Chase
When Allie Jo trots off to use the bathroom, I sneak one of her pieces of fudge. I don’t think she’ll notice.
A couple stops by and takes samples off my platter. I think this is the third or fourth time they’ve been here, but I don’t say anything. I’ve eaten so many samples, my gut’s about to blow.
At night, the hill has a different look. Everything’s in silhouette—black shapes against the darkening sky. Oak branches stretch over us like crooked fingers pointing across the crowd. I wonder if Dad’s getting any good photos of this kind of stuff. I see a perfect spot looking up through the trees to the moon.
Tara walks over to me from her side and says, “Allie Jo’s taking a long time.”
“There’s probably a line.” Portable toilets in the dark. I look back at the trees; sometimes it pays to be a boy.
Mrs. Jackson left a while ago, offering to take us home as well. With two of the waitresses having just arrived, we weren’t really needed anymore. But neither Allie Jo nor I wanted to leave.
I set my platter down and go through my bag of swag, as Mr. Jackson called it. The three of us had walked around earlier; pretty good take, I’d say. Bookmarks, taffy, pens with 3-D pictures on them, tokens for drinks at different restaurants—all free. I put a glowstick around my neck and crack it on.
I turn to Tara. “What are you going to do?” I ask.
She tilts her head. “What do you mean?”
I’ve spoken in midthought. “After tonight, what are you going to do? Are you sure you don’t have someone in your family to go to, like an uncle or someone?”
She looks hurt. “My family is in the sea. Do you not believe me?”
I stare at her, then say, “I want to.” At that moment, a great yearning takes over my heart, and I realize more than anything I want to believe her. I want it to be true. I want to think that magical, fantastical things are possible in this world.
“Does Allie Jo believe me?”
I chuff and raise my eyebrows. “I don’t know. We’ve been kind of arguing on and off all day.”
“About what?”
“I wish I could say.” I add a shrug to make it more real, but what’s really going through my mind is, She thinks you’re crazy. She wants to find your uncle.
Oh, no. I suddenly realize where Allie Jo is.