Do Unto Others

“No, that’s not it. I go to the Baptist church. She heard about the kind of books I like to read and the role-playing games I like to play. I tried to get some of the other youth-group kids interested in playing one that doesn’t even involve swords and sorcery on a retreat, and she chewed me out good!” Gaston said, the picture of wounded innocence. “She said they were Satanic and evil. Of course she didn’t know that Bobby Jay Tumpfer and Lila Duke were sneaking into each other’s rooms during that whole trip. And all I wanted to do was play a game!” “Hey, Gaston, was this the trip to Lake Travis that Beta chaperoned?” I asked. “Yeah, she and Mrs. Hufnagel went with us. It rained, so there wasn’t much to do ’cept listen to Miz Harcher preach at us.” “Sounds like she was warming up for her church with y’all,” I muttered. “Anything else happen on that trip?” Gaston thought. “No, we were all just trying to figure out when Bobby Jay and Lila were going to get caught and what old Beta would do if she caught ’em. And nobody really picked on me too much during that trip.” It seemed a fond memory for him, and he paused. “Oh, well, that was the trip that Hally’s daddy’s camcorder got stolen.” “A camcorder?” I asked. “Yeah, one his dad loaned him for the trip. He left his room unlocked or something and somebody took off with it. There were a couple of other youth groups there, too, so I suppose someone from one of them took it. It never did turn up and Hally was awful upset.” A missing camcorder. Beta had checked out a book on using camcorders. Had she swiped it and not gotten the instruction manual at the same time? The phone jangled, interrupting my thoughts. Candace scooped it up.

“Mirabeau library, Candace speaking,” she said. Her eyes frosted lightly. “Why, yes, Ruth, he is. One moment.” She handed me the phone.

“Your little friend in white. Although why she’s allowed to wear that color I don’t know.” Old Man Renfro and Gaston stared at this unusual ferocity from Candace. She smiled sweetly at them. “Hello, Ruth?” I said. “Jordy, hi. Listen, I only have a minute. I understand from Junebug that you found Shannon Harcher today.” “Yeah.” “I thought you might want to know her condition.” “I tried earlier, but they wouldn’t tell me anything.” “She’s in a coma,” Ruth said, her voice lowering.

“She’s got a depressed skull fracture. There’s been a lot of bleeding around the brain. She’s going to need surgery.” “My God! Do you think she has a chance?” I thought of telling Mark that she didn’t and dreaded it. “Yes, I do,” Ruth said. “The bullet didn’t actually penetrate Shannon’s brain. It hit and deflected at a fairly thick part of her skull. Her face is going to need some fixing later, but if they can relieve the pressure around the brain, I’d say her chances are good. She’s young and strong. They’re getting in a specialist from Austin tonight.” “Oh, God, I hope she makes it,” I breathed. “Thanks for calling and letting me know.” “I knew you’d be worried about her,”