head over to Lolly’s. Mama asked, “Where do you think you are going?”

Dammit, in his panic he had completely forgotten he was grounded. He was going to ask Lolly if she’d talked to Thahn Ho, but he didn’t say that. He had a sneaking ever growing feeling that his mom knew that he liked her. So, he said, “Oh, I forgot. If I can’t go over there, can I at least call Lolly?”

“Of course.”

Inside he dialed Lolly’s number and pulled the long phone cord into his room. Lolly answered. “Hey Lolly, I just got back from Mass and Thahn Ho’s brother told me she was real sick. Have you heard from her?”

“No, but I’ll check on her later and let you know how’s she’s doing.”

“Thanks.” He hung up the phone. He wished he could just call her himself but he didn't have her number.