things quieted down. Kelly's parents came home. Her
father looked a little suspicious when he saw me
sitting in practically a coma on the bed, but he didn't
ask any questions, even though I imagined I looked
very pale. The girls assured me they couldn't smell
any rum on me. I went outside with Kelly and Talia
and took deep breaths of air until I felt well enough to
chance calling my mother.
"'I hope you don't say anything about this,'
Kelly warned me. 'You'll get me in a lot of trouble and
you'll only get yourself in trouble, too.'
"'You should have told me what was going to
happen,' I scolded.
"'Don't be a prude,' Talia said. 'You had a good
time, didn't you?'
"I remember looking at her as if she was crazy.
Boys had molested me. I had thrown up. I had a good
time?
" 'No,' I said sullenly.
"I was so frightened when my mother came, I
don't know how I walked out and got into the car. 'How was the dinner?' she asked immediately.
"'Very nice,' I said.
"'Did they serve fish?'
"'No,' I said. At least that wasn't a lie. "'And did you behave? Did you follow all the
rules of etiquette? Oh, did they start with grace?' she
asked quickly before I could answer her other
questions.
"I thought for a moment and said, 'Yes. It all
happened the way you told me it might.'
"It was dark in the car so she wasn't able to