The book slipped from his fingers as he watched jealously Patrick had hurried to buy a Hula-Hoop when they’d first appeared but had quickly discovered he couldn’t keep one rotating rotating for more than two or three turns But this hoop flew around the girl in effortless circles Seventeen eighteen nineteen She can do that forever a voice said Patrick peered up at a taller version of the little Hula-Hooper leaning over the fence Marla’s going to wear a hole right through her middle She can do a thousand no problem But who’d want to right I’m Nairen Potter and I guess you’re Patrick Meeres Yeah how’d you know Patrick asked suspiciously suspiciously He didn’t bother standing up Your dad’s the new principal at Craven Hill Word gets around about stuff like that Good thing you moved here in the middle of the summer summer Gives you a chance to make friends before school starts Nothing worse than starting school without knowing anybody 3
Patrick shrugged and turned back to his reading What’re you reading asked Nairen craning to see Patrick’s book I just love to read especially mysteries Nothing like a good mystery don’t you think Or a scare-the-snot-right-out-of-you ghost story Is that a ghost story Yeah and I’m right at the best part Patrick mumbled Nairen came around the fence and stood in front of Patrick Refusing to look up Patrick stared straight at two long skinny legs jutting out of pink pedal pushers I need to finish this he said waving the book slightly Nairen squatted to get eye level with Patrick Got any brothers or sisters she asked Where’s your mom Is she in the house How about I go get my mom and she can come over and say hi No Patrick jumped up Nairen tumbled backward in surprise No he said more quietly No brothers or sisters Just my dad 4
Nairen stared silently at Patrick and then looked over at the Meeres’s house You won’t see my mom She’s dead Nairen’s face turned as red as her hair She struggled to her feet and edged toward her yard I’m really sorry Dad says I talk too much and I guess he’s right I’ll see you later okay Hey don’t go said Patrick surprising himself himself About my mom she died in 1953 He shrugged I’ve had five years to get used to it Nairen nodded Where’d you move from she asked New Castle Was it hard to leave Yeah Patrick stared at the ground I really miss our old house And I miss Reggie We did everything together Like my best friend Veronica said Nairen I call her Ronnie even though her mom hates nicknames I really miss her Did she move Patrick closed his book 5
Ronnie’s spending the summer at her grandma’s grandma’s Her grandma broke her hip so she’s there to help her She won’t be home till school starts Can I show you around Let’s go to The Corner Store first I could really use an Eskimo Pie My treat I don’t know said Patrick shifting uncomfortably uncomfortably My dad may need help or something And I really should finish my book Nairen looked hurt You can’t just sit around and read until September I read a lot you know Well then you’ll need to know where the library is I’ll show you after we get ice cream Patrick didn’t want to go but he was down to his last unread book Okay he said I’ll ask Dad Mr Meeres was holding open the screen door for the movers Once they were inside he noticed Patrick and Nairen standing behind him Dad this is Nairen Potter She lives next door Sure said Mr Meeres Our real estate agent told us about your family You’re Patrick’s age as I remember 6
