Ali didn’t tell her parents about her run-in with Andrew Sloane. She spent Sunday evening locked in her bedroom, replaying the afternoon’s events over and over instead of doing her homework. Could she have said something to make him change his mind? Mostly, though, she rehashed his horrible comment about Copycats. Gigi was right; there was no way Alfie knew. If he did know about the Copycats in the family, he’d probably been taught that they were abominations. Which meant Alfie would never get to know the real Ali, the one who was learning how thrilling it could be to walk in another’s shoes, or paws. It made her sad, knowing there would always be a wall between the two parts of the family.
In homeroom the next day, Emily waved at Ali, but kept her distance. There was no mention of eating lunch together again. Ali was disappointed, but also relieved. For the first time in a week, she hadn’t worn Emily’s sweater to school. She wondered if Emily regretted giving it to her now. But she couldn’t think about that. Her stomach was a jumble of butterflies about Alfie. They hadn’t spoken since she’d raced out of his house. She hoped she hadn’t gotten him in trouble with his grandfather.
Alfie was staring at a plastic container filled with drool-worthy nachos when Ali sat down at the table. Next to him, Murray was almost finished stuffing nachos into his mouth and was beginning to eye Alfie’s container. He smiled at Ali and pointed at her hands. She waved them in the air and he snorted.
“Those look yummy,” Ali said, pointing at the nachos.
Mouth full, Murray said. “I’m fulfilling the losing end of the Hawaiian shirt bet. My dad made them this morning, but this guy hasn’t even tried them yet.” He swallowed, took a slug of water, and leaned in to Alfie. “What, are my dad’s nachos not tasty enough for you?”
Alfie picked up a chip and began to nibble. “Sorry—just a bad day.”
Ali reached across the table and nabbed a chip. “Is it the Sloane Family Feud?”
Alfie nodded.
Murray frowned. “What’s the Sloane Family Feud?”
“Is it okay if I tell him?” she asked Alfie. He nodded again.
“Alfie’s grandfather is mad at my dad and our great-grandmother. They haven’t spoken in years.”
“Whoa. That’s a lot of anger,” said Murray.
“Uh-huh. Yesterday I went to see him, because I’m throwing our great-grandmother a one hundredth birthday party this coming Saturday, and I want to reunite the family.”
“Let me guess—he turned you down.”
Alfie picked up the story. “He turned her down, and he’s furious at me for hanging out with her. Said I should have told him. He thinks I’m being disloyal to my dad’s memory by even talking to you,” he said, turning toward Ali. “We had a big argument. Then he and my mom had an argument, and now he’s not talking to either of us.”
Making things worse was not part of the plan. Ali slumped back in her chair.
“What does your dad have to do with the feud?” Murray asked.
“He’s the reason they’re fighting. My grandfather thinks Ali’s dad and our great-grandmother caused his death.”
“Seriously? Wow, this is like a movie or something. Did they?”
“I don’t know,” Ali said. “I don’t actually know how Alfie’s dad died.”
Alfie stared down at his food. “My mom told me everything last night.” His voice was low, but to Ali, it sounded like he was shouting. “Our dads always wanted to take a boat through the Reversing Falls at high tide; you know, run the rapids. I guess it was on their bucket list or something. Anyway, on my dad’s thirtieth birthday, they did it. Then the boat flipped over and my dad drowned.”
ALI’S RULES WHEN YOU FIND OUT DEEP DARK FAMILY SECRETS
Ali gasped. How could Digger have been so stupid? “But why is he mad at Gigi?”
“She bought my dad the boat as a gift. Granddad says she was always encouraging your dad and mine to be adventurous, even if what they wanted to do was reckless.”
Murray nodded. “I get why your grandfather is mad, but it sounds like an accident.”
Alfie nodded. “Plus, no one made my dad run the rapids. He wanted to go.”
Murray popped another chip into his mouth. “How long ago did this happen?”
“A few months before I was born.”
“How did Ali’s dad survive?”
Ali had a pretty good idea of how Digger had survived. She pictured him turning into a fish and swimming away. Why hadn’t he saved Teddy?
“I dunno,” said Alfie. “Luck? I just wish our family would let it go. Fighting about it won’t bring my dad back.”
“Were you living in Saint John then?” Murray asked Ali.
“Nope, I wasn’t born yet. I’d never set foot in Saint John until a couple of weeks ago. After Alfie’s dad died, my parents left town. My dad refused to even visit Saint John, which makes sense, now that I know the whole story. He must have felt so guilty. They were best friends.”
Cassie arrived in a flurry. “Sorry I’m late,” she said, plopping down beside Ali. “I was talking to Ms. Ryder about debate team. Mind if I try some?” she said, reaching out to grab a handful of Alfie’s nachos, oblivious to the table’s somber mood.
“What about debate team?” Alfie asked. Ali could tell he was ready to change the topic.
“So, my mom is a member of Toastmasters International—”
“What’s that?” Ali asked.
“It’s an organization that helps its members become better public speakers. My mom joined when she got promoted to vice president at the YMCA. Anyway, her chapter has invited our debate team to come to their meeting on Saturday and practice debating with them. How fun is that?”
Ali shook her head. “I can’t. We’re having my great-grandmother’s birthday party this Saturday.” She glanced over at Alfie, who kept his eyes fixed on the table.
“What time is the party?”
“Four o’clock.”
“Well, it will be over by eleven o’clock, so you’re okay. Plus, I need you to be there. We’ll be in teams of two, and you can be my partner. Murray?”
“I’ll check with my parents.” Ali could tell from the way Murray spoke that he was in.
“Alfie?”
“Sure. I don’t have anything going on this Saturday.”
“Aren’t you—” began Cassie, then stopped when Murray flashed her a “Zip it!” look.
Debating in front of a bunch of strangers was not in Ali’s future. “I promised to help my mom get things ready for the party.”
Cassie refused to take no for an answer. “You have to be there. How about I come to your house afterward and help you and your mom?”
Ali knew from the way Cassie glared at her that she was not going to drop the subject. “Fine, I’ll be there.” What did it matter if she was the worst debater ever? Things were awful anyway. She might as well go down in flames.