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
That’s right Mr Meeres I’ll be in your school this fall In sixth grade Our old principal was really sick of kids so everyone’s glad you’re here We’re ready for a change if you know what I mean Don’t you think a principal should quit if he hates kids I sure do Anyhow it’s nice to meet you Mr Meeres blinked an amused smile touching touching his lips Yes I suppose a principal should like kids It’s nice to meet you too Nairen I’m glad Patrick took my advice and found a friend Patrick scowled at his father Nairen wants to show me around but I’ll stay if you need me Mr Meeres rolled his eyes Please Nairen get him out of my hair Here give me your book Just then a sickening crash came from inside the house Go he yelled to Patrick as he dove through the doorway Hey Marla Nairen called If mom asks I went to Mr Chin’s store with Patrick And to the library Oh Patrick meet Marla Marla this is Patrick 7
Marla stared into space and continued her relentless Hula-Hooping three hundred fifty three hundred fifty-one three hundred fifty-two Did she hear you asked Patrick as they walked along the sidewalk Oh she heard me all right Marla doesn’t let anything break her concentration Dad says that if Marla would concentrate on schoolwork like she does the Hula-Hoop she’d be another Albert Einstein Turning left at the first intersection Nairen led Patrick to a small white building huddled on one of the street corners A tin sign on the roof announced in bold green letters the corner store After the bright sunlight it seemed dark and cool inside Patrick breathed in the old-fashioned old-fashioned smell of oiled wooden floors Nairen steered Patrick toward the freezers Hey there Mr Chin she called to the small man behind the counter 8
