38

I failed. That’s the only thought running through my head as I sit in my room after school the next day, staring at my wildflower project with its bright A+ on top. I should be jumping around. I should be happy. This is what I wanted. But the grade barely matters anymore. In a way, it feels as though the Amber got the grade, not me. If I’d done it all without the magic, would I still have aced the project? I guess I’ll never know.

As of tomorrow, Mayor Perez will be back to work. In a few days, Mikey will be packed up in an ambulance and driven miles and miles north to the border. I know they won’t simply leave Mikey by the side of the road, but they might as well. Since Daniel is going with him, I wonder if I’ll ever see either of them again.

Even after I finally got Krysta on my side. Even after I stood up in front of the whole school and spoke up. Nothing changed.

Mama knocks on my door. I tell her I just want to be left alone, but she says, “I think you should see this.”

I follow her out of my room and down the hall. In the living room, the TV news is showing the hospital protest. I groan and start to turn away. But then I notice that there aren’t nearly as many people around as yesterday, and many more are holding signs in support of Mikey, or asking for more doctors for their kids. I see only a few SAVE OUR AMBER signs in the crowd.

“Where did everyone go?” I ask.

“Without Mrs. Perez, the protestors no longer have a leader,” Mama says. “Once Mikey is sent home, I have a feeling things will go back to normal.”

Normal. I’m not sure what that means anymore. I’ll go to school and life will go on as if nothing’s changed. But how can I forget everything that’s happened?

“And after my boss makes an announcement tonight,” Mama goes on, her eyes sparkling behind her glasses, “I think people will be a lot happier.”

I look at her. “You mean your experiments are done?”

“It will still take a few months before we’re sure the ‘New Amber’ is safe, but once it’s available, it will mean that people won’t need to use as much Amber.”

I sigh, hoping she’s right. I hope that people will be a lot less angry once they realize that their most precious natural resource won’t run out for a long time.

The doorbell rings. I follow Mama to the door and am shocked to find Mayor Perez standing on our front steps in the exact spot where his wife’s tomatoes landed. He looks different from the last time I saw him. A little thinner, but also healthier somehow. The look in his eyes is less intense, less scared.

“Hello,” he says stiffly, as if we’re strangers. “Is your husband here?” he asks Mama. “I was hoping to speak to all three of you.”

“He’s out painting houses,” Mama says. “I dropped him off this morning. He’ll be gone all day.”

Mayor Perez nods and holds out a paper bag. “In that case, here. This should get the boy started. If you need more, send Mira over and I’ll give it to her.”

Mama glances into the bag and gasps. “Where did you get all this Amber?”

I know the answer. From the Perezes’ well.

“It’s for Mikey?” I ask, not sure I believe it. When Mayor Perez nods, I can’t help adding, “But why?”

“Because… because if your father hadn’t been there when I had my heart attack, I might be…” He shakes his head. “Just make sure that boy gets it before I have him sent home, all right?”

Mama nods.

“And have your husband call me when he gets back, okay? I have a job for him.”

“A job?” I repeat.

Mayor Perez looks at me, and a slight smile tugs at his lips. “My wife told me that a very clever girl had the idea of using foreign doctors and nurses to help heal the sick and train volunteers.”

I look at him in surprise. I doubt Mrs. Perez would ever call me “clever,” but is he saying…? “You’ll let them work at the hospital?”

“Not exactly. They would need to go through the proper training first. But we’re setting up a temporary health clinic at my office, until the crisis is over. We can use all the hands we can get.”

“So my husband will be able to help people again?” Mama asks.

Mayor Perez gives her a sad smile. “He already has,” he says. Then he turns and hurries away.