o 76d8dbacab476b0a by Unknown Read Free Book Online

back.
    They seem closer than they’ve ever been. Tighter. A real family unit of two.
    You remember then that Sunny told you that her mother was very into organizing special
    seasonal windows. She collected props from everywhere: yard sales, catalogs, crafts supply houses. She also made them.
    This explains the Barbies on the beach. It’s not just a Sunny thing.
    It’s a Sunny-and-her-mom thing.
    “Look at this,” Sunny says. “I made this. Well, Mom and I did.” She holds up a small papier-mâché tree. “We used a paper-towel roll to build the trunk. The branches are made of chopsticks saved from the Thai takeout. …”
    “Cool,” says Maggie. “Maybe Zeke and I can make something for the window collection.”
    “Good idea,” Mr. W says.
    Sunny has barely spoken to you. She’s not ignoring you in a mean way.
    She’s just not quite looking at you. Shying away from you.
    You. Feel. Rotten.
    You’d feel worse, but you are exhausted from the night before. You didn’t stay up guarding Maggie and Zeke (from what?) but you didn’t sleep all that well either.
    Mr. W is doing something on the computer.
    You watch Zeke and listen as Maggie says in a low voice, “I know Mom can’t help it. I know that, Sunny. But it doesn’t help anymore. I mean, when I was out of control about my eating, I kept thinking I was in control, you know? And I bet Mom feels the same way. But it’s no good.
    She’s got to stop. For me. For Zeke. For Dad. For herself.”
    “You’re right,” Sunny says softly.
    And then you hear Maggie start to cry.
    Zeke has put down his book. He is now in puzzle heaven. He doesn’t notice.
    Sunny and Maggie go to the back of the store and stay there for a long time. When they come out of the break room, Maggie’s eyes are a little bit red. She looks tired.
    But she is still standing.
    4:28 P.M.
    Less rotten. More confused.
    Sunny just came up to you and whispered, “Maggie’s told me everything. What you did last night was a good thing, Ducky.”
    “Uh,” you say.
    But Sunny has already walked away.

6:02
    Arrivals and departures.
    Mr. Blume just showed up to scoop up Maggie and Zeke.
    I think Maggie wanted to cry. But she wouldn’t let herself. She folded her arms and glared at her father.
    I think she has a right to be angry with him.
    Zeke flung himself at his father. Mr. Blume looked … shocked?
    Mr. Blume thanked me. He thanked Sunny.
    Maggie kept her arms folded. Only as they were leaving did she unfold them.
    Zeke took one of his father’s hands.
    Maggie took Zeke’s other hand.
    What are they going to find at home?

7:02
    What? What?
    She gave you this blank, cold, unfriendly look.
    You thought it meant for you to say, “No, thank you, Mr. Winslow. I’d like to have dinner with you but I’ve promised Ted I’ll be home tonight.”
    But as Sunny, you, and Mr. Winslow are leaving the store, Sunny whispers, “You should have come with us, you know,” before following her father out the door.
    She doesn’t look back.

9:15
Heartburn and Heart Pain
    This could be the title for a country music song.
    Taco takeout indigestion.
    And stupid, stupid, stupid Ducky.
    Asking Ted’s advice?
    AGAIN?
    WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
    First he says, “Maggie’s a babe! She’s the one giving you problems? Let me tell you, she’s worth it — even if she does travel with a little brother.”
    You tell him she’s a friend, not a babe.
    “She’s cute,” he says.
    “She’ll be thrilled you said so,” you retort.
    He says, “Problems, Ducky?”
    This should have been your cue to give up.
    But you say Maggie isn’t the one giving you problems, and that you are still having problems with the other girl, the one you don’t like “that way.”
    You’ve avoided mentioning Sunny’s name. No point in giving Ted too much information.
    You don’t want to have to clean up the mess when his head explodes.
    He chuckles. “Ducky the chick magnet,” he says.
    And continues like that. You should have