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it instead. Without another word she pushed a lever, rewound the film, pulled it off the machine, and slipped it back into the box.
    Lena was grateful not to have to explain why she wanted to leave. “Thanks,” she said as she got to her feet, gathering up the roll of spilled film. She collected the others, dropped two, and started cramming them back into the file cabinet.
    â€œWhoa there, girl,” Abby said, taking the remaining film out of her friend’s hands. “They go in rows….”
    Lena handed the boxes over. “I just want to have a little fun,” she said, trying to sound more lighthearted than she felt. “We have exactly two days before school starts.” Lena pulled the strap away from where it was sticking to her neck.
    â€œI’m all for fun,” Abby agreed, straightening the final rolls in the cabinet before sliding it closed.
    â€œCan I take the camera for a while?” Abby asked when they got outside. “You know, to give you a little break?” She started to lift it off Lena’s head.
    Lena instinctively grabbed the strap, holding it around her neck.
    Abby looked totally serious for a second, then laughed. “I just want to try it out,” she cajoled. “I haven’t even had a chance to click the shutter!”
    Lena felt ridiculous holding on to the strap, so she let go and lifted the camera over her head. But her hands were a little shaky as she handed it to Abby. And just as Abby put the Impulse around her own neck, a giant gust of wind kicked up, blowing a pile of leaves around them like a tiny tornado.Then, as quickly as the wind had appeared, it was gone.
    Freaky,
Lena thought.
    â€œGross!” Abby said, spitting bits of dry foliage out of her mouth. “How bad is my hair?” she asked, leaning down so Lena could evaluate.
    Lena inspected the tight braids and pulled out a few twigs and bits of leaf. “Not too terrible,” she said. “Mine?”
    â€œReasonable,” Abby replied, returning the leaf-removal favor. “Let’s get the bikes.”
    Minutes later the girls were rolling down Main Street. Abby cruised slowly along in front of Lena, window-shopping and stopping to take a few shots with the camera. Lena tried not to crash into her and to ignore the worrying fear that was growing in the pit of her stomach. First the computer. Then the weird, blowing leaves. What next?
    Abby rolled to a stop in front of their favorite yogurt shop, parking her bike near the curb. “Feel like a cup of frozen happiness?” she asked with a grin.
    Lena knew better than to say no. “Love one,” she lied.
    â€œMy treat,” Abby said, hopping off her bike. She disappeared into the store and came back with two cups of light orange swirls. The two girls sat down on a little bench in front of the store.
    Abby took a giant frozen bite. “I love peach season,” she said through her mouthful.
    Lena took a bite and tried to let the sweetness seep in. It was delicious. “Not as much as my dad,” she said with a laugh. “He was in the kitchen at dawn.”
    â€œSounds good to me,” Abby said. “His jam is amazing. Did you know he offered to teach me? Maybe we should head back. It’s only eleven o’clock.”
    â€œGo back to that hot kitchen?” Lena squinted in disgust. “Are you crazy?” She set down her yogurt and held out her hand. “Can I have the camera? I want to take a shot.” She could already picture the close-up of the cup and spoon through the viewfinder.
    Abby gave her a look, but lifted the strap over her head.
    Lena took the camera. It felt really good to have it back in her hands, as if she’d been without it fordays instead of a mere fifteen minutes. She found the shot of the spoon in the yogurt cup through the viewfinder and pressed the button, but nothing came out. “You used up the film!” she protested, shooting Abby a