CHAPTER TWENTY

Uchenna held her backpack close to her chest for the remaining twenty minutes of the school day. When the bell rang, she and Elliot walked out of the front door of the elementary school, down the steep steps, and onto the street.

“Is your mom picking you up? Or your grandma?” Uchenna asked.

“Neither. They said I could walk home. Even though it’s my first day.”

“Some first day.” Uchenna sighed.

“Yeah. If the whole year is like this,” Elliot agreed, “I don’t think I’ll survive.”

They walked side by side. Uchenna, it turned out, lived just one street away from Elliot.

“How’s Jersey?” Elliot asked.

“Who?”

“Jersey, the Jersey Devil.”

“That’s the least creative name I’ve ever heard.”

Elliot shrugged. “Yeah, but you have to admit, he’s kind of cute.”

“Who wants cute? Let’s call him something awesome, like Bonechewer.”

Elliot frowned.

“Bloodguzzler?”

Elliot’s frown deepened.

“Bloodguzzler, Destroyer of Worlds?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Bonechewer then,” Uchenna said. She began to shout-sing:

“Bonechewer! Bonechewer!

He is from the swamp! Not the sewer!

Bonechewer! Bonechewer!

RRRRAHHHHHHHHHR!”

Uchenna did an extended drum solo in the air.

“You know,” Elliot said, “Bonechewer also rhymes with manure. In case that helps you with the second verse.”

Uchenna glared at him.

She zipped open her pack. The sun fell directly into the bag. The little Jersey Devil blinked up at the children.

Cautiously, Elliot reached in and touched the little creature’s head. He closed his eyes. Elliot stroked his bony skull. A gurgling sound came from his throat.

“He’s purring,” Uchenna said. Some kids were walking toward them. She zipped up the backpack and they walked on.