Ali was happy to see Alfie at her locker again after school. Unlike her relationships with Cassie and Emily, hanging out with Alfie was easy, comfortable. She didn’t feel the overwhelming need to please him like she did with other people. It was like they got each other. Maybe it was because they were cousins. Whatever the reason, it was too bad he couldn’t come to Gigi’s house and that they couldn’t do things together outside of school. But until they fixed the Sloane Family Feud, she’d be satisfied with their walks home.
“Do you miss England?” she asked, shivering from the fog that was so thick it made Alfie look ghostly.
Alfie didn’t respond immediately, like he was trying to find the right words. “It’s amazing to meet you and Murray, but I miss my friends in London. Plus, I’m tired all the time. My mom thinks it’s because we’re trying to adjust to a new climate.”
Another way she and Alfie were different: he’d left friends behind. She’d left no one.
“Did you see your grandfather much when you lived in England?”
“He came three or four times a year, and we’d take trips together. He took me to see the Colosseum in Rome. Have you ever been there?”
“No.” She’d never been outside of New Brunswick. “Do you like your teachers?”
“They’re okay. I skipped a grade when I came here. I guess my old school was accelerated.”
“I wondered why you were in grade eight when you’re only a month older than me. Are the kids in your classes nice?”
“I guess so. I’m making lots of friends. Everyone is quite friendly. How about you?”
Ali considered Cassie and Emily. Were they friends? She wasn’t sure. “Uh-huh.”
“I bugged my mom for us to come here for a long time. I felt like I knew everything about my mom’s family, but nothing about my dad’s. I mean, Granddad and Mom have told me all about him, but I wanted to see where he grew up. I knew about your family, and Gigi, and I hoped that if I came back, even for a while, they’d stop fighting.”
It had never occurred to Ali that Alfie might not live in Saint John forever. “But aren’t you and your mom staying here?”
Alfie stuffed his hands into his pockets. “No. My mom’s a professor. She’s on this thing called a sabbatical, which means her university gave her a year off to do research. We’re moving back at the end of the school year.”
It was like the earth tilted on its axis. Until that moment, Ali hadn’t realized how much she had counted on Alfie being there. But he wouldn’t be, at least not for long.
Her voice was shaky when she responded. “Your mom teaches at the university, right?”
“She does. The university agreed to lend her an office if she’d teach one class.”
“Oh.”
They trudged on without speaking. When they arrived at Gigi’s house, Ali was surprised to see Digger standing in the picture window. She expected Alfie to bolt, but he didn’t. Instead, he stared at Digger as if he was in a trance. Then he waved. Digger smiled, then turned away.
“He really does want to meet you,” explained Ali, anxious that Alfie would be offended. “But he won’t go behind your grandfather’s back.”
Alfie seemed to be on the verge of tears when he responded. “I wish . . .” He paused. “I just really need to talk to him. I hope Granddad listens to you. I should go.”
Ali watched him disappear into the mist, ready to burst into tears herself. Whatever it took, she would convince Andrew Sloane to come to the party.
Ali should have spent the evening working on the science project, but she forgot all about it when Gigi suggested they train. Gigi was in an extra good mood; Digger said she’d found the bag of decorations, put two and two together, and had given him a long list of invitees.
“This party is getting out of hand,” he muttered. “We should just take her out to dinner.” But Ali didn’t think he meant it. She’d tried to talk to him about Alfie after school, but he’d brushed her off. Should she tell him that Alfie had said he needed to talk? No—that would only make him feel worse. She left him in his workshop and joined Gigi upstairs.
“Tonight, I want you to keep changing so we can see if you can think on your feet,” said Gigi. “I’ll tell you what to copy.”
It was a good idea in theory, but Ali was bested by her first transformation, a snapping turtle. She spent fifteen minutes stuck on her back, turtle feet flailing, when she tripped over a pair of Gigi’s shoes. Next, Ali the raccoon was mesmerized by the sunflower seeds on the windowsill and spent twenty minutes eating them one by one, which was unpleasant for a girl who detested sunflower seeds. Ali the hyena was too noisy, Ali the snail was a boring blob, and Ali the big bad wolf bared her teeth at poor Gigi, who huddled under the covers in mock fear. Her last transformation was into Topsy, the lazy cat who lived next door and who spent her days snoozing on the front porch.
“You’re improving,” crowed Gigi when Ali collapsed on the carpet. “It’s remarkable when you consider it’s been such a short time.”
“How long until I’m as good as Digger?”
Gigi laughed. “Digger is talented, but he can be lazy about practicing. He only bothers to change into three things with any regularity.”
Ali could only think of two: a dog and Ali. “What’s the third?”
Gigi leaned forward and whispered, “Sometimes he turns into the Incredible Hulk when no one else is around. I came downstairs the other day to ask him a question and found the Incredible Hulk eating a grilled-cheese sandwich and watching a ball game.”
Ali sat up. “No way!”
Gigi nodded. “Nearly scared me to death. He used to change into the Hulk all the time when he was a boy. Teddy liked to turn into Spider-Man.”
“I can’t believe it.” She pictured Digger as the Incredible Hulk and burst into laughter.
“It’s a good reminder that you need to have fun with your powers. When I was young, I used to go to the woods and turn into a rhinoceros. I’ve always been partial to a horn.”
“I want to be the best Copycat ever,” said Ali.
Gigi shook her head. “Be the best Ali. That will be enough.”
But hadn’t Murray said she was the most interesting person at Princess Elizabeth School? He wouldn’t have said that about Ali before she became a Copycat. No, being the best Ali was not enough.
Her mother stopped to say goodnight when she got home from her evening shift. “How’d you do?”
“It was so much fun. I’m getting better.”
“I’m glad. But don’t ignore your schoolwork, okay? You’re being careful when you train?”
“Uh-huh. I haven’t left the house yet.”
“Good. Digger says being an animal out in the world can be dangerous. No going outside unless he’s with you. Promise?”
“Promise.”
Emily appeared at Ali’s locker first thing the next morning. Flustered, Ali blurted out, “I promised Cassie I’d eat lunch with her today. She’ll have to eat alone unless I eat with her.” She said it fast, like ripping off a Band-Aid.
Emily flinched. “Oh.” She held out her hand. “Can you give me your part of the presentation so I can put it all together this weekend?”
How could she tell Emily she’d forgotten to do it? She couldn’t. “I forgot it at home,” she said.
Emily threw up her hands. “How could you forget it at home? I need to finish it this weekend. You know how busy I am during the week.”
Ali knew. “I’m so sorry.”
Emily shook her head. “You just made my life super hard, Ali.”
Taylor came around the corner. “I’ve been looking all over for you, Emily. What’s wrong?”
Emily didn’t try to hide her frustration. “Ali forgot the presentation at home, so now I can’t work on it this weekend.”
“That’s awful,” Taylor said, like Ali’s forgetfulness was a crime. “But it’s okay. I just overheard Cassie and Murray talking about how they’re going to Tin Can Beach with her tomorrow afternoon. Ali can drop it off on the way, right, Ali?”
Ali studied Emily’s face to see if this was an acceptable proposal. The last thing she wanted to do on a Friday night was homework, but this was her fault, so she would.
But Emily wasn’t interested in the project now. “You’re going to Tin Can Beach tomorrow?” She said it like an accusation, like Ali was doing something she shouldn’t.
Ali’s head began to throb. She wasn’t sure how to respond, afraid if she said the wrong thing she’d make Emily angrier.
“I—” she began, but Emily cut her off.
“Never mind—I’ll do the presentation myself. Like always.” Without a second glance at Ali or Taylor, she stomped off.
ALI’S RULES ABOUT HOMEWORK
Stunned, Ali turned to Taylor, who shook her head. “She just wants to do well. Her parents expect a lot. You know what that’s like.”
Ali nodded, but she had no idea what that was like.
Alfie caught up with Ali at lunchtime before heading off to his Dungeons & Dragons game. “I just wanted to let you know I’m not walking home today. My mom’s picking me up.”
“How come?”
“We’re going to a fancy inn in St. Martins for the weekend. Murray told me that you guys are going to Tin Can Beach tomorrow afternoon. I’m kind of bummed that I can’t go too, but Mom likes to do something special on her anniversary.”
“Her anniversary?”
“She and my dad would be married fourteen years tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Was it still an anniversary if the other person was dead? Ali wasn’t sure.
“Maybe we can go to the beach some other time. But don’t worry; I’ll be there Sunday.”
Ali gave him a blank stare. “Sunday?”
“Remember? You’re coming over to ask Granddad to the party?”
Ali’s stomach flopped. She’d forgotten. “Oh, right. What time should I come?”
“Three o’clock. This will work, right?” he asked, as if Ali knew the outcome already.
“For sure,” said Ali.
Alfie smiled. “I can’t wait till we can do stuff together as a family. It’s going to be so great. Thanks, Ali.”
How could Alfie believe in her when she didn’t believe in herself?