Chapter 1

- Exactly! Like Boo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird! The one nobody had seen, but everyone was afraid of!

- And he turned out to be kind and saved Jem and Scout!

The boy laughed, flashing white teeth, and I joined in. Dimples appeared in Alex's cheeks, so cute that I stared at them and fell silent.

He noticed, and fell silent too. Surprised, he asked:

- You read Harper Lee's novel? You don't look old enough.

- No, of course not! I'm only eleven! We're going to study it in eighth grade, but I saw the movie!

Mom and I never had much money for paid television subscriptions, especially when we were living in motels, so most often we watched free TV, and old movies were always on.

But whenever we had the chance, Adelie and I always went to the movies. We dressed however we liked, sat in the middle row, drank cola, and ate popcorn. I adored those evenings! People always looked at Mom, and she never noticed anyone. There were only the two of us!

Unexpectedly, I felt embarrassed. With a sigh, I put my backpack over my other shoulder and glanced toward the plaza.

- I need to go to the store and buy a postcard for a girl. They have postcards there, right?

Alex looked at me with interest.

- If you mean the Johnsons' little bookstore, they've got everything there--even capsaicin patches and Halloween costumes! I buy comics from them. My favorites are Invincible and Black Hammer, about the mysterious town of Rockwood. Do you read comics, Lena? They're awesome!

I shook my head:

- No, I don't.

- I love them, though my brother can't stand them. Says they're for idiots. Same as amusement park rides and cans of boiled peas. The only thing dumber is singing psalms in church the way Gregory Butler does. But what else can Greg do if his father is a pastor? - Alex gave a sad little snort. - Seems to me he doesn't have a choice.

And I gasped.

- Is he really that rude?! Your brother?

- Oof! - Alex rolled his eyes with a smile, and everything was clear at once. - He's my dark alter ego! The far side of the moon, where it's better not to look. He's the one who always chooses the creepiest costume on Halloween and would pick Voldemort's company over a good wizard's. And those aren't my words, Lena, they're his, though I don't agree with Carter!

I did not understand what "alter ego" meant, and I was too embarrassed to ask. The boy was older and carried himself with confidence.

- Well, shall we go? - Alex left his bicycle in the grass by the oak and turned to me. - I'll walk you to Johnson's. If Ruth is at the register today, you won't get away from her on your own. That lady has a gift for getting people to talk. She could make a corpse spill its secrets! Before you know it, you'll have told her all of yours, and by evening the whole county will know! I don't think you and your mom need that.

- No, we don't! - I agreed, and pointed at the bicycle. - So what? You're just going to leave it here?

- Of course. Everybody here knows it's mine. Don't worry, come on!

Alex turned out to be pleasant company. He knew how to joke, told interesting stories about Sandfield Rock, and within five minutes we were both smiling as we headed down the street. When we reached the little bookstore, he stopped me at the entrance by taking my hand and asked:

- Lena, now puff out your cheeks, and no matter what happens, keep quiet! Choose a postcard and point to it--got it? I know how to talk to this lady!

- Yes! - In truth, I did not understand anything, but I gave my new friend a cheerful little hum and obediently filled my mouth with air.

Inside the little shop, the air smelled sweetly of artificial pine. It greeted us with the jingle of the doorbell, the cozy hush of a small room, and such a variety of goods that I nearly opened my mouth in astonishment!

But much more than the books and various souvenirs, I was struck by the Native American masks and roach headdresses, made from bristles and long feathers, hanging under the ceiling--wow! I immediately tilted my head back to look at them.

- Oh, Alex! Hi! How are you? You haven't dropped by for new releases in ages!

- Hello, Mrs. Johnson! Couldn't be better! Yeah, it's been two weeks already!

The register and main counter were to the left of the entrance, and I did not notice the young, plump woman right away. She was Black, with short hair and large earrings in her ears. She was drinking coffee and leafing through a magazine, but when she saw us, she set it aside and narrowed her eyes.

- And who do you have with you today? A young stranger? Well, well, Mr. Wright, don't tell me you've got yourself a girlfriend? Isn't it a little early, cowboy? - Tall, sturdy Ruth Johnson let out a deep laugh, pleased with her own joke.

- No, this is my neighbor, Lena Holt. Mr. Mark Holt's daughter. She's new in town, and I decided to walk her to the store, - Alex answered readily, narrowing one eye himself as he smiled at the woman. - But you've surely heard about her already, haven't you, ma'am?

Of course Ruth had heard. At the sound of my name she snapped to attention and opened her eyes wide. When you spend year after year stuck behind a narrow counter in a shop, knowing nearly everyone in town by sight, you do not have so many amusements that you can afford to miss another one.

I stood behind Alex's shoulder and kept quiet, just as he had asked. The Black lady leaned forward and held out her hand to me.

- Oh! Welcome to Sandfield Rock, baby! Pleased to meet you!

I stepped forward and shook her hand. I mumbled an enthusiastic "Me too!" but with my mouth closed it came out strangely, and Mrs. Johnson craned her neck.

- Saint Patrick! Alex, can she not talk at all? Poor thing! - Ruth said sadly, pressing a hand with feeling to her impressive chest, where a strand of beads hung with a pendant shaped like a furry tassel decorated in colorful beadwork. - What a shame! - she gasped. - And I was just about to ask how her mama is doing and send Adelie my regards! I remember her well, you know. We went to high school together. Such a beauty she was! A little closed off, true, but with a daddy like Charlie, that's no surprise!

To be honest, Mom was still a very beautiful woman, especially in the new dresses Dad had bought her, but I had been taught that arguing with adults was impolite, and with your mouth closed it was also impossible, so I became a little confused. Also because I had never heard anything about Mom's daddy Charlie.

- Oh, no, ma'am! She talks all right! - Alex assured the shop owner. - Talks so much she can talk your ears clean off! On the way here she didn't let me get a word in edgewise!

- Really? Then what happened now?

- Well, see... a bumblebee flew into her mouth! - Alex improvised, showing the woman half his little finger. - This big, the size of a quarter! She caught it, but she's afraid to let it out! You should have heard it, Mrs. Johnson, the way it buzzed! Like some nightmare creature devouring space!

- Oh Lord, child! - Ruth grew worried and slapped her palm on the table. - Spit that nasty thing out this instant! You hear me? Right now!

Laughter danced in Alex's blue eyes and passed to me, and I shook my head firmly. No way, I meant!