The Truth According to Ginny Moon Benjamin Ludwig (books to read in your 30s .txt) 📖

your mom let me wipe her mouth with that white cloth? I love babies.”

Kayla Zadambidge’s cell phone is in the woods. I don’t think I can find it again and I don’t have time to look. Alison Hill’s will be the one I try to take first. Then Brenda Richardson’s.

“I love my Baby Doll,” I say.

Larry starts singing a song about not hesitating and love that won’t wait and then something about a baby. I give him a look but he doesn’t stop.

“I want to do a layup on Sunday,” says Alison Hill.

“Me, too!” says Brenda Richardson.

“I’m going to make five baskets,” says Larry. “Five.”

“I’m going to box the other team out.”

“I’m going to use my hook shot.”

“At the end we’ll have to take a picture of us all standing together with our medals.”

There are too many people talking all at once and I can’t take it anymore. I want to get up and walk into the hallway but Ms. Carol points to the clock. “Time to start putting things away, everyone,” she says. So we put the puzzle away and then we get our things. It is time to get ready for science. I get my backpack and line up at the door. Then the bell rings and I follow Alison Hill into the hallway.

EXACTLY 4:48 IN THE AFTERNOON,

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20TH

“Hello?” says Gloria.

“Is my Baby Doll still there?” I say. Brian and Maura are upstairs giving Baby Wendy a bath. I am in my bedroom with the door shut.

“Ginny? Why are you calling? Yes, of course your sister is still here. What’s the matter?”

“Patrice says the police are going to come take it away. At the end of this week or maybe this weekend. You aren’t feeding it enough.”

Gloria stops. “Shit,” she says. “Shit, shit, shit! I knew those—Listen. Just listen! It’s great that you called me, but I have to go now. I have to get the hell out of here. I have to pack everything and get us moving before they show up.”

“Are you still coming to the little rendezvous on Tuesday, January 25th, at Cumberland Farms?” I say.

“Yes, yes, of course,” says Gloria. “But I have to figure out where to go for the next three days.”

“Four days,” I say.

“Right. Four days. Whatever. Holy shit, not two of you taken from me! I could really use my sister’s help right now! The fuckers!”

“You have to give it more food,” I say but then I hear footsteps coming down the hallway. “Someone is coming.”

“She’s just a picky eater! Like you were! Listen, keep the phone this time,” Gloria says. “I might try to call if something happens. Just keep it and hide it. Turn it off, and then check to see if I left a message after you go to bed. But don’t hide it in your room. Hide it someplace else. Outside, if you can.”

She doesn’t say which phone to keep. Brenda Richardson’s or Alison Hill’s. I start to pick at my fingers.

But then the door opens.

It is Maura. “Ginny, supper is going to be a little later than usual tonight,” she says.

The phone is behind my back. I slip it into my pocket.

“Wendy had a diaper blowout, so we’re washing her up. Then I’m going to feed her and put her down for a rest. We’ll eat at six tonight. Approximately six, okay?”

“Okay,” I say.

She shuts the door.

I take the phone out and put it to my ear. “Hello?” I say but Gloria is already gone.

I turn the phone off and open my closet door and reach for Chinese Checkers. Then I remember that Gloria said don’t hide it in your room. I don’t think I could get my hat and coat and boots without Brian and Maura hearing. I don’t think I could open the door to go outside without someone hearing me.

So I go into the kitchen and open a drawer and get some duct tape. I return to my room and open the window. I open the screen and tape Alison Hill’s phone to the side of the house. Then I shut the screen and window and sit down on my bed. I hold my quilt close to my nose and go inside my brain. Just a little bit longer, I say to my Baby Doll. I’ll be there soon to make sure you’re safe.

EXACTLY 2:10 IN THE AFTERNOON,

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21ST

“That’s two cell phones missing this week, both from Room Five kids,” says Ms. Carol. Her big eyes squint behind her glasses. “And Kayla’s phone disappeared as well a week ago. And I remember that Michelle Whipple said you were going through her backpack.”

We are at a table in the back of the room in math class. Everyone is working on something called slope. “I was not looking through Michelle Whipple’s backpack,” I say. “I was picking up my pencil.”

“Yes, I remember that, too,” says Ms. Carol. “But you managed to find a candy bar while you were picking it up. Ms. Dana says she needs to search everyone’s lockers today after school. How do you feel about that?”

She said two different things so I pick the second one and say, “I feel fine about that.”

“And she’s making phone calls home, as well,” she says. “She’s going to ask your parents to look through your bedroom. How do you feel about that?”

This time I don’t say anything. I make sure my mouth is shut tight.

“That’s what I thought,” says Ms. Carol. She writes something down. “We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

I open my mouth. “How long will we wait?” I say. Then I shut it tight again.

“Probably not very long,” says Ms. Carol. “I imagine your parents will talk with you about it when you get home. Ms. Dana already called them. She met with the police in her office right after lunch to discuss the stolen cell phones. But I think they left about an hour ago.”

EXACTLY 2:58 IN THE