Double Dutch (15 page)

“Have you been able to reach your dad yet?” Bomani
asked as he and Randy washed the dishes while Bomani's wife put the kids to bed.

“Uh, no, not yet. His cell phone is turned off,” Randy said honestly.

“When is the last time you talked to him? He must have heard about the storm—it's been on all the national news stations. Did you call home and check your answering machine to see if he's called you? I know he will be worried if he can't find you.”

“There was no message,” Randy said quietly. He clenched and unclenched his fists. He had finally had enough. The burden of a missing father was too much to carry along with the stress and the fear of the day. “Bomani? We're straight, right? You always tell us in Double Dutch that if we've got problems, we should tell you, right?”

“Of course,” Bomani said, setting down the plate he was wiping. “What's wrong, Randy? You can tell me anything. I'm here for you. You know that.”

Randy sighed. “I haven't seen or heard from my father in more than two months,” he blurted out finally. “I think he's deserted me, just like my mom did,” Randy added in a whisper.

“How have you been living all this time?” Bomani asked. He sat down with a thud on the sofa.

“By myself. Me and my cat. I just knew he'd be home any day, so I didn't tell anybody. I didn't want to call the police, because I was afraid they'd put me in some foster home or they'd get my dad in trouble for leaving me. So I just managed. He left me a little money, but that's all gone, and I'm at a place where I just don't know what to do.” It felt so good to finally tell somebody.

Bomani was silent for a while. “You'll stay here for the time being,” he said finally. “Then we'll start investigating what's going on. And don't worry—nobody is going to make you go to a foster home, and nobody is going to get your dad in trouble. I know he wouldn't desert you, Randy. He adores the ground you walk on. There has got to be an explanation, and we will find it—I promise.”

Randy felt weak with relief. Bomani gave him a big hug and looked him straight in the eye. “I wish you had told me sooner. We're a family in Double Dutch. Families don't keep secrets like that—they help each other. Don't worry. We're going to figure this out. Now, here's a blanket. You get your choice—the big couch or the little one to sleep on.”

Randy grinned. “The big one, of course. And thanks, Bomani. I feel like a hundred pounds have been lifted off my back.”

“Good thing, 'cause I think you ate a hundred pounds of food tonight!”

“Bomani? Can I call Delia before I go to sleep?” Randy asked. “I want to see how Yolanda is doing.”

“Sure, and let me know how they both are. Today was unbelievable. I'm so glad you are all safe.”

“You think we'll still be able to have the tournament this weekend?” Randy asked as he tossed the blanket on Bomani's big, comfortable sofa.

“I know today has been traumatic, but as soon as we get ourselves together and start to breathe normally, we're going to have the finest World Championship Double Dutch Tournament the world has ever seen!” Bomani said with encouragement. “We're gonna be jumping with the best of them all day Friday and Saturday.”

“I'm glad. I think we all need something to think about besides the tornado. I sure hope Yo Yo is okay.”

“Me, too. And Randy? I'm going to make some inquiries on my own about your father, but if nothing has changed by Monday, we're calling the police. Bet?”

“Bet. Thanks again, Bomani—for everything.”

“No problem. Give my best to Delia.” Bomani headed up the stairs.

Randy dialed Delia's phone number, feeling better than he had in weeks. “Hey, Delia,” he said when she picked up the phone. “Have you heard from Yolanda?”

“I just got off the phone with her. She's back home and she's gonna be okay. The doctor said she had a mild concussion, which is a big word for a bad bump on the head.”

“Oh, goodness, now we're gonna have to listen to her stories of concussions and medical complications for months!”

Delia laughed. “It's already started. She told me that while she was unconscious she saw angels who lifted her up and carried her out.”

“She didn't see angels—she saw the Tollivers, the last people that I would confuse with anything from heaven,” Randy said.

“You got that right,” agreed Delia. “But you know, maybe we
have
been unfair to them. Maybe they're not as bad as we've been making them out to be.”

“Maybe,” Randy said thoughtfully.

“It's not every day you save somebody's life—even if they didn't really plan to,” Delia replied.

“Well, I'm sure glad they did. Yolanda's kinda far out there sometimes, but I'm so glad she's all right. I don't even care about her tall tales.” Randy chuckled.

“Me neither. She said the doctor told her if she rests for the next few days, there's no reason why she can't jump in the tournament,” Delia added.

“That's good news. She should have no problem resting with the school closed down. You know, when I was little, I used to dream about the school blowing up or burning down. I never really believed it would happen.”

“I know. It makes me a little sad that the school is messed up, but I am so glad we don't have to take that state test!” Delia said with glee.

“You know they'll make us take it eventually,” Randy reminded her.

“Yeah, but by then Double Dutch Championships will be over, and I won't have to deal with one before I get to do the other!” Delia reasoned.

“Whatever,” Randy said. “You know, Bomani told me we've raised enough money for all of us to stay in the hotel downtown with the rest of the teams. We check in Thursday, he said.”

“Super!” Delia replied. “That's the best part of a trip-eating pizza at midnight, swimming in the hotel pool, running from room to room, and—”

“And getting yelled at by Bomani and the chaperones when we do that!”

“I'm glad you're at Bomani's house, Randy, especially with your dad so far away.”

“Me, too,” Randy added with real honesty. “I'm gonna sleep good tonight on this big, fat, lumpy sofa.”

“I gotta go now, Randy. My other line is beeping. Talk to you tomorrow.”

“Later.”

A
S
R
ANDY HUNG UP
, D
ELIA CLICKED OVER TO THE OTHER
line. It was Yolanda again.

“Guess what, girl?” Yolanda began.

“What's up? You okay?”

“Yeah, my head is feeling better already, and the swelling is going down a lot. But you'll never guess who I just talked to.”

“Who?” Delia asked. “A reporter?”

“Yeah, two or three of them have called. I think I'll be in the paper tomorrow—with my hair a mess! But that's not what I'm talking about. I just got off the phone with the Tollivers!”

“No way!” Delia was blown away by this bit of information. “What did they say? Did you call them, or did they call you?”

“I called them. I figured I needed to thank them properly. And I felt bad because all of us have spent so much time being scared of them that we never even tried to tell them apart.”

“You're right, Yo Yo. Tell me what you talked about.”

“Well, Tabu was on the upstairs phone, and Titan was downstairs, and after I thanked them upside down and backward, I asked them to tell me more about how they
found me. Tabu said they ran out of the classroom because they were scared and didn't want any of the kids to see them that way. Then things started falling from the ceiling, and they didn't know where to go. The walls kinda caved in on them, and they were probably both out cold for a while.”

“So they weren't following you or chasing you like you thought?”

“No, they stumbled over me in the darkness after they got themselves together and tried to find their way out. Dumb luck, I guess.”

“But what took so long?” Delia asked. “We waited for what seemed like hours—we thought you were dead, Yo Yo.” Delia shuddered.

“I did, too, for a minute,” Yolanda replied with a short laugh. “Titan said huge pieces of wall or ceiling or something had fallen all around them, and it took the two of them quite a while to move stuff out of the way so they could find their way out of the building.”

“Why didn't they call for help?” Delia asked.

“They told me they figured they could get out by themselves, and they also didn't think many people would care that they were missing,” Yolanda said.

“That's sad,” Delia commented. “But what made them decide to rescue you?”

“I was there, so they just carried me out with them. ‘No big deal,' Tabu told me.”

“Awesome!” Delia whispered. “So what else did they say?”

“We talked about stuff they like and what music they listen to. They like all the same stuff we do—same music, same
groups, same TV shows. It was amazing. Then I asked Tabu what he meant when he told me to win at Double Dutch.”

“That blew me away when he told you that this afternoon,” Delia said. “What did he say?”

“You're not gonna believe this!” Yolanda began.

“Is this another one of your lies, Yo Yo?” Delia asked, laughing.

“No, girl, this is for real. I couldn't make this up in a million years. Titan told me that he and Tabu both liked me, and they knew everything about me—my birthday, my favorite color, and how much I love Double Dutch. Can you believe that? He said they were at the city and the state tournaments—sitting in the bleachers, watching me jump.”

“Freaky!” Delia said. “I saw them up there that one time, but who woulda thought they were watching
you!
What did you tell them?”

“What could I say? Men are just attracted to me!”

“Get outta here!”

“Hey, my mom is calling. She wants to baby me some more, and I'm gonna let her. I'll talk to you tomorrow,” Yolanda said cheerfully.

“Okay, later. I can't wait to see tomorrow's newspaper! Our school, and you, and the not-so-terrible Tollivers are the talk of the town!” Delia hung up the phone. She knew she couldn't
read
tomorrow's paper, but the pictures would be wonderful.

D
ELIA WAS TREMENDOUSLY HAPPY
. S
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO
go to school. She didn't have to take the state proficiency test. And she didn't have to worry about reading at all. Between extra Double Dutch practices, getting their things ready for the hotel trip, and keeping up with all the news reports about the tornado and its damage, there was little time to reflect on the future beyond the coming weekend.

Yolanda recuperated quickly and was thrilled that her picture, along with the twins', not only made the front pages of the
Cincinnati Enquirer
and the
Cincinnati Post
newspapers, but would also be featured in
People
magazine as well.

Thursday night the team checked into the Westin Hotel, along with several other teams from around the country. “There're the kids from New York,” whispered Yolanda. “Stan's Pepper Steppers—they're really good.”

“Yeah, I remember,” Delia answered. “South Carolina always has a really good team too. Isn't that them just getting out of that bus?”

“I hope that cute dude who can jump so fast comes this year. He is so fine!” Yolanda said with a grin.

“Don't you think you have enough trouble with twins in love with you?” Delia asked, laughing.

“Who said anything about love? I just like to be
admired!” Yolanda responded. “But the Tollivers did say they would come on Saturday to watch us.”

“Good. You know, one of the teams last year had twin boys on its doubles team. They were dynamite. You think the Tollivers might want to try to jump Double Dutch with us?”

“Who knows?” Yolanda shrugged and looked up at Bomani, who handed her a room key. “Let's check out the room. I want to see what's on HBO.”

“You've got HBO at home!” Randy teased as he tossed his bag onto his shoulder.

“It's different in a hotel room,” Yolanda reasoned. “My mother isn't here to tell me to turn it off!”

Yolanda and Delia, carrying more than they would ever need for two days, pushed the elevator button for the seventh floor. Misty and Charlene shared the room next to them on one side, and Bomani and Randy were across the hall. The rest of the team and a few parents took most of the other rooms on that floor. The room was cool and perfect, the way their rooms at home would never be.

“This is the life!” Yolanda sighed as she bounced on the bed, the remote control in her hand.

“Hey, I've got a taste for some candy,” Delia said after she unpacked her things. “I think I'm going down to the lobby to get some Twizzlers or a Twix. Want something?”

“Yeah, bring me a Hershey's bar. It's sweet and smooth and perfectly chocolate, just like me,” Yolanda answered.

“That bump on your head must have been more serious than they thought,” Delia teased. “You're trippin'.” She took the key and walked down the long, carpeted hall to the elevator. In the lobby she looked around, saw the little shop where candy was sold, then noticed another bus of Double
Dutch teams unloading. She wandered outside to the loading area to see where this new group was from.

The Canadian team, Delia realized. She remembered them—they were good. Several of their teams took first place last year.
This was going to be the bomb,
she thought excitedly.
The Queen Bees are going to blow it up this year!
Delia watched them unload, waving at the girls she remembered from last year, knowing they would be strong competitors.