Why Did She Have to Die? by Lurlene McDaniel Page B

Kenny’s grip tightened, and the pressure of his forehead on hers made her feel lightheaded. His warm breath on her face smelled like cinnamon.
    “See, you can dance,” he said.
    “But I can’t play soccer.”
    “Plenty of time to learn.”
    Elly felt as if she were in a dream. The music ended all too quickly. Shy and flustered, she pulled away from Kenny’s embrace. Why did her legs feel rubbery? And why was her heart thudding so hard? Could he hear it?
    “I think I’ll go to the ladies’ room,” she said.
    “Sure.” His voice sounded husky. “I’ll get us some punch and wait for you over at that table.” He gestured vaguely and handed her the crutches. She headed toward the restroom.
    Elly paused at the door to catch her breath. She heard the voices of two teacher-chaperones drift down the hallway.
    “Doesn’t it just break your heart?” one said with a thick Southern accent. “Every time I see that sweet little Elly, I almost cry.”
    “I know what you mean. She puts up such a brave front, but it must be hard on her, losing her sister so tragically.”
    “Wasn’t Kathy a beauty? She had so much potential. It’s just awful that she died when she had so much going for her.”
    They were talking about her and Kathy! They were feeling sorry for her, pitying her! Elly almost gagged.
    “Isn’t it nice of Kenny Hughes to bring her to the dance?” the thick accent said.
    “Oh yes. It would have been doubly hard on her if she had had to come alone. And this whole evening is such a wonderful tribute to Kathy.”
    Elly pressed herself flat against the wall and inched backward toward the room full of kids. She saw the cafeteria in a new light. The flowers, the music—it was all for Kathy’s benefit. And Kathy didn’t even know about it. All her dreams would have been fulfilled this night—the perfect dance, a special date with Russ Canton, the adoration of her friends and family, and she would never know. Elly swallowed hard against the gagging lump in her throat.
    “Are you all right?” Kenny had come up beside her. A spray of rainbows from the lights sprinkled on his hair and shoulders.
    “Why did you ask me to this dance, Kenny?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I still think you really wanted to bring Kathy. You feel sorry for me, don’t you? ‘Poor Elly,’” her voice mimicked the ones she’d overheard. “‘Poor little Elly.’ Well, I don’t need your favors, Kenny Hughes. Do you hear me? I don’t need anybody’s favors. I’m calling my mother to come and get me.”
    Kenny stared at her, open-mouthed. Then his lips formed into an angry line. “Suit yourself, Elly. Go call your mother! If you really think I asked you because I felt sorry for you, then that’s your problem.”
    “Why
did
you ask me?” Her voice trembled and she held her chin up stubbornly.
    “You figure it out, Elly. And when you do, call me. Because I won’t bother you again.”
    She watched him stomp off toward the cafeteria door. Her fingers curled around the grips on her crutches and she squeezed until her hands ached. But she didn’t call him back.

ELEVEN
    J oy cornered Elly in the girls’ bathroom on Monday just after first period. “So what happened at the dance? First, I see you and Kenny all huggypoo on the dance floor, then the next thing I know Kenny is all alone and you are nowhere in sight.”
    Elly gave her a bored look in the mirror. “My leg was bothering me, so I called my mom to come and get me.”
    “But your leg’s almost healed. Isn’t the cast coming off next week?”
    Elly ground her teeth over Joy’s questions. Joy knew her too well. “Stop with the third degree, Joy. I don’t want to talk about it. Did you have a good time at the dance?”
    Joy shrugged and answered, “If dropping my cup into the punch bowl and staining my new blouse counts as a good time, then I had a ball.”
    Elly smiled in spite of herself. She dug in her purse for her eye shadow. She used it and then turned