Elm Creek: A Readymade Family, Volume 2

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THIRTEEN

The report cards had already been sent home, and the eighth-grade graduation party, which Charity didn’t attend, took place. School ended and summer vacation began. Though she had a break from studies, her parents were still working, so David—sometimes James—and Jake came over daily, and Missy often joined them. Matt and Trisha were also regular fixtures at the house, though Trisha didn’t come over as often as the rest.

One morning, after Charity’s parents had already left for work and Jake and David had come over as usual, the phone rang and David answered it.

“Williams residence. Who’s speaking?” After hearing what was said on the other side of the phone, he held it out to Charity. “It’s Matt.”

Charity put the phone receiver to her ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, Charity,” Matt’s warm, friendly voice came over the line. “I just called to make sure you’re home since I’m coming over.”

He’d stopped by a few times when she and Jake had gone somewhere with David, so it was smart to call ahead. “Okay.”

“Don’t go anywhere,” he said. “I’m coming over.”

“I won’t,” she promised.

The call disconnected and the dial tone echoed in her ear. Hanging up the phone, she turned to David and Jake. “He’s coming over and said not to go anywhere.”

“Just in time,” David said. “I was getting bored and thinking we could go to the arcade.”

“Let’s do that after he comes,” Charity said. No one loved video games as much as Matt.

“Sure.”

Normally, it didn’t take Matt longer than ten minutes to reach her house from the Kelly residence, so the three sat in the den to wait. This time, however, it took much longer than expected. Ten minutes turned into twenty and then thirty.

“Where is he?” Jake finally asked. “It doesn’t take this long to get here from Matt’s house.”

“Maybe we should call the house and check,” David suggested.

Before any of them could head to the phone to follow through, the doorbell rang.

“Finally,” Jake said.

As Charity headed toward the door to answer it, Jake and David followed. She opened the door expecting to see Matt, but when her gaze fell on him, she froze in shock. His clothes were rumpled and dirty, his hands and face were covered in cuts and bruises, and his nose was bleeding.

“What happened to you?” Jake blurted before Charity could say a word.

Matt shrugged. “Just a bully trying to get the best of me. I’m okay.”

To Charity’s knowledge, Matt had never had problems with bullies before. Sometimes a few of the boys in the upper grades would make mean remarks at school, but that was the worst of it. Matt had never been in any kind of fight.

“Who was it?” David asked.

“Doesn’t matter. No one important.” Matt entered and closed the door. “Is there a first-aid kit here? I don’t want to go home looking like this.”

David nodded. “In the kitchen.”

He led the way, and the others followed. Standing by, Jake and Charity watched as David proficiently used the antiseptic and bandages in Moses’ first aid kit to clean up Matt’s injuries.

“All done,” David said, closing the plastic container. “You should tell your brother at least. He could probably help you.”

Matt shook his head. “I don’t want the bully to think he’s important enough for me to go complaining to people. I’m fine.”