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“I CAN’T GO TO SCHOOL I’M SICK”

For aright at h the door, there was no way she could be speaking to someone behind me

“What?” I said She did not respond and I heard then a second voice Impossibly, it was behind me I spun and saw that the kitchen, the one I had just been in, was gone, as was the house As well as the peach that had been in my hand

Instead ere in a driveway A Ford SUV ar smoke and steam, a man in the driver’s seat, a chubbyhairline, a blue-striped dress shirt and loose tie He had a travelof coffee in his hand

“Oh, co to start affecting your grades”

Self-conscious, I h of course I was invisible to them

“Dad, I really don’t feelIt’s my time of month I have cramps”

The father looked as uncos are discussed, but he shook his head and said, “Coo I have a staffand there’s construction on the 101”

The 101? That phrase struck a chord with me, but no doubt that road went all over the country and—

“Will she go to school, won’t she go to school—the suspense is killing ed sensuality that somehow permeated the flippant tone told erly to see her

She was dressed differently this ti the sort of leather outfit that would not have been out of place on a fereen And an areen ribbon choker around her throat It was a jewel, as big as a cherry toht within

She saw h if it was real, it would cost Samantha’s father’s yearly salary “You like?” Oriax asked me

“It’s beautiful,” I said

“You should get one,” she said I thought she was preparing to reht and she lowered her hands “There you are, Messenger I ondering why you’d leave poorwhat’s your naain?”

“Mara,” I said