Rhymes With Witches by Lauren Myracle Page A

have been wrong, but it seemed like a bit of a payback.
    â€œHey, that’s my mum’s food,” Bitsy said.
    Mary Bryan made a face. “Hate pita bread.”
    â€œSo shove it up your ass,” Bitsy suggested.
    â€œThe rest of you know what you want?” the waitress asked.
    We ordered. As soon as the waitress left, Sukie Karing slid out of her booth and came over to ours. Her eyes lit briefly on me—curious, I could tell—but it was Keisha she directed her comments toward.
    â€œOh my god. Did you hear? About Mr. Cohen?”
    Keisha lifted her head.
    â€œWhat happened?” Mary Bryan asked.
    Sukie gripped the edge of the table. “He might have
rabies
.”
    â€œWhat in bloody hell are you talking about?” Bitsy said.
    Now Sukie focused on Bitsy, almost as if she’d been waiting for permission. “He got scratched by one of those cats. You know, at school? It was curled up under his jacket on a sofa in the teacher’s lounge. He reached for his jacket to put it on, and the cat went nuts and attacked him. I’m not kidding.”
    â€œYou were there, were you?” Bitsy said. “You saw it with your own two eyes?”
    â€œNo, but everyone’s talking about it. He got scratched all down one arm. He had to go to the hospital.”
    â€œI don’t think you can get rabies from a cat scratch,” Mary Bryan said.
    â€œWell, maybe not rabies,” Sukie said. “But it’s like, those cats are a total menace. What if it had been a student who got scratched?” She leaned forward and spaced out her words. “Total. Law. Suit. City.”
    â€œLawsuit city,” Bitsy repeated. She shared a glance with Keisha. “Hmm.”
    â€œOne chocolate shake, two Sprites, one water,” our waitress said. “Now, who had the water?”
    Sukie stepped to the side, edged out by the tray. “Anyway, it’s just really terrible, that’s all. Poor Mr. Cohen.”
    Bitsy accepted her shake and took a sip. She smiled up at the waitress and said, “Do you think I could have an extra cherry? If it’s not too much trouble.”
    â€œI’ll bring you a whole cupful,” the waitress said. “How’s that sound?”
    â€œMarvelous,” Bitsy said.
    Sukie nibbled at her fingernail. “Well. I guess I better go back. I just wanted to let you know.”
    â€œRight, then,” Bitsy said. “Thanks for the chat.”
    â€œOh, sure. No problem. All right, well …” She raised her hand. “Bye!”
    â€œTa!” Bitsy called. She waited until Sukie was gone, then shook her head. “Ah, Sukie.”
    Mary Bryan giggled.
    I fiddled with my straw. “I’ve gotten scratched by a cat millions of times,” I said, “and I’ve never gone to the hospital.”
    â€œBingo,” Bitsy said. “And that, luv, is one of the many reasons we picked you and not her.”
    â€œHuh?” I said.
    Bitsy winked, and I did the
ha-ha, very funny
thing. A tingling warmth rose inside me.
    The waitress returned with a plastic condiment cup filled with cherries. Bitsy selected the shiniest one and popped it in her mouth.

    Three messages waited for me at home, all from Alicia. “Jane, pick up,” came the first one. “We’re leaving in fifteen minutes.” Then came, “Jane! Where are you! Karaoke, remember?” And finally, “You better not have blown me off. I mean it. We’ll swing by your house just in case—you better be there!”
    I leaned against the counter. Crap. Guilt knuckled down inside me, along with frustration at the unfairness of it. I
hadn’t
blown her off. I’d honestly forgotten we had plans. But I knew she’d be pissed regardless.
    Ah, shit.
    I picked up the phone, knowing it would only be worse if I left it until tomorrow. Plus, if I called her now, she wouldn’t be there.She’d still be at the karaoke