My Best Friend

A Baby

Mindy's hands shook as she watched Thomas and Charlie drag Mr. Hanson's body out of the house. She looked at Luda Mae who put the shovel down and walked toward her.

"W-why?" Mindy asked. "Why'd you do it, Mama?"

"He said some bad things about my precious Tommy", she explained. "He said if Tommy didn't start behaving himself, he was going to be kicked out of school. Then he said he was going to find out what Tommy did to that boy that hurt you and tell the police."

"What did Tommy do?"

"From what Charlie told me, Tommy killed the boy. They hid the body where no one will find it."

Mindy shook her head. All of this just to protect her and Thomas. Tears came to her eyes as she came to realize Thomas and Luda Mae were murderers.

"What's going to happen now?"

"We'll never speak of this again", Luda Mae said. "We'll pretend that this never happened."

"What about Tommy? Will he still get kicked out of school?"

"He might not go back to school. You don't want that poor boy getting ridiculed by more children, do you?"

"No", Mindy said. "But school won't be the same without him. He's my best friend. What will I do without him?"

Thomas walked back into the house all dirty. Mindy walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. He looked at her confused to why she was doing this.

"Mama said you won't be going back to school", she said. "She told me what you did to Jesse."

Thomas felt scared. Did this mean she didn't want to be friends with him anymore? Who would want to be friends with a killer?

"I don't mind, Tommy. You saved my life, but I may not see you again."

"Yes, you will", Luda Mae said. "You're welcome to come here anytime you want. Mindy, can you tell us why you came here in the first place?"

"My parents", she said. "Mama told me she's going to have a baby."

"A baby? But, why aren't you happy?"

"Why is Mama having a baby if she already has me? Jeremy's happy. He's going to have his own kid and act like I don't exist. Mama and Jeremy will have their baby and forget all about me."

Thomas felt sorry for her, but he knew she was probably wrong. Mama didn't forget about Charlie after Thomas was born. He hugged her back trying to make her feel better.

"Honey, they won't forget about you", Luda Mae said. "Look at my boys. I didn't forget about Charlie when Thomas was born. I loved them both the same."

"But, Jeremy isn't my daddy", Mindy said. "He'll be happy he has his own kid. He won't want me around."

"He will. He may not be your daddy, but you still have your mama there."

Luda Mae went into the kitchen to clean up. Mindy and Thomas stood in the living room wrapped in each other's arms. Mindy smiled as she closed her eyes and sighed. Having Thomas with her made her feel good. He made her happy.

"What do you think?" she asked. "Should I go home?"

Thomas nodded and shook his head.

"Not yet?" she asked.

He nodded. His heart started beating fast as Mindy looked up at him and smiled.

"You're the best friend I've ever had, Tommy."

She snuggled into his chest. Thomas put his hands on her face and gently raised her head to look at him.

"What are you doing?" Mindy asked.

Thomas closed his eyes as he leaned in to kiss her. Mindy blushed but closed her eyes as well as his lips came crashing down on hers.