Levi woke at 7:15, a half-hour later than usual.
He sat up in bed. Stretched his arms.
Trudged to the kitchen.
“Morning, Levi,” said his mother. “We’ll have to move quickly. I overslept too.”
He downed a hasty breakfast, threw on clothes, grabbed his backpack, and followed Regina out the door. The morning sun shook them from their daze as they marched down the sidewalk.
But after a minute, Levi felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. He was forgetting something. Homework? No. Lunch?
“If you don’t keep up, I’m leaving you behind!” snapped Regina.
Levi hitched up his backpack and scooted to Regina’s side.
The feeling persisted. His mind ran through his schedule, trying to pinpoint what he’d forgotten.
. . . Morning activity at 8:15, then math . . . No, nothing with school. Did he have plans with Kat? No, Kat was acting weird, even weirder than usual, and his mother didn’t want Kat around, and he’d already made a reservation at good ol’ Levi’s Café so he could spend the evening with Twi—TWILA!
“Hey!” he shouted. “We forgot Twila!”
Regina pulled out an earbud. “What are you squawkin’ about?”
“Is she still sick?” asked Levi. “Is she staying home today?”
“Who’s sick?”
“Twila!”
Regina crossed her arms. “Who?”
The question stung Levi. “Um. Twila. Our sister.”
“I’m your sister, dum-dum.”
Was she messing with him? There was no humor in Regina’s face.
He turned and ran back to the house.
“I’m not waiting for you!” shouted Regina. He ignored her.
“Ma?” he called. No answer. “Ma? Where’s Twila?
He heard the shower running. His mother was getting ready for work.
He crept down the hall.
Knocked on Twila’s door.
“Twila?”
No answer.
“Are you still in bed?”
“Levi, what are you still doing here? You’ll be late for school!”
“Where’s Twila? What happened to her room?”
“Levi, honey, I have no idea what you’re talking ab—”
