the northern lights?â Nancy asked, taking his cue and changing the subject.
âWell, itâs not the best time of year, but thereâs still a pretty good chance,â Craig answered, reaching for more roast beef.
âIf you do, be sure to whistle,â Steve said.
âWhistle? Why?â George looked puzzled.
âItâs an old Eskimo legend,â Craig explained.âIf you whistle, the lights will dance faster.â
âDancing lightsânow Iâve really got to see them,â George said.
Nancy was intrigued. âWhere did you hear this legend?â
âMy grandpa used to spend time in the Inuit villages when he was trapping and trading,â Craig explained. âHe learned a lot from the people, and not just stories about the northern lights.â
When dinner was over, Nancy suggested they all go outside to look for the northern lights.
âSorry,â Steve said, âbut Iâve had enough exercise for one day. Iâm beat!â
âBetter count me out, too,â Craig said.
âWimps,â Nancy teased. She and George grabbed their heavy coats out of the foyer closet, then went outside.
Nancy looked up at the sky. It was a clear, moonless night. âLetâs get away from the house lights,â she suggested. âWeâll be able to see better.â
They walked for a few minutes until they were in the forest. It was completely dark and bitterly cold. Nancy could feel the breath freezing in her nostrils.
âWill we know the northern lights if we see them?â George asked.
âI donât think weâll be able to miss them.â
They continued walking, clutching each otherâs mittened hands so they wouldnât get separated in the darkness, but they saw nothing. They were almost ready to call it quits when it happened.
They came to a clearing, and Nancy gasped in wonder. Bands of blue and green shot across the sky, followed by brilliant reds and yellows that seemed so close Nancy almost reached out to try to touch them.
âWhistle!â she said to George.
Both of them pursed their lips and began to whistle. The colored bands pulsed and shifted. George let out a laugh of pure delight. The lights really did seem to dance in time with the whistling!
Gradually the display began to fade. When the last light had dimmed, George said softly, âThat was great.â
A grin spread across Nancyâs face. âIâll never, ever forget it.â
She and George were quiet as they walked back to the house, awed by the incredible natural spectacle theyâd just seen. It was only when they were out of the forest that George spoke again.
âIâm so glad you asked me to come to Alaska with you,â she said. âNot just because of the northern lights, either.â She was silent for a moment. Nancy sensed her hesitation.
âI really like Steve,â George said finally. âHeâs a lot of fun.â
Nancyâs reply was sincere. âIâm glad for you, George. Steve seems to like you, too.â
âBut not you,â George said, voicing Nancyâs unspoken thoughts.
âYou could say that,â Nancy said mildly.
George stopped and faced Nancy. âIt bothers me, Nan. I donât think Steveâs normally so rudeâI donât think I could like him as much if he was really like that. This afternoon I asked him why heâs so cold to you, but he wouldnât give me a reason. He said I was imagining it.â
Nancy heard the hurt in Georgeâs voice and tried to soothe her. âMaybe itâs just chemistry,â she suggested. âWe didnât hit it off from the beginning. But I donât think itâs anything to worry about. I can take it.â
âI donât know.â George sounded miserable. âI just wish I knew what the problem was.â
Me, too, Nancy thought to herself.
They climbed the porch stairs and let themselves