As Told by Ginger copyright Viacom

Chapter 10: Secrets

Noelle Sussman sorted through the pack of cards with nothing more than her mind. Polly Schuster had already decried her as fraud yet again, and Noelle was tired of the crazy girl's constant "You don't have any weird powers, Noelle Sussman." But what she had been right about that weird part. Noelle's power was simply part of her life. It's other activities that make her weird. Like her pet flamingo for instance. But nobody looked to constantly hearing that they can't do something. If they weren't careful, they might begin to believe it.

Their classmates had gathered in the playground to watch the duel of the century, at least as far as they are concerned it was. They all had been looking forward to this since Noelle had been transferred from Lucky Elementary. They didn't care who won or lost. Only that one of that one of the two girls would be crushed humiliatingly. Actually most of them hoped that, win or lose, that it would Noelle. She didn't have telepathy, but she could read it in their faces. Polly was a popular girl for some reason. And Noelle was the alien intruder who threatening their entire social order.

"Your move, bird-girl," she said.

"Cheap parlor trick," Polly murmured as she began to consider her next move.

"Okay, how did I just perform that last trick?" Noelle asked confidently. She didn't have all the time in the world for this. She had a date with Carl later on.

She could see Polly work through the problem in her head. Noelle could almost pity the poor girl. "You used smoke and mirrors," Polly said suddenly.

Almost.

"Now, did you see any smoke or mirrors? Hmm?"

"You know what I mean."

Noelle leaned back and laughed. "Is that the best you can do? 'Smoke and mirrors?' I have been examined by doctors, physicists and professional magicians. I'm sure that my archenemy can do better."

"You think you're so smart, Noelle Sussman," Polly almost growled. She stood up so that she towered over the sitting Noelle. "But I know a secret that would make you cry."

"That seem very likely, Polly. There's very little that you do that would interest me."

"It's about Carl," Polly said before stalking off, parting a path through the crowd as she left. Noelle frowned. Whatever had the girl meant.

But before she could pursue that thought, the bell rang, announcing that recess was over. She got up and returned with her classmates back into the school.

---

"Who's Polly Schuster," Ginger asked as the students filed out the Middle School.

Dodie replied, "A friend of Carl's that Hoodsey has mentioned. That's where I got the dirt that I just told you."

"Come on, Dodie. She can't be that bad."

"Oh, really, Ginger," Macie said. "Then why hasn't Carl mentioned her to you?"

Ginger didn't reply. She had an answer. Unfortunately, she wished that she actually knew what it was.

They stopped at the curb. "Is your mom picking you up, Ginger," Dodie asked.

"No, she said that has arranged a ride for me. She's busy with... something." Ginger prayed that they hadn't noticed the pause in her voice.

Dodie nodded. "Just be sure to confront your brother about Polly when he gets here." Ginger sighed in relief.

"We don't want his soul drunk through a straw, do you?" Macie agreed.

Ginger shook her head. "You guys. None of those bad things are going to happen to him. Just lay off it."

"Okay, Ginger," Dodie said, "we won't talk about Polly." She was silent for a moment. But just for a moment. "But what about the guy that Courtney likes." Ginger glared at her. "Nevermind," Dodie said softly.

"There's your brother," Macie said, "Dodie." Ginger's heart had leaped when she had thought it was her brother. Instead it crashed when she learned that it was Dodie's. Ginger watched as Hoodsey made his way from the Elementary to the Junior High. But where was Carl? Didn't those two always hang around with each other? Something was up. Something that Ginger probably wasn't going to like.

But he as got closer, she could that he had a scrap of paper in his hand. Now what?

"What's that in your hand there, Hoodsey," Dodie asked when he had reached them.

"Mom had us make a list of movies that we wanted to watch, as she's willing to stop by the video store," Hoodsey explained. "Something on that list is sure to be approved by Mom."

"Who's 'us,'" Ginger asked.

"Your Mom rents movies," asked Macie.

"You've been in contact with Mom," Dodie said.

Hoodsey shrugged. And blushed a little. "She stopped by school an hour ago on a little errand she had."

"An hour ago?" Dodie lost some of the color in her face. "And she didn't stop by to she me?"

"Mothers. What are you going to do?" Courtney's voice appeared. "Eh, Dodie?"

Dodie took in a sharp breath. "You got my name right."

"Of course I did. Since we'll going to be such good friends and all."

Ginger raised an eyebrow. "What happened to Miranda and Mipsy?"

"And the rest of your posse?" Macie said.

"I'll tell you all about it later."

Ginger wasn't surprised to see the Gripling limousine pull up to the curb. What did surprise her was that she had spotted it even before Courtney did. "Ah, here's our ride, girls?"

"You're taking all three of us, Courtney?" Ginger said.

"Of course," Courtney said like she was relating the weather in their immediate vicinity. Which was sunny and a few clouds in the sky. The limo stopped.

"But what about Hoodsey?" Dodie asked.

"Don't worry, Dodie," he said, "Mom's picking up me and Carl and taking us to our house."

"Both of you?" she asked incredulously.

Ginger was right. Mrs. Bishop despised Carl. Something was definitely happening. And Ginger was definitely not liking it.

"I hope that you're not afraid of the dark," Courtney said in a way that suggested that she didn't. "Tonight we're sleeping under the stars."

"But-" Ginger started to say, but Courtney had already started to pushed into the now-open car door.

"Come on, we haven't got all day, you know. We have a campsite to get to in twenty minutes."

When everyone was safely in their seats and the limo was on the road, Courtney said, "Ginger, I'm afraid that Momma has done something rather foolish.

"She has brought member of our Country Club to the Landing Site."

Ginger swallowed. This could be bad.

"What crash site?" Dodie said. "What's going on here?"