Chapter 17
Richie Goes Blind and Chocolatey

“What time is it?” Ella asked Richie.

The two of them were walking home from Noah and Megan’s, Richie’s pockets full of new batteries, and a new charm bracelet dangling from Ella’s wrist. They were expected by their parents to go to Ella’s house, where a few neighborhood moms, including Richie’s, were playing cards.

Richie pulled back his sleeve. “Almost nine-thirty.”

Ella scanned the surrounding yards. “Which is a lot like almost ten o’clock.”

“Huh?”

“The tarsiers, they come out at ten.”

Richie glanced into the trees. “That’s right. I almost forgot.”

Ella stared into the bushes in Mrs. Johnson’s yard. Then she peered into the hollow of a tree. “Don’t you think it’s weird that we’ve never seen them. I mean, never.”

Richie shrugged. “You saw how small they are. And the way they blend with the trees.”

They turned onto another street and neared Ella’s house. As they headed up the driveway, Ella reached out and plucked away Richie’s glasses.

“Hey!”

She stuffed them into her pocket. “I’m going to need these.”

“What are you—”

“Let’s check out the tarsiers! We’ll tell our moms that you forgot your glasses at Noah’s. That’ll give us a reason to go back out. We can go into the woods by the Millers’, just for a few minutes.”

Richie considered this. “I don’t know,” he said at last. “What if—”

“Quit being such a wimp!”

As they turned onto the sidewalk leading to the front door, Richie felt his way, his hands probing the space in front of him. “I can’t see a thing without my glasses!” His ankle slipped off the edge of the concrete, and he almost fell.

Ella grabbed his wrist and escorted him onto the porch. Richie stumbled on the welcome mat and banged his forehead on the door. Someone inside hollered, “Come in!” and Ella burst out laughing.

“You could always try the doorbell,” Ella teased as she led Richie into the house.

A group of women were seated around the dining room table. They were sipping wine and holding spreads of playing cards that looked like Asian fans.

“Why, here they come now!” Richie’s mother said. Her cheeks were flushed, and she seemed a bit cheery. “We were just wondering about you two! I was just about to call—” She stopped herself short and swung around in her chair. “Richie, where are your glasses?”

Richie squinted down at his mother. “Huh?”

“Your glasses. How come you’re not wearing them?”

Richie groped at his face. “Oh great. I must have left them at Noah’s.”

Ella peered over at him. “I thought you looked weird. More than normal, I mean.”

At Ella’s joke, the ladies spasmed with laughter. Mrs. Morris set down her cards and squarely clapped her palms.

“Well, you’ll have to go get them,” Mrs. Reynolds said. “Right away.”

Ella checked the clock and saw it was still more than twenty minutes until ten. She had to stall.

“Let’s get a cup of hot chocolate first.” She went to the cupboard in the kitchen and pulled out two white packets. “We’re freezing. It’s snowing out there, you know.”

“Is it?” the ladies said in various ways. They turned to the picture window and discovered the drapes drawn. None of them cared enough to get up and open them.

“Not much,” Ella added. “Just enough to cover the grass.”

“Well, thank goodness for that,” Mrs. Cooper said. “It’s too early to be shoveling the driveway.”

The ladies turned back to their game, nodding and groaning in ways that expressed their agreement.

Ella filled two cups and placed them in the microwave. Richie eased into the kitchen, the tips of his flashy sneakers reflecting off the floorboards, the oven, the refrigerator. The microwave dinged, and Ella lifted the steamy cups. She set one on the countertop in front of Richie. “Very hot. Don’t burn your face off.”

Richie raised the chocolately drink to his lips, blew steam across the room, and took a sip. Chocolate spilled down his chin.

“Honestly, Richie.” Ella swept up a nearby napkin and dabbed his chin like a mom. “How blind are you?”

Richie peered at her. “Let’s just say your face looks like someone squashed it with a really big thumb.”

The two of them slurped their hot chocolate and watched the clock. Minutes slipped by. In the dining room, the ladies shuffled cards and laughed too loudly. As soon as the clock read 10:00, Ella and Richie dumped their cups into the sink and headed down the foyer.

“We’ll be back,” Ella said as she opened the front door.

“Be careful!” Ella’s mother called out. “Don’t let the bogeyman get you!”

The two scouts shared a nervous look between them. Then they turned and walked out.