“I think she thinks he’s having an affair,” Wendy said. “You know, a love affair with some other woman, like on Dallas and Dynasty. People are always having affairs.”

Tommy didn’t know. He wasn’t allowed to watch very much television, and never anything like the shows Wendy was always talking about. He sometimes got to watch MacGyver, but MacGyver wasn’t interested in girls. He was too busy saving people. “Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know,” she said, exasperated. “Why do people do anything? Why did somebody kill that lady?”

“My dad says nobody really understands why someone turns into a serial killer.”

“That’s scary,” Wendy said. She looked past the end of the bench to where Dennis Farman was tormenting Cody Roache, poking at him with something. Cody kept trying to get away from him, but he never ran far enough or fast enough. “I think Dennis is going to grow up to be a serial killer.”

Tommy looked over at him. “Probably.”

“What do you think Miss Navarre did to him?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Miss Navarre is nice. She probably tried to talk some sense into him.”

“Ha! Like that could ever happen.”

Dennis caught them looking. Tommy groaned. “Great. Now he’s going to come over here and harass us.”

“Don’t let him, Tommy. Stand up to him.”

No sooner had she said it than Dennis made a fist and socked Cody in the stomach. Cody doubled over.

“And get my head knocked off?” Tommy said.

Dennis swaggered up in front of them, a sneer on his face. In his left hand he held something wrapped in tissue.

“Look,” he said. “It’s the lovebirds. Are you having sex yet?”

Tommy ignored him.

Wendy’s eyes flashed. “Shut up, Dennis.”

“Is your gay boyfriend gonna make me?” he taunted.

“You’re such a moron,” Wendy snapped. “You’re such a moron even other morons don’t want you hanging around.” She glanced meaningfully at Cody, who was bent over throwing up on the grass.

Dennis’s face began to get red. Tommy swallowed hard, but Wendy was pissed off and kept going.

“If you weren’t such a moron that you got held back a year and now you’re bigger than everybody, somebody would kick your butt.”

Dennis got redder and redder. He stepped in closer. “You’re a cunt.”

Wendy stood up on the bench so she was taller than he was. Tommy looked to see if Mr. Alvarez had heard the C word.

Wendy was furious now, her hands clenched into fists. “You’re stupid. You’re stupid and everybody hates you!”

Dennis suddenly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off the bench. He took the thing in tissue paper and shoved it in her face.

“I’m gonna make you eat it!” he shouted.