Outside, in front of the Golden Glen, Louisiana was holding the book, and Beverly was sitting on the curb, and Raymie was standing and staring at nothing at all.

“You said I wouldn’t be any help,” said Louisiana. “But I found the book, and I retrieved the book. And I freed the bird!”

“No one told you to free a bird,” said Beverly.

“Yes,” said Louisiana. “That part was extra, an extra good deed.”

Raymie’s heart thudded somewhere deep inside of her. Good deeds, good deeds. She was so far behind on good deeds that she did not think she would ever catch up.

“You —” said Beverly. But whatever she intended to say next was interrupted by the appearance of the Elefante station wagon. It came careening down Borton Street, emitting great clouds of black smoke.

“Look,” said Raymie. This was an entirely unnecessary directive. It would have been impossible to miss seeing the car.

The station wagon pulled up to the curb and screeched to a stop. A piece of decorative wood paneling was peeling off and hanging at an odd angle. It flapped back and forth thoughtfully.

“Get in, get in!” shouted Louisiana’s grandmother. “She’s right behind me. There’s not a moment to waste.”

“Is it Marsha Jean?” said Louisiana. “Is she hot on our trail?”

“Hurry!” shouted the grandmother. “All of you.”

“All of us?” asked Raymie.

“Don’t just stand there!” shouted the grandmother. “Get in the car!”

“Get in the car, get in the car!” shouted Louisiana. She hopped up and down. “Hurry. Marsha Jean is hot on our trail!”

Beverly looked at Raymie. She shrugged. She walked toward the station wagon and opened the back door. “You heard her,” said Beverly. She held the door open. “Hurry up. There’s not a moment to waste.”

“Come on!” said Louisiana. She climbed into the station wagon. Raymie got in after her, and Beverly got in last. She slammed the door shut, and it immediately popped back open.

The car accelerated so quickly that they were all thrown back against the seat. The broken door slammed shut and then opened again.

“Oh, my goodness,” said Louisiana. “Here we go.”

And they went.