66

Allie Jo

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“I got this for you,” Nicholas says to Chase. From his pocket, he hands him a little red car. “I got it at a party, but I don’t like it, so I’m giving it to you for going away.”

Chase examines it properly in his hand, shoves it into his pocket, and pats Nicholas on the head. “Thanks, bud. I’ll take good care of it.”

We stand in the front-desk area on one of the worst days of summer. Chase is leaving today. But I remind myself that Melanie will be back in ten days.

Ryan gives Chase a quarter and a drawing of a stickman that’s supposed to be Chase. The head is fifty times larger than the body, and the stick arm has a circle on it.

I bend down to Ryan’s height, making sure my newly finished scarf doesn’t drag on the floor. “Good job, Ryan. Is that Chase’s cast?”

He nods, looks shyly up to Chase, who makes a big show of inspecting the picture.

“I’m definitely framing this when I get home,” Chase says.

Ryan’s cheeks puff out with a great big smile.

“You boys run back to your room now,” I say. “Your mom’s waiting on you.”

Mr. Dennison trudges over from the front desk with Clay, carrying suitcases and his typewriter. Chase and I trail behind them, past the grand staircase, past the game room, out to the parking lot and their car.

As they load up, I say to Chase, “I’ll never forget this summer.”

“Me neither,” he says. “I’ll never tell either.”

I nod my agreement. We sigh, looking at each other. The sun beats down, promising to fry the skin right off my bones this afternoon. I hand him an envelope with my address and a stamp already on it. “Make sure you write me.”

“I will.” Neither of us smiles.

Clay claps Chase on the back. “Be cool.”

Chase grins. “I’m always cool, dude!”

“Oh, Allie Jo,” Mr. Dennison says. He shakes Clay’s hand before Clay leaves; then he comes over to me with a big envelope. “I had some extra photos made for you.” He slides one out.

The deep emerald green water of Hope Springs shimmers in waves, and the plants and pebbles below look purple. I see big shapes in the shadows.

“Manatees!” I say.

“Sea cows,” Mr. Dennison replies.

Chase and I laugh. “They hate that name,” we say at the same time.

I give Chase a bear hug before he climbs into the car. A world of understanding passes between us.

Their car crunches over the gravel, then spins out some dirt as Mr. Dennison turns onto the driveway.

My mouth quivers, but I wave my arm wildly. “Bye, Chase!”

Chase sticks his head out the window. “Bye, Allie Jo!” he yells. Mr. Dennison toots the horn a few times.

I sit on the porch steps and watch Chase waving his cast at me all the way down the driveway until I can’t see them anymore. Even then I stare after him for a minute.

The morning breeze ruffles my hair and whispers through the trees. A couple of lizards dart by my feet. Lizard earrings. I can’t wait till Melanie gets back. I’ve got so much to tell her and a lot I can’t tell her, but at least I can teach her to knit. I glance over to the jacaranda, standing in a pool of its own lavender petals, and I see Jinx up high, crossing the branch to our garden room.

I guess that’s enough sitting on my butt for one morning. I whirl my scarf around my neck and stand up. Time to get started on my rounds.