grab the new kid’s hands, pulled back, then decided he didn’t want to look like a wuss in front of the lately arrived vision in pink. He grabbed the little boy at the elbows and pressed his arms to the sides of his chest. He could actually feel the kid’s heart, racing along at triple time.
Kalisha bent over him, put her hands on the sides of his face, and looked into his eyes. The kid stopped yelling. Now there was only the sound of his rapid breathing. He looked at Kalisha, fascinated, and Luke suddenly understood what she’d meant when she said the kid was bugging her head.
“He’s TP, isn’t he? Like you.”
Kalisha nodded. “Only he’s a lot stronger than me, or any of the other TPs that have been through here during my time. Come on, let’s take him down to my room.”
“Can I come?” Helen asked.
“Suit yourself, hon,” Kalisha said. “I’m sure Lukey here appreciates the view.”
Helen flushed. “Maybe I’ll change first.”
“Do what you want,” Kalisha said, then to the kid: “What’s your name?”
“Avery.” His voice was hoarse from crying and yelling. “Avery Dixon.”
“I’m Kalisha. You can call me Sha, if you want.”
“Just don’t call her Sport,” Luke said.
5
Kalisha’s room was more girly than Luke would have expected, given her tough talk. There was a pink spread on the bed, and frou-frou flounces on the pillows. A framed picture of Martin Luther King stared at them from the bureau.
She saw Luke looking at it, and laughed. “They try to make things the same as at home, but I guess someone thought the picture I used to have there was taking it a little too far, so they changed it.”
“Who did it used to be?”
“Eldridge Cleaver. Ever heard of him?”
“Sure. Soul on Ice. I haven’t read it, but I’ve been meaning to get around to it.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Man, you are wasted here.”
Still sniffling, Avery started to get up on her bed, but she grabbed him and pulled him back, gently but firmly.
“Nuh-uh, not in those wet pants.” She made as if to take them off and Avery stepped back, hands crossed protectively over his crotch.
Kalisha looked at Luke and shrugged. He shrugged back, then squatted in front of Avery. “Which room are you in?”
Avery only shook his head.
“Did you leave the door open?”
This time the kid nodded.
“I’ll get you some dry clothes,” Luke said. “You stay here with Kalisha, okay?”
No shake and no nod this time. The boy only stared at him, exhausted and confused, but at least not doing his air raid imitation anymore.
“Go on,” Kalisha said. “I think I can soothe him down.”
Helen appeared at the door, now wearing jeans and buttoning up a sweater. “Is he any better?”
“A little,” Luke said. He saw a patter of drops tending in the direction he and Maureen had gone to change the sheets.
“No sign of those other two boys,” Helen said. “They must sleep like the dead.”
“They do,” Kalisha said. “You go on with Luke, New Girl. Avery and I are having a meeting of the minds here.”
6
“The kid’s name is Avery Dixon,” Luke said as he and Helen Simms stood in an open door just past the ice machine, which was clattering away to itself. “He’s ten. Doesn’t look it, does he?”
She stared at him, eyes wide. “What are you, TP after all?”
“No.” Surveying the poster of Tommy Pickles, and the G.I. Joes on the bureau. “I was here with Maureen. She’s one of the housekeepers. I helped her change the bed. Other than that, the room was all ready for him.”
Helen smirked. “So that’s what you are—teacher’s pet.”
Luke thought of Tony slapping him across the face, and wondered if Helen would soon be getting the same treatment. “No, but Maureen’s not like some of the others. Treat her right and she’ll treat you right.”
“How long have you been here, Luke?”
“I got here just before you.”
“So how do you know who’s nice and who isn’t?”
“Maureen’s okay, that’s all I’m saying. Help me get him some clothes.”
Helen grabbed some pants and underwear out of the dresser (not neglecting to snoop her way through the rest of the drawers), and they walked back to Kalisha’s room. On the way, Helen asked if Luke had had any of the tests George had told her about. He said he hadn’t, but showed her the chip in his ear.
“Don’t fight it. I did, and got whacked.”
She stopped dead. “Shut up!”
He turned his head to show her his cheek, where two of