LARRY CLARKSDALE’S number wasn’t listed in the phone book, but David was able to get it from Information.
“What happened to you?” Larry asked after his sister called him to the phone. “Where’d you go?”
“You didn’t hear about it?” asked David.
“No. What?”
“The curse struck.”
“What happened?” Larry asked sarcastically. “Did you step on a flower?” He was obviously still a little mad from this morning.
David was glad that at least the whole school hadn’t heard about his pants falling down. Or maybe everyone heard about it—except Larry.
“It struck,” he said simply. “I can’t tell you how, but it was definitely the curse. I had to leave school.” He paused for effect. “I went back to Mrs. Bayfield’s house.”
He thought he heard Larry gasp.
He told Larry what Mrs. Bayfield said, and then what happened when he tried to steal the cane.
“Why?” Larry asked when he was through.
“What do you mean, ‘Why’?” asked David.
“You don’t really believe in that stuff, do you?” asked Larry. “Curses? Witches?”
“If you knew what happened today, you’d believe,” said David. “Besides, you’re the one who talked about boomerang curses. You’re the one who made me pour lemonade on my head!”
“But I didn’t tell you to call Roger Delbrook a sack of dogshit,” said Larry. “That’s just asking for trouble.”
“But—”
“Anyway, I never lived in Australia,” Larry admitted. “I made that up.”
David felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. Larry had been his one hope. “What about Japan?” he asked.
“I never lived outside the U.S. Hey, but don’t tell Mo, okay? She thinks I’m a man of the world.”
“Then you don’t know kung fu?” asked David.
“I had a couple of lessons when we lived in Indianapolis,” said Larry.
“You said you had a black belt.”
“I do. It goes with my gray slacks.”
“Oh great,” said David. “I was hoping you’d help me tomorrow. I’ll fight Roger—I have to do that—but I was hoping you’d keep his friends away in case they tried anything.” He sighed. “What about Carmelita?” he asked. “You didn’t live in Venezuela, either?”
“I bought those pictures from a guy for five bucks,” said Larry. “I think he lived in Venezuela.”
“Thanks a lot!” said David. “You complain about how hard it is to make friends, but then I try to be your friend and all you do is lie to me. Then, when I really need you, you let me down. Some friend!”
“Me?” asked Larry. “You’re the one who didn’t call up Tori when you said you would. And then you called Mo a dog. Man, you’re lucky you didn’t go back to school today. She was ready to kill you. And then the only reason you call me up isn’t to apologize but because you want my help. No way! I’m not going to fight your battles for you. You got yourself into this, not me. I mean, now who’s trying to get a free ride?”
“Forget it!” snapped David. “I should have known better than to ask you to help a friend.”
“Friend? You’re not a friend. You’re a leech. No wonder Scott hates you!”
“You’ve got no face,” said David. “Only a pair of ugly blue sunglasses.”
“You’re a butthead.”
David heard Larry slam down the phone. “And you’re a dipshit,” he said into the dead air.
He walked down the hall. The door to Ricky’s room was open. David could see him sitting at his desk, probably doing homework.
Big stooge, little stooge. It was one thing for Roger and Scott to call him a stooge, but it wasn’t fair that Ricky was the little stooge. Big stooge, little stooge. It gnawed at his insides whenever he thought about it. Even if there was no curse or cane, he’d have to fight Roger for that.
Ricky turned around and looked at him.
“Hi,” said David. “You want help with your homework or anything?”
“Go blow your nose, snotface!” said Ricky.
David continued down the hall. Go blow your nose, snotface! He wondered if one of the other fifth graders said that to Ricky today.
Actually, he suddenly did feel like he needed to blow his nose. Maybe it was the power of suggestion.
He didn’t dare let Ricky hear him. He went through his parents’ bedroom to their bathroom and closed the door.
It seemed so hopeless. Roger was bigger and stronger than he was. Plus, Roger knew he was coming so he’d probably have all his friends there too.
It’s me against the world. I have no friends left. My brother hates me. I’m cursed. I can never talk to Tori again.
He looked at himself in the bathroom mirror and smiled. A strange feeling of confidence came over him.
He had nothing left to lose.