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vast, flat fields, filled with the same greenish-brown, wispy vegetation. Far off on the horizon, she could see an oil rig silhouetted against the morning sun.
    â€œHave you found the public radio station?” Mrs. Sackett asked Ava. “I haven’t unpacked the kitchen radio yet. It feels like days since I’ve heard any news headlines.”
    Ava fiddled with the dial. “I think it’s all countrymusic,” she said. “Unless you want sports talk.”
    Mrs. Sackett shuddered. “I think we’ll be hearing quite enough of that, too.”
    The mall loomed up on the left.
    â€œEverything is bigger in Texas,” said their mother when she turned into the huge parking lot.

    â€œI heard there’s an amazing art supply store here,” their mother said, as the three of them stepped into a huge atrium. It was delightfully cool, and classical music was playing.
    They all stopped and stared upward at the two-story vaulted ceiling. Even Ava was impressed, although she was aware that people were staring at them. We might as well have a neon sign over our heads that says “New in Town.”
    â€œWhy don’t you go to the art store while we head to Spruce?” Alex said to their mom. She was lucky her favorite clothing store had shops in Texas. “You can come meet us when you’re done. We’ll be there awhile—I have a lot of fashion research to do.”
    Ava groaned. “Can I go look at shoes at the sports store?”
    Mrs. Sackett shook her head. “Not if you don’t have your phone with you. Do you have it?”
    Ava hung her head. “I just misplaced it.”
    â€œAgain,” said Alex.
    â€œI’ll find it. It’s probably in my room somewhere.”
    â€œAll right, then I want you girls to stay together,” said Mrs. Sackett. “I’ll meet you at Spruce in half an hour.” She shot Ava a look, which Ava knew meant Take this one for the team . Ava sighed and resigned herself to a long morning.
    â€œSpruce is this way,” said Alex, looking up from her phone. Ava followed her sister tolerantly through the mall.
    They passed an older couple. Ava saw them abruptly stop talking to each other in order to stare at the twins.
    â€œHey, Al?” said Ava, tugging at her sister’s T-shirt. “Alex!” she hissed more urgently.
    Alex had been looking over her shopping list but looked up when she heard her sister’s tone. “What’s up?”
    â€œHave you noticed people . . . staring at us?”
    Alex furrowed her brow and scanned the passing shoppers. “No. Are they? Why would they stare at us ?”
    Ava shrugged. “No idea. I mean, I’m starting to get why they stare at Coach. They’re all obsessed with finding out what he plans to do with the team. But they have no clue who we are. Look! See? That guy over there, near the fountain. He just pointed at us and said something to his wife. It’s weird.”
    â€œYou’re just imagining things,” said Alex. “It’s because you hate malls so much. Come on. I just saw some girls our age wearing the cutest outfits, and they were heading into Spruce. Let’s follow them and see what they buy. Our school colors are blue and orange. That’s kind of hard to work with, but I’m going to try to find some wardrobe basics in those colors.”
    Suddenly Ava stopped. Alex heard her sharp intake of breath and turned to follow her gaze.
    It was a boy with dark hair and an athletic build. He was heading in the direction of the food court and didn’t appear to have seen them.
    Alex nudged her sister. “Who’s that?”
    â€œWho? Oh. Him? No one. Well, okay, it’s Jack. The kid I played basketball with yesterday.”
    Alex craned her neck to take a closer look before Jack was swallowed up in the crowd of shoppers. “He’s cute,” she pronounced.
    Ava shrugged. “I