47

The equinox arrived, and with it, Daylight Saving Time. As the spring eased in, patches of warmth in the breeze, the first sprinkling of daffodils, and the delicious smell of cow manure from the barns in Hadley signaled the final retreat of winter. In the woods, waxy shoots of skunk cabbage and fiddlehead ferns pushed their way up through the grimy undergrowth.

On one of these afternoons, on the way back from his piano lesson, Ethan Ames decided to stop by Professor Cranmer’s. He knew he wasn’t supposed to do this—his mom had been very clear—but he and the professor had kept their “little secret” so far, and Ethan was in the habit of dropping by. He liked to see Mick and Keith, and they seemed to like seeing him, too. There was also the harpsichord, which he and the professor had been working on, and the possibility of cupcakes. He wouldn’t stay long.

He banged nice and loud, using the metal door knocker the way he always did, but nothing happened. It was a full minute before he saw the face of the weird housecleaner guy, Jonathan, peering at him from a gap in the curtains. Ethan couldn’t tell how long Jonathan had been looking at him, and Jonathan ducked away as soon as he saw him.

Ethan hesitated, looking around the yard. He ought to just go, but he didn’t want Jonathan to think he was playing some little kid’s game, knocking and then running off. The day had gotten almost warm, and the two big forsythia bushes on either side of Professor Cranmer’s walkway were covered in yellow flowers.

Ethan was just turning to go when the door sprang open, and Jonathan stood there, with a big smile. He’d never imagined Jonathan could smile like that.

“Is Professor Cranmer here?” Ethan asked.

“Sure.” The smile stayed. “Come on in, little buddy.”

“I better get home.”

The smile dropped away. “Then what’d you knock for?” The smile appeared again. “No, seriously, he’s right here.” Jonathan pointed behind him. “He’s upstairs. He wants to talk to you.” His voice went up, sounding friendly. “Come on in, buddy.”

“Well …”

“What’s your name again?”

“Ethan.”

“Sorry I called you ‘Buddy,’ Ethan. My uncle calls me Buddy all the time.” Jonathan frowned and then smiled. “I don’t really like it, to tell the truth.”

“I … I probably ought to …” Ethan started to turn, but Jonathan reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

“Oh God, don’t go now.” He emphasized the word now. “Sid will be really disappointed, and I taught Keith a new trick.” Jonathan pulled the door open wider. “It’s cool. Come on in—you’re here now anyway. A minute won’t hurt.”

Ethan stepped into the house, and Jonathan quickly closed the door behind him, twisting the dead bolt.

Ethan called out, “Professor Cranmer?”

“He’s upstairs with Mick and Keith. Come on. I’ll take you up.”

It smelled normal, sort of perfumey and maybe of brownies. Ethan loved brownies. They never had them at home.

“Okay. Is that smell, like, brownies?”

Jonathan stared at Ethan with his mouth open. After a few seconds, his face cleared, and he said, “Yeah, he has them upstairs on a plate. He’s put a big one with walnuts aside for you. Come on.”

“I better go.” Ethan turned back toward the door.

“Oh wow, no, Sid will be really sorry.” Jonathan nodded upstairs. “Just go on up. I have to finish some stuff.” Jonathan walked off toward the dining area. He looked over his shoulder and waved upstairs. “Go on. He wants to talk to you about the harpsichord.”

“Okay.” At least he’d get away from this guy.

Ethan ascended the stairs to the landing halfway up and called out again, “Professor Cranmer?”

A fat silence was pressing down on him from up there, and he didn’t like it. Then he heard a meow and hurrying cat feet, and there was Mick, peering over the top step down at him. It was always hard to tell when a cat was happy, but he looked happy. Ethan hurried the rest of the way up and began rubbing Mick’s head. He called out again, “Professor Cranmer?” Was he waiting to jump out at him? He and his mom had sometimes played that game, until Ethan got too good at it, and his mom told him they had to stop. No more scary surprises.