20
MERCULEAH’S HAIR
“There’s something wrong with Meat.”
Herculeah was beside her dad on the front seat of the car. They were on their way to Pizza House. She gave her dad a worried look.
“Well, anytime Meat turns down pizza, there’s something wrong.”
“I’m serious. First, I was avoiding him, because of the pictures of his dad. Now he’s avoiding me.”
“Meat’s like a lot of people who are innocently involved in a crime. The world’s not as steady as it used to be. Anything can happen. Their world’s shifting beneath their feet. Meat will come around.”
“Turn around, Dad! Turn around!” Herculeah said.
“We’re almost there. I drove three miles out of my way because you specifically wanted Pizza House.”
“Turn around.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“I thought you were so hungry.”
“I am! I was! Look at my hair!”
“What about it?”
“It’s frizzling, Dad. This is the most my hair has ever frizzled in its life!”
Her father glanced at her and U-turned the car. “Where are we going?”
“Back to Funny Bonz.”
“You think Meat’s there?”
“My hair thinks so.”
“Herculeah—”
“And I do, too.”