The Photographer by Barbara Steiner Page A

don’t call that an epidemic. And I heard the mention of mono twice.”
    â€œI’d like to think it’s mono. I need to think it’s mono.” Megan giggled despite her confused feelings. “But mono is contagious. You get it by kissing.”
    Robert pulled her even closer. She snuggled in the hollow of his shoulder, not worrying about getting her clown white on his jacket. He kissed her fuzzy head, then her ear, which had escaped the green wig. “Are you going to wear that wig forever?”
    Megan tugged off the lime green hair and tipped her face, her painted-on smile, toward Robert, wanting him to kiss her. “I might have mono.”
    Robert took the cup from her hand, placing it on the hearth. “I’ll risk it, but if both of us get sick, who’ll report the epidemic?”
    â€œMiss Hubbard?” Megan giggled. Their journalism teacher was single and would probably remain so unless her personality changed drastically. “I doubt she’ll catch it.”
    â€œI’ve never kissed a clown before.” Robert’s lips closed over Megan’s.
    With the fire behind them and the warmth of Robert’s kiss, Megan stopped shaking, but only until Robert spoke.
    â€œWhat did you mean, Megan?” Robert questioned. “When you said Derrick wouldn’t care about Bunny?”
    â€œI never said that.”
    â€œYes you did. When we were looking for him. I feel guilty about leaving him. I hope he gets home all right.”
    Megan stopped listening to what Robert was saying. She didn’t remember the statement about Derrick, but she knew it was true. Derrick didn’t care what happened to Bunny or Cynthia. And she couldn’t shake another idea.
    One that was totally crazy.
    He had something to do with it.

Chapter 9
    Megan talked her mother into going with her to the hospital Sunday afternoon, since a blanket of snow covered Boulder and the foothills. Megan didn’t have much experience driving in snow. “You can get groceries or something, Mom. I won’t stay long, but a phone call just isn’t the same thing as being there.”
    She visited Bunny first. Bunny’s blond hair fanned out across her pillow, and her face was pale. She appeared to be asleep, but when Megan stood there for a moment, Bunny’s eyes fluttered open.
    â€œMegan, hi. Thanks for coming.” Bunny didn’t try to sit up.
    â€œHow are you, Bunny?” A silly question, but what else to say?
    â€œI’m okay, just weak. It was lucky people caught me or I could have been banged up good. It was funny. Suddenly I didn’t have the strength to hang on any longer. I’ve felt strange for over a week now. Roxie’s sick too.”
    â€œRoxie? How do you know?”
    â€œShe called me this morning. She’s at home. But she says she feels the same as I do—weak.”
    â€œCynthia’s doctor thought it was mono at first.” Megan sat on the edge of Bunny’s bed. She didn’t mention the other tests that Cynthia had. She didn’t want to scare Bunny.
    â€œIf it’s mono, I know three boys, or maybe more, who’ll have it soon.” Bunny giggled, despite lying flat in a hospital bed.
    â€œGet some rest, Bunny. I’ve got to see Cynthia, and my mom will have a fit if I stay all afternoon.”
    â€œLay off kissing for a few days until we see what’s going on,” Bunny advised.
    Megan laughed and headed out the door and down the hall. Then her smile faded. Cynthia seemed to be asleep. Her mom sat on the bed, holding Cynthia’s hand. Mr. Harlow sat in a nearby chair. Cynthia’s face was ashen.
    Megan looked from Cynthia to Mrs. Harlow and then Cynthia’s father. He answered the unspoken questions. “The doctors are confounded. The tests reveal nothing, but she’s gotten worse since last night.”
    â€œWe appreciate your cheering her up with the decorations, Megan.” Mrs.