ran out in a few hours and people in our town practically rioted. Dad mentioned once that if a new flu ever emerged, it would take at least five months to develop an updated vaccine.
The important thing was to survive until then.
C HAPTER 7
As a result of this illness, career opportunities are expected to increase for emerging infectious disease specialists over the next several years.
—Blue Flu interview, author of the annual “US Job Predictions” report
D ad stood at the door ready to leave. “I’ll be home on Monday,” he said, giving me a big hug.
I clung to him a moment, but he expected me to be brave. Then he was gone.
Megs called to make plans. “What time are we leaving?”
“I’m not going.”
“What are you talking about?” she said. “Everyone goes to Career Day.”
“That’s the problem. The school will be too crowded. People in Portico have already gotten sick from the virus that’s going around. It’s too risky.”
“Come with me for a little while. Long enough to get the extra credit. You need to pull up your social studies grade, right?”
“My dad just left. I want to stay holed up in my room with a big bottle of antibacterial soap.”
“I know. But you could check in, volunteer for a while, then leave. No one will know if you cut your shift short. Come on, Lil.”
“I don’t know. . . .” But the combination of boredom, Megs’s begging, and my D in history finally convinced me. Dad had seen my grades, and with Mom on her way home, the academic clock was ticking. After breakfast, Megs and I walked to school together.
“Are you nervous?” she asked.
“A little anxious. Have you been following the news?”
“No. Most of my computer time has been spent with you-know-who. I really like him.”
“Do you even know his name?” I asked.
“The site rules were not to give names.”
“Since when do you follow the rules? Come on, Megs. You can’t truly know someone from chatting online.”
“You’re right. That’s why I’m going to meet him tonight.”
I halted immediately. “No way. He could be a murderer. Your mom’s a cop. You know the horror stories about these situations better than I do.”
“I have it all figured out,” she said. “We’re meeting at the coffee shop at six-thirty. It’s crowded then. I checked it out yesterday. He said he’d be carrying a certain book, that I’d know him when I saw it. He doesn’t know what I look like, so if it doesn’t feel right or if he seems like a creeper, I can walk out. No harm done.” She pulled at my arm to get me walking again. “Come on. We’ll be late.”
I moved reluctantly, not wanting to let the subject drop. “What if he’s ugly?”
She faked a punch to my arm. “His personality is totally hot. Maybe I can ask him to the Spring Formal.”
“Maybe,” I said, unconvinced. “But I think it’s a dumb idea. Do you want me to come with you?”
“That’s sweet,” she said. “But I’d rather go alone.”
We arrived at school and checked in at the volunteer table. By then, I was more worried about Megs than the flu. How could I persuade her not to meet this stranger? But we didn’t get to discuss it once we arrived. Megs was working refreshments and I’d been assigned as a wandering guide, handing out maps and giving directions.
I decided to give it fifteen minutes before I bailed. After grabbing a pile of handouts, I waited in the gym doorway where I was supposed to meet the previous shift. Inside the stuffy room, kids crushed together as they went from table to table. Principal Fryman wandered among the groups, most likely sharing his cliché-filled greetings.
I spotted Kayla talking to Jay. His back was to me, but she was all smiles and straight posture. I had witnessed her flirting enough to know that she was good at it. She seemed to strike the perfect balance of needy and independent that left guys defenseless.
She strolled away from him, moving in my direction. “Would
The important thing was to survive until then.
C HAPTER 7
As a result of this illness, career opportunities are expected to increase for emerging infectious disease specialists over the next several years.
—Blue Flu interview, author of the annual “US Job Predictions” report
D ad stood at the door ready to leave. “I’ll be home on Monday,” he said, giving me a big hug.
I clung to him a moment, but he expected me to be brave. Then he was gone.
Megs called to make plans. “What time are we leaving?”
“I’m not going.”
“What are you talking about?” she said. “Everyone goes to Career Day.”
“That’s the problem. The school will be too crowded. People in Portico have already gotten sick from the virus that’s going around. It’s too risky.”
“Come with me for a little while. Long enough to get the extra credit. You need to pull up your social studies grade, right?”
“My dad just left. I want to stay holed up in my room with a big bottle of antibacterial soap.”
“I know. But you could check in, volunteer for a while, then leave. No one will know if you cut your shift short. Come on, Lil.”
“I don’t know. . . .” But the combination of boredom, Megs’s begging, and my D in history finally convinced me. Dad had seen my grades, and with Mom on her way home, the academic clock was ticking. After breakfast, Megs and I walked to school together.
“Are you nervous?” she asked.
“A little anxious. Have you been following the news?”
“No. Most of my computer time has been spent with you-know-who. I really like him.”
“Do you even know his name?” I asked.
“The site rules were not to give names.”
“Since when do you follow the rules? Come on, Megs. You can’t truly know someone from chatting online.”
“You’re right. That’s why I’m going to meet him tonight.”
I halted immediately. “No way. He could be a murderer. Your mom’s a cop. You know the horror stories about these situations better than I do.”
“I have it all figured out,” she said. “We’re meeting at the coffee shop at six-thirty. It’s crowded then. I checked it out yesterday. He said he’d be carrying a certain book, that I’d know him when I saw it. He doesn’t know what I look like, so if it doesn’t feel right or if he seems like a creeper, I can walk out. No harm done.” She pulled at my arm to get me walking again. “Come on. We’ll be late.”
I moved reluctantly, not wanting to let the subject drop. “What if he’s ugly?”
She faked a punch to my arm. “His personality is totally hot. Maybe I can ask him to the Spring Formal.”
“Maybe,” I said, unconvinced. “But I think it’s a dumb idea. Do you want me to come with you?”
“That’s sweet,” she said. “But I’d rather go alone.”
We arrived at school and checked in at the volunteer table. By then, I was more worried about Megs than the flu. How could I persuade her not to meet this stranger? But we didn’t get to discuss it once we arrived. Megs was working refreshments and I’d been assigned as a wandering guide, handing out maps and giving directions.
I decided to give it fifteen minutes before I bailed. After grabbing a pile of handouts, I waited in the gym doorway where I was supposed to meet the previous shift. Inside the stuffy room, kids crushed together as they went from table to table. Principal Fryman wandered among the groups, most likely sharing his cliché-filled greetings.
I spotted Kayla talking to Jay. His back was to me, but she was all smiles and straight posture. I had witnessed her flirting enough to know that she was good at it. She seemed to strike the perfect balance of needy and independent that left guys defenseless.
She strolled away from him, moving in my direction. “Would
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