Page 5 of Rock and a Hard Place

Libby made her way through the cluttered house into the kitchen. On the edge of the counter, next to piles of dirty dishes and old junk mail, sat a torn grocery bag. She began pulling things out. A bag of cheese popcorn, a box of granola bars, a bag of red licorice, and a warm package of sandwich meat. At the bottom she found a six-pack of soda and three candy bars.

She placed the soda and unappetizing sandwich meat on a crusty metal shelf in the refrigerator, grabbed the popcorn and a candy bar, and went upstairs with her backpack. It was always a relief to leave Aunt Marge behind. With any luck, she wouldn’t hear from her again today. Hopefully,she’d drink herself into a stupor and fall asleep in her sunken chair.

Once inside her room, Libby pushed the door shut, closing out the ugliness below. She set her things on the neatly made bed. The worn bedspread featured snags and small tears, but she kept it and everything in the room as clean as possible. She’d given up on keeping the downstairs clean months ago, but here she could keep things the way she liked.

She picked up the small, framed picture of her family. Her mom, dad, and little sister, Sarah, along with a former version of herself, smiled brightly. The photo was taken while on a rafting trip out west two years earlier. Their arms hung comfortably on one another’s shoulders, reminding her of the love they’d shared. Libby traced their faces with her finger and wondered when her dad would come back for her.

She returned the photo to its place on her dresser and moved to the two large windows, raising them a few inches. Cool air blew in, making her room feel better. Outside, across the fields, the rear entrance to the preserve was in perfect view. The spot she’d met Peter. She pulled a chair near the window and propped her book on her lap as she began doing homework, checking too often for Peter and the silver tour bus.

2

The next day, Libby walked solo through the crowded halls of Rockville High School.

“Libby, could you come in here for a minute?” Miss Orman called out in a friendly voice. When Libby started at Rockville, Miss Orman immediately made it her mission to help her. Sometimes it was a little overwhelming, but Libby didn’t mind; she liked the woman, and she always meant well.

“Yeah, sure.” Libby hiked her backpack higher on her shoulder and entered the tiny office. It was always nice to hang with Miss Orman. Posters of positive thinking with adorable kittens lined the wall; a bulletin board overflowed with official letters about DARE and the school dress code as well as a couple of long strips of student photos.

She dropped her pack on the floor and sank into anorange metal chair squeezed in next to an overflowing bookcase.

Miss Orman settled behind her desk in her tan dress pants and stylish heels. She leaned toward Libby with sincere eyes. “So how are things?”

“Fine.” Libby offered her standard answer.

“Tell me, how are your classes going? You’re carrying a heavy course load.”

“Calculus is tough, but I’m doing okay.”

“That’s good, and how about at home? Anything you want to share with me about your aunt?” Her face showed compassion.

Miss Orman was the only person who had a clue about her horrible life with Aunt Marge. Libby would never consider that dilapidated old house a home. There was nothing of hers there, other than a few token items. “I get by. I just try to stay out of her way.”

Miss Orman forced a smile, but her lips were pressed tight. “Sounds like a good plan, but promise you’ll let me know if you have any problems.”

Libby nodded.

Miss Orman’s phone rang loudly on the desk. She ignored it and then leaned in and asked, “Have you thought any more about college?”

“Yeah, but I’m going to wait for my dad to come back before I pick a school. We’re going to check out campusestogether.” Libby and her dad had been planning to travel east to visit colleges since she had turned fourteen.

“That’s wonderful,” Miss Orman said, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes this time. “Are you making any new friends?” Her voice sounded hopeful.

“I’m fine, really. I prefer to be on my own.” It was easier this way. If she made friends, they’d want to hear all the details of her tragic life, and she didn’t want to talk about that. Plus, she only planned on staying here until her dad returned.

“I wish you’d open yourself up to the students here. I think you could make some good friends.” Miss Orman gave her a pointed look. “You are a gifted young lady with a lot to offer.”

Miss Orman’s support made Libby feel just a little bit protected, like maybe her mom was still here.

“It’s okay. They all think I’m like my aunt, the town crazy woman.” Libby couldn’t believe how just a couple of events had turned her from the popular girl at her old school into an outsider here.

“I don’t want you walking around believing that. You just need to make an effort to get to know them better. What happened to you working at the concession stand during the football game?”

“My aunt said no. She thinks I’ll be corrupted by all the kids who drink.” Libby rewarded Miss Orman with a half smile.

“Well, we’ll come up with something else.” Her counselor curled a lock of hair behind her ear.

Libby paused for a moment. If Miss Orman was so concerned, maybe she should mention Peter.

“Actually, I met someone,” Libby blurted. Miss Orman looked up, visibly surprised. “At Parfrey’s Glen.” Her pulse rate jumped just thinking about it.

---