Wednesday morning rolled in gray and over cast. A storm was coming. Something else, well someone else was also coming. Munch gritted his teeth. Tomorrow THAT MAN would be on his way to Texas. He wasn't supposed to be there until Friday but he swapped shifts with somebody. Tomorrow night he would be in the house and since Munch was grounded he wouldn’t be able to escape THAT MAN's presence. They were going to have a family dinner and Lolly would be there too. Thank God Lolly would be there. Poor Lolly, she was so upset about Trevor’s dad, Munch was worried about her. As much as he did not want to see THAT MAN, he silently and secretly knew, Lolly needed to see her pa. Her pa was alive and he was well. Lolly and her pa were very close in their own way. Though he dreaded THAT MAN’s visit, it would do Lolly good. Somehow he would survive the next seven days but it was going to be damn hard.

He tucked his lunch in his back pack and told Mama good bye. She gave him a quick hug. She was beaming. Her happiness was growing by the minute. Only one day stood between her and the return of her— Munch’s thought stopped there. He still could not think about or call Trace Phelps, husband in relation to Mama. Negative, hateful thoughts rose up inside of him. Firmly, he told himself, No, we are NOT doing that this morning.

Outside a cold brisk wind beat against him. He ducked his head into his navy pea coat collar. Usually on a day like today he would wear his London Fog coat, but that coat was ruined FOREVER thanks to stupid Bruno. Aunt Jessie hadn’t been able to get the stains off of it. Ahead he saw Lolly and Max waiting beside the road. Max said, “Hey,” when he reached them.

Lolly gave him a hug. She told Munch, “Mr. Long made it through the night. Trevor’s gonna be at school this morning.”

“Good to know.”

She released him. She still looked really short on sleep but she seemed a bit more hopeful.

The bus squealed to a stop and they climbed on. Munch started down the aisle. In the back of the bus, he saw Kevin eagerly hoping Lolly would wave to him. She did. The light that broke out in that boy’s eyes, just made Munch’s heart hurt. A crush was a terrible and wonderful thing. Lolly didn’t seem to have a clue about Kevin’s crush, or else she had decided to continue to be his friend despite it. Munch slid onto the cold vinyl seat after Lolly. The bus heater was on the fritz again and it was colder than a witch’s titty in a brass brassiere.

The bus rumbled down the road. Lolly kept her eyes focused out the window. She was looking for one thing, her first sight of Trevor. It wasn’t long before he appeared. He was bundled in his hideous CPO jacket that clashed with his track pants and flannel shirt. The bus stopped, the doors slid open. Trevor hopped inside. Lolly pushed passed Munch into the aisle and hugged Trevor hard. Gently Mrs. Anderson said, “You two can to sit behind Michael.” Mrs. Anderson bent the rules in favor of compassion when it was called for.

The two slipped into the seat behind Munch. He turned to say something to Trevor, but Trevor was so absorbed in Lolly, he just turned back around. Their quiet voices could not be clearly heard over the rumble of the bus. This morning when the bus stopped at the elementary school, Munch watched the little kids get off the bus. When he was little he wasn’t allowed to ride the bus because of his color,and his mother’s fears he might be bullied or hurt. In fact he had just started riding the bus a couple of months ago because he was tired of living in fear.

Max and Kevin got off the bus at the junior high. Kevin cast one long lingering glance at Lolly and stepped out. Next came the high school. Lolly and Trevor didn’t even notice Munch when they got off the bus. They headed inside without him. Okay. He went in. Lolly and Trevor didn’t go to the cafeteria. He knew they were headed for the library. He was about to go the the art room, when he saw Grace in the hall. She asked, “Gonna sit with me today? Seems like there’s nobody at the table.”

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He glanced at their usual spot. Jake and Lisa weren’t there either. He said, “Sure.”

In the cafeteria eyes followed them to their table. It was so dumb that practically everyone in school assumed that since they were both black they would like each other and become a couple. Both ignored the looks and sat down. Grace asked, “Have you heard anything about Thahn Ho?”

“Yeah, her mom talked to my mom and told her she’s getting out of the hospital this morning, or later this afternoon.”

“That’s good. I was in the hospital once to get my tonsils out and I hated it. Hospital food is disgusting.” Her large eyes glanced around the cafeteria before she asked, “And what about Trevor’s dad?”

“Still on earth. It’s too soon to tell.”

“That really sucks.”

Munch nodded. It did.

“I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to my daddy. If he was as sick as Mr. Long is, I’d be half crazy.”

“Yeah.” Munch knew what it meant to lose a daddy and he didn’t wish that on his worst enemy.

Grace asked, “Did you get your history homework finished?”

Oh, God he had completely forgotten about History. “No, I forgot.”

“You can copy my answers if you want.”

The offer was generous, but he knew the penalty for cheating in Mrs. Clary’s class. “Thanks but, no. Mrs. Clary is a beast about cheating.”

Embarrassed Grace said, “Oh, yeah sure. Just trying to help.”

“I know and I appreciate that.”

“Thanks.”

With everything that had been going on, Munch had forgotten something else, Tina’s dare. That night in the barn seemed like a century ago. He asked, “Did Max talk to your sister at school and walk her to class?”

“Yup.” She lowered her voice and said, “And, he walked her to class yesterday and he called her last night.”

“What?”

“Yup. If my daddy knew a boy was calling Tina, there would be hell to pay. Good thing Daddy wasn’t home when that boy called. You best warn Max.”

“I will.” Munch turned his attention to his American History. He would do what he could, but there really wasn’t much time left. When the bell rang he had managed to do more than a quarter of it. By the time he had class, he should be able to get it mostly finished. He and Grace headed down the hall together. He caught a glimpse of their reflection in the window. They were quite a pair. Grace was at least a foot or more taller than he was. Also, she was beautiful. He didn’t have a crush on her or anything, but he really wanted to design a dress for her. Of course, he couldn’t tell her that. She didn’t know him well and she might think he was a creep. It wouldn’t be the first time a girl thought he was a creep. Over time he had learned that he couldn’t just go up to a girl and say, “I’d like to dress you.” He got slapped for that once. No, he would wait, and maybe in time, Grace would agree. They entered class together and went to their seats.

Trevor was late getting to Algebra. He slid into the desk in front of Munch. He did not look good at all. Munch said, “Hey, man.”

“Hey.” Trevor’s eyes were completely lightless. They had dark circles under them. He looked like he hadn’t slept for days. In an angry burst of words he whispered `, “If my dad doesn’t make it, I’m not moving. I’m staying here. Amber and me are getting an apartment. She’s gonna quit school and work full time. I’m gonna get a part time job.” With an sharp edge in his voice he said, “I am not leaving Lolly or my friends.”

Unsure of how to respond, Munch said, “That sounds like a solid plan. I am praying your dad makes it.”

A sudden change came over Trevor’s face. “You lost your dad didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“That really sucks.”

It did and it never stopped sucking.

Mr. Flynn called the class to order. Munch could not believe it when Trevor pulled out his completed assignments. With all that he had being going through he did his freaking homework. This dude was sick, just plain, sick.

Behind him, Grace whispered, “He looks bad. Is he okay?”

Munch turned to her and shook his head.

Sadness filled her eyes. Life was tough, it was just stinking tough sometimes. Mr. Long just had to get better, he had to survive.

When class was over, Lolly was at the door before anyone even walked out. Trevor went to her and grabbed her hand. Munch watched them walk away. There was no spring in Trevor’s step, no smile, no waves at friends or track buds. He seemed to be traveling in a bubble of darkness tethered by Lolly’s hand. Trevor was fortunate to have Lolly. She might not be able to make it better, but she would ride through it with him. It was her way.

Over the years, Lolly had been there for Munch so many times. The next seven days, as hard as they would be, he was determined to not gripe, complain or side eye THAT MAN in Lolly’s presence. It was gonna be hard, it was going to be so hard. He wasn’t sure even Jesus and all the angels could keep him from being an ass to Trace Phelps, but he sure hoped they could.