Read Voices at Whisper Bend for Free Online Page B

yellow-bellied slacker. Either way, he’s rotten enough to steal our metal.”
    â€œGosh, Sophie,” Betsy said. She shook her head. “Do you really think a teacher would steal the metal?”
    â€œSomebody did. That scrap didn’t walk away by itself. So my sister and her friends are gonna keep their eyes on Mr. Costa. Shh.” Sophie put her hand to her lips and pretended to turn a key, then walked toward another group of girls.
    â€œThat Sophie, she’s nuts,” Charlotte said. “She’s blabbing to the whole school, but she wants us to keep quiet. Besides, it’s got to be Paul Rossi.”
    â€œI don’t know, Charlotte,” Betsy began. She stopped talking as two big eighth-grade boys came right up to her.
    â€œYou Betsy Schmidt?” one asked.
    His voice had an ugly sound. Charlotte reached for her friend’s hand and Betsy took it.
    â€œYes. I’m Betsy.”
    â€œWe’re watching you. Me and my friends, we’re gonna keep you in our sights all the time. You and your Kraut family.”
    â€œWait a minute,” Charlotte said. “What do you mean, Kraut ?”
    The boy sneered at her. “Lousy German. Stinkin’ Nazi. You understand them words?”
    â€œBut Betsy’s not—” Charlotte began. Betsy squeezed her hand tightly.
    The other boy stuck his finger right under Betsy’s nose. “You tell us. If you ain’t a Kraut, where’d you get your last name?”
    â€œMy great-great-grandparents came from Germany. But that was a long time ago.”
    â€œSee.” The first boy glared at Charlotte. Then he turned his attention to Betsy. “It’s just plain rotten, how they let scum like you into the U. S. of A. Don’t make another move, or you’ll be sorry.”
    â€œWho are you calling scum?” Charlotte demanded. “You leave Betsy alone. Her brother’s fighting for the U. S. of A.”
    She tugged Betsy’s hand and they ducked away from the boys toward the door.
    Betsy’s face had turned pale and her blue eyes looked wet.
    â€œCome on, don’t listen to them,” Charlotte said. “They don’t know anything. The one in the blue sweater, Frankie Zalenchak, he’s a bully, always picking on younger kids. And that Danny Merkow just sticks with Frankie because he likes to sound tough.”
    â€œBut they called me a Kraut, Charlotte. I can’t help my last name.” The tears spilled over and Betsy rubbed at them with her fists.
    Charlotte flung her arm around Betsy’s shaking shoulders. “They’re crazy, Bets. Your family’s been in America for a long time. If anybody’s a foreigner here, they are.” She turned and glared at the boys, but they had their backs to her and couldn’t see.
    â€œOh, no. Look, Charlotte. They’re going after my cousin Pete. They got into an argument with Pete last week, and now it’s starting up again. He’s got a temper. They’re going to get him in trouble. Charlotte, we’ve got to—”
    The bell rang, and just in time. Another minute and war would have erupted in the school yard.
    As they marched back to their classroom, they passed the cellar door. Mr. Willis knelt on the floor with a screwdriver in his hand. As she stepped closer, Charlotte could see that he was installing a new lock on the door. Well, good.
    â€œLook, Bets,” she whispered. “The new metal we collect will stay safe. We’ll collect so much, nobody will dare say another word about your last name.”
    Betsy shook her head like she didn’t believe Charlotte. “What if they talk to their parents? What if somebody says something to my dad at the mill? He’s got a temper just like Pete’s.”
    â€œAll the more reason for us to collect the most metal of anybody. And find the real thief. Once we catch him, we’ll be heroes. Come on, we’ll drop the first