Randi's Steps
Francy Judge
If only her life were a story on paper, she could tear it into a million pieces and start over. Ten-year-old Francie McLean’s life hasn’t been the same since her best friend started battling cancer. Francie wants to be loyal and caring to Randi, but when put to the test, she fails. Will their friend

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book excerpt

The silence in Randi’s house is loud. On a normal day, the stereo blasts her dad’s favorites Billy Joel songs; everyone sings as Randi’s younger brother, Michael, hums car noises and screeches his Hot Wheels race car around my feet. Today, I step into the den across an exclamation point of light shining through the closed curtains. I try to be quiet, but I have to sneeze. An uncontrollable, whistling sneeze. Mr. and Mrs. Picconi look at me. Michael looks at me with his mouth open wide. This must be a stranger’s house, not my best friend’s. Did I do something wrong? What happened to “Oh hi, Francie, come on in. You’re the next contestant on the Price is Right.” Or, “Do you want to get an ice cream cone at Rocket Ship Park?” or “Let’s ride in Dad’s Corvette and pretend we’re movie stars.” Why are the Picconi’s acting stranger than usual, not funny strange—that would be normal—but creepy strange? Did all the towns on Long Island turn weird, or just ours? Randi appears at the top of the stairs, holding an ice-pack on her head. “I can’t play today. My head’s about to explode.” “Oh. That stinks.” I wait a minute, hoping she’s joking. “Well, guess I’ll see you at the bus stop tomorrow.” I re-zip my coat for the short trek from her front door on Hartwell Drive to mine. “No, remember? I have to go to the doctor for some tests,” Randi reminds me. “Sorry.” She turns around, shuffles back into her bedroom, and closes the door. She doesn’t say good-bye. The bright sun is a big fat liar today because the winter air numbs my toes. This must be her hundredth headache, I’ve lost count. Shivering from the cold, I step inside. “You’re back already?” Mom says as she takes my coat. “She can’t play because of her stupid headache. Why does she have to go to the doctor for that? She always says she has a headache. Can’t she just take some aspirin?” Dad looks up from his newspaper. “I’m sure it’s nothing, but nine-year-olds shouldn’t have recurring headaches. She might need glasses. Poor eyesight sometimes causes headaches.” He goes back to reading Newsday. A photo of President Carter’s serious face replaces Dad’s. I peek over the newspaper to see what his eyebrows tell me. He doesn’t look concerned, so I’m not concerned. But mom’s green eyes are wide and glossy. “Don’t worry about Randi. God is watching over her.” She puts down her Good Housekeeping magazine and wraps her arms around me, squeezing so hard it hurts. “It’s better to see a doctor and find out what is wrong.” Mom’s voice quivers. And I wonder, “Why?” ***** Randi was supposed to be back by now. I hate riding the bus without her. She’s been gone over a week for those stupid tests. I miss her Tinker Bell laugh with the occasional snort. The rows behind me bounce with laughter. Spit wads and paper balls land next to me. Missed shots? Should I pretend to read the writing on the seatback in front of me or watch trees go by? I’d love to jump out the window and disappear in the snow. As soon as the bus rolls down the first hill past the school, bullies and their followers rise like vampires at midnight. A quiet girl like me is high on their list of possible targets, along with the boy wearing coke-bottle glasses, and the chubby Mickey Mouse Fan Club member who carries a metal Mickey lunch box. Twenty minutes later, the bus inches toward my corner. Way too long. Mrs. Picconi’s station wagon is in their driveway. Yes! They’re back from the doctor. I leap out of my seat, trip on Joey Torelli’s football helmet, and grab my sister who is at the front of the bus laughing with Justin and her second-grade friends. “Come on, Laurie.” “I’m coming,” she groans. I run home as fast as I can run through snow and slush with a pile of schoolbooks weighing me down and Laurie screaming, “Wait up!” “Hi, Mom. Can I go to Randi’s? She’s back. I saw her car in…” “Francie, first come here and sit down for a minute. I have to tell you something.” Mom reaches for my hand as a tear rolls down her cheek.