When I finally dragged myself home, I found Mom and Dad sitting in the living room, waiting for me. Dad immediately got up and went for the kitchen.

“I’ll start dinner,” he said, which was weird, because Mom usually cooked.

“Let’s talk, Marcus,” Mom said.

Uh-oh. Those words never led to anything good. The last thing in the world I needed just then was to tangle with my mother, but it wasn’t like I had a choice. I sat down on the couch across from her without saying a word. What I wanted to do was spill my guts, but I knew she wouldn’t believe me and it would only make things worse.

Mom seemed nervous, which wasn’t like her. Normally, she just jumped right in with whatever was bugging her. Now it seemed as though she was struggling to find the right words.

“Things haven’t been good between us lately,” she said, as if I didn’t already know that. “What I want to say is…I’m sorry.”

Whoa. Didn’t see that coming. I was suddenly very interested in what she had to say.

“For what?” I asked with surprise.

“Because of what I said yesterday. I hope you know I didn’t mean that. I was angry, and it was wrong.”

All I could do was shrug, because, to be honest, I think she meant it.

“We all have expectations of one another,” she said. “But it’s unfair to judge anyone based solely on that. I’m not saying I totally approve of all the things you’ve done, but I want to try to be a little more open-minded. You’re growing up, Marcus. Your father and I are doing our best to guide you until the time comes when you don’t need us anymore. Until then, I’m going to try to listen more than I have.”

I sat there, stunned. Though it sounds impossible, all thoughts of the Boggin were suddenly gone. My mother had never been this open with me. Heck, she’d never admitted she was wrong before. About anything. Ever. No wonder she was having trouble finding the right words.

“I, uh, I don’t know what to say,” I finally muttered. “I know you think I do things just to annoy you, but I don’t. Not all the time, anyway.”

She actually chuckled at that.

“I know. And I can be easily annoyed. It works both ways.”

“What does Dad think?” I asked.

She looked off toward the kitchen. I looked too and saw Dad quickly duck his head back around a corner. Busted. He’d been listening.

“He’s the one who pointed out how difficult I’ve been. I guess I don’t always listen to him either, but I did this time. I promise you we’re going to try, and I hope you will too.”

“What changed?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she said with a shrug. “I just felt like we were losing you.”

Those words hit home. As much as we had been at each other’s throats, I always saw us as a family. The idea that it might not last never entered my mind. Not seriously, anyway. I suddenly saw the possibility of flying on a trapeze without a safety net, and I didn’t like it.

I think Mom was actually holding back tears.

“I don’t want you to change, Marcus. I just want us to be honest with one another.”

“Then I’ve got some bad news for you,” I said.

She straightened up.

“What?” she asked anxiously.

“Mr. Winser deserved what he got. If I had the chance to do it over again, I’d do the exact same thing. That’s being totally honest.”

She laughed. She actually laughed.

“I guess you’re pretty good at battling bullies,” she said. “Maybe that’s a good thing.” She stood and added, “Bullies may be fair game, but take it easy on sweet little old ladies, okay? Let’s see what your father is cooking up.”

As she walked off, reality came rushing back.

That sweet little old lady wasn’t a sweet little old lady.

My thoughts suddenly spun out of control. My mother had done something next to impossible by admitting she was wrong and asking us to be honest with each other. But telling her the truth about Miss Bogg and the Library was the last thing I wanted to do. I feared that drawing my parents into this would only put them in more danger. The memory of Theo’s house being destroyed by a predator tree was all too real, even though it really wasn’t.

After dinner I went to bed early. I wasn’t tired, but I needed to think. What was I going to do? How was I going to defend everyone against that vicious old boogey-lady? I lay there desperately trying to come up with an idea, but all I did was fall asleep.

I didn’t wake up until sunlight was streaming through my window. After sleeping all night, I wasn’t any closer to a plan of action than when I had left Lu’s house the night before.

I jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes, and went right downstairs.

“Mom? Dad?”

No answer. It was Saturday. They usually went out early and did chores. That was good. As long as they were around other people, there was less chance of the Boggin paying them a visit. Or so I hoped. I was about to head into the kitchen to grab some breakfast when…

…the doorbell rang.

I jumped. Nobody just dropped in on a Saturday morning. At least nobody I knew. Both Theo and Lu slept until noon on Saturdays.

I reached for the key around my neck. I could be out of there in a heartbeat by running up to any door and jumping into the Library.

The bell rang again.

My heart pounded.

I had to know who it was.

Slowly, I walked toward the front door. Next to it was a window. I took a peek out, but the angle was too sharp, and I couldn’t see who was standing there.

Knock, knock.

I jumped again.

Whoever was there wasn’t going away.

I had to face them.

I stepped right up to the door and listened. For what, I didn’t know.

“Who is it?” I called out.

“Marcus?” It was a lady’s voice.

It wasn’t an old lady’s voice either.

“Who’s there?” I asked.

“It’s Lillian Swenor.”

I couldn’t open the door fast enough.

Mrs. Swenor stood there, looking every bit as worked as she had in her apartment. Dangling from her hand was a very big shopping bag.

“You got my message,” I said.

“I did.”

“Please tell me there’s a book in that bag.”