It was dark in Fluxom.

The station platform was empty.

“Fluxom!” shouted the conductor. “Disembark for Fluxom!”

Baby took hold of her suitcase. She stood. The conductor helped her down the metal stairs.

And then the train pulled away and Baby was alone on the platform.

Somewhere, hidden in some scraggly bush by the train tracks, a cricket sang. The song was high and sweet and it made Baby feel even more lonely. She thought about the stars and how they sang to each other. She listened very closely, but she could not hear their music. She could only hear the lone cricket.

“Baby!” someone shouted.

Baby saw Eugenia and Stella walking toward her. Her heart thumped once, twice, three times. First it thumped in disbelief (Eugenia had come) and then it thumped in gratitude (Eugenia had come for her) and then, finally, it thumped with joy (Eugenia had come for Baby!).

“Baby Lincoln!” called Stella. “We came to meet your train! I knew where you were going and what time you would arrive because I was the one who read the train schedule. And I thought it would be very bad if you got off the train and no one was here to meet you. Wouldn’t that have been very bad? And so Mr. Watson and Eugenia Lincoln and Mercy Watson and me drove all the way here. I navigated! I held the map! And Eugenia Lincoln was upset because she did not get to hold the map. And she was also upset because Mercy got to sit in the front seat. Mr. Watson and Mercy are waiting in the car, and you can hold the map on the way home if you want to, Baby Lincoln.”

“This is all just ridiculous,” said Eugenia. “It is absurd! I can’t believe we drove with a pig in the front seat to the middle of nowhere.”

“Oh, Sister,” said Baby. “I missed you so.”

Eugenia sniffed. She looked away.

“Eugenia missed you back!” said Stella. She jumped up and down. “She missed you and missed you and missed you. It’s true. It’s all she could talk about. ‘Where is Baby? We must find Baby! What will I ever do without Baby? I would be lost without Baby.’ That is what Eugenia said.”

“Is that true, Sister?” said Baby. “Would you be lost without me?”

“Perhaps,” said Eugenia. She stared off at the horizon.

“Tell her,” said Stella. She took hold of Eugenia’s hand and swung it back and forth.

“I missed you,” whispered Eugenia. “I would be lost without you, Baby.”

“Oh, Sister,” said Baby.

“See?” said Stella. “See? You are two sisters who love each other. But we have to go now because Mr. Watson and Mercy are in the car and Mercy is hungry and the engine is running and it is a long drive. We have to go home. Let’s go home.”

“Let’s,” said Baby.

“Let’s,” said Eugenia. She picked up Baby’s suitcase.

“Oh, Sister,” said Baby. “I have so much to tell you.”

Eugenia took hold of Baby’s right hand. She said, “Well, if you insist on telling a story, I suppose I will have to listen.”

Stella took hold of Baby’s left hand. “We can talk and talk and talk,” said Stella. “And when we get home, it will be almost morning and maybe Mrs. Watson will make us some toast with a great deal of butter on it.”