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Five ot my black T-shirt froroaned, looking at er black It sparkled and gleamed dark bluish silver Even the A on the front looked rosy pink instead of scarlet I rolled h rabbed o?" Mrs Carpenter asked, peering over the top of a roreide and she closed the novel "What in heaven have you done to yourself?"

I took a deep breath "Don’t ask," I gru out in a hiss Her eyes ie Mae, you have a knack for finding trouble," she said, standing

"I sure do" I followed her out the front door

The afternoon sun glealow in shades of rose, baby blue, and grass green

"You are such an idiot!" I whispered

Mrs Carpenter peered at ?"

I shook low And that is when round in a giant cloud of snake-scale dust I sneezed once and cliie Mae!" Mrs Carpenter clasped my elbow "Are you hurt?"

"I’ and roaned This really wasn’t my day My jeans, the only hole-free pair I owned, now had tears over both offro h town, Mrs Carpenter kept glancing atunder her breath

"You don’t mind if I drop you off across the street from the restaurant, do you? It’s hard to make a U-turn in rush-hour traffic"

I peered out theat the busy road "No problem" Mrs Carpenter pulled to the side of the road "Have a nice night," she called as I climbed froe with traffic, then walked half a block to the crosswalk and waited for the light to change

Every single person on that city block stopped what they were doing and pointed at me Their scrutiny made me sweat, and, with that sweat, dust seeped out ofme a full-body halo Cars slowed and people rolled down their s to stare I pulledaround ed I kept my head down and crossed to the other side of the street And plowed into Yana

"Maggie Mae!" she blurted She clutched my shoulders and shovedat litter dust," I began to explain self-consciously, brushingfor you again," she said, peering toward the road "A stranger--sa in a Cadillac parked in front of the restaurant He’s been there all afternoon … waiting Naalyehe is nervous"

I stared at her, dumbfounded "Who is it?"

Yana rolled her eyes "Didn’t you hear what I said? My grandpa is afraid of his about people" She bit her lip and studied e e man, someone you wouldn’t look at twice Not too tall, thin, brown hair, receding hairline"

I shrugged "Whatever I don’t care He’s probably got me mixed up with sorabbed my bicep "Naalyehe is afraid of him! You can’t come into work," she insisted "At least not yet José just called the cops and reported the guy for loitering As soon as the cops pick him up, you can coet you when it’s safe"

Yana pulledA shiver of fear danced down er I had the sinking suspicion she was hugging me in case this was the last time she’d ever see me

"Be careful," she whispered into o, her black motocross T-shirt shimmered with color She dashed back to the sidewalk

"Thanks," I called in a shaky voice, darting glances all around

I slunk out from between the shops and peered both ways down the street before sprinting back the way I had co after me like a rainbow-hued comet’s tail I covered two blocks before the dust settled, then circled back another two blocks beforethe air, the park was packed I sighed with relief--where better to hide than out in the open, cae students partied at one end of the park; at the other end the playground bustled with children and people crowding the winding ce the park and filled the air with the illusion of snow