The Hayloft. A 1950s Mystery

room became quieter. The teachers had all left, which was undoubtedly why he picked this particular time.
    I glanced across the aisle to where Sylvia and Natalie were sitting. Sylvia was whispering in Natalie’s ear. Natalie looked pale. My anxiety deepened. Maybe she wasn’t up to this. Barney issued his challenge. The room became quieter. Nobody moved. Then Natalie stood up. She walked over to Barney’s table and sat down, opposite him.
    Barney had a strange look on his face. He said, “What are you doing?”
    Natalie said quietly, “I’m challenging you.”
    The silence in the cafeteria was now complete. You could have heard a napkin drop. For a few seconds, neither of them moved. Then, in something approaching his usual loud voice, he said, “Okay, we need stakes.”
    “You first,” Natalie said.
    “Well,” Barney said, “same as before. Except that you have to run around the building after school this afternoon, during football practice.”
    Football practice and cheerleader practice. When a lot of students would be there. Not only football players and cheerleaders, but also anybody else who could make it. And I knew there would be a crowd to watch a naked Natalie. And there would be consequences afterward. What Dr. Graves would do to her was anybody’s guess.
    “So, what are you going to make me do if you win?” Barney had recovered from the surprise of seeing Natalie issue a challenge.
    Natalie looked at him with disdain. “Nothing. The pleasure of beating you will be sufficient.”
    Barney stared at her with his mouth open. There was an audible sucking in of breath among the students, many of whom were now clustered around the table, and a few shouts of what she should make Barney do. Some of the suggestions were obscene, producing scattered laughter. But I began to understand that this was perfect. Losing would be Barney’s humiliation, and nothing could top that. I wondered whether Natalie or Sylvia had thought it up.
    Barney was on the defensive. Looking over the heads of others who were watching, I saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallowed. But again he recovered and said, somewhat gruffly, “Okay, go ahead and start.”
    Natalie smiled sweetly at him and said, “Barney, I’m going to be big about this and let you start today.”
    I almost cheered. She had pulled herself together. Barney was in a pickle, just as I had perceived he would be. He couldn’t insist that she start without giving himself and the game away. And losing face.
    He said, lightly, “Ladies first.”
    “No, I want you to start.”
    Her tone of voice let Barney know that he couldn’t jolly her into starting. Barney appeared to be studying the pieces, but I knew that he was trying to figure a way out of his dilemma. He must be wondering whether she really knew what she was doing.
    He looked up and said, “I gave you the opportunity to start, but if that’s what you want. Far be it for me to go against the wishes of a lady. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
    He hesitated again, perhaps hoping that this psychological ploy would change her mind. She sat, immobile, with her eyes looking straight at him. And I knew what damage her eyes could inflict. He withered under her gaze.
    “Well, here goes,” he said, trying to cover his discomfiture. He removed three cartons from the row of five.
    I had been thinking he might do that and had drilled Natalie especially on the response to that move, because it was not at all intuitive. But when she didn’t do anything for a few seconds, I began to perspire anew. Had she forgotten? Had the lessons flown out of her head?
    I glanced at Barney. He was trying not to look cocky. He was thinking the same thing. She was at a loss. I glanced at Sylvia, who was standing beside Natalie’s shoulder. She was trying to hide her concern.
    Natalie looked up from the board at Barney and said, “I thought you were going to make it difficult for me.”
    She daintily picked up a carton from the row of seven and set it aside. One carton. My heart almost stopped. But when Barney moved his hand as if to take a turn, she slapped it and said, “Wait. I’m not done.”
    She picked up a second carton from the row of seven and tossed it back over her shoulder where it hit an unsuspecting boy in the chest. Laughter. She picked up a third carton and threw it in another direction. More laughter. Then the fourth. And the fifth. By the time she picked up the seventh carton, the cafeteria