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to Megan.
    She put up her hands in protest and shook her head.
    â€œWhen’s your mom back?” I asked, rolling the bag down inside the cracker box.
    â€œI don’t know. I think she’s scoping out spots for photos.”
    â€œCome over and hang out then,” I said excitedly.
    â€œCan’t. Mom doesn’t like us to go anywhere when she’s not home, and we’re not allowed any visitors.” She looked at me out of the corner of her eye.
    â€œOh…okay.” I tried to make my voice sound as though I didn’t think that was totally weird.
    We sat quietly, both still flicking away stray shards of cracker.
    There was an odd sound I couldn’t place.
    Megan glanced back behind her. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
    I turned to see what was up. Sam was standing in the doorway with his mouth pressed up against the screen door, blowing out his cheeks, making fish faces. I rolled my eyes too and turned back around, pretending to ignore him. Of course, I really wanted him to join us. I wished I hadn’t chowed down so enthusiastically on those crackers—I could have offered him some. I heard one last puff, then footsteps walking away. That’s what I get for being a little piggy.
    â€œHe can be so…immature,” Megan said, but she was smiling.
    I grinned at her word choice. Immature . It was as if she couldn’t come up with anything nastier than that to say about her brother. Now if that had been Jilly, I wouldn’t have been able to get the word moron out of my mouth fast enough.
    They were definitely close, way closer than me and Jilly. I had picked up on that the very first time I met them. They seemed to genuinely like each other, and they never fought. God, they probably even cared about each other’s feelings. I concentrated hard on that for a second, trying to imagine what that must be like. I couldn’t quite get there.
    â€œHe’s my best friend, you know,” Megan said quietly, as if she had been reading my thoughts.
    I couldn’t think how to respond so I just fiddled with my earring and nodded.
    â€œThat probably sounds strange to you,” she continued.
    â€œNo,” I lied. It did sound strange, but I sort of understood. They moved so much, spent so much time together, they were pretty much all each other had. “He’s awfully nice to you, for a brother,” I added.
    â€œHe really is,” she nodded.
    â€œI always wanted an older brother,” I sighed.
    We were soon distracted by a new noise, this time coming from the front of my house. I watched as Dad used the garden hose to fill a bucket. He held out a sponge to Jilly. He was trying to get her to wash the car. Good luck with that . Jilly stood there, arms folded, major frown on. The only thing missing was the defiant foot stomp. Wait for it…and there it is.
    I turned to Megan. “Did I mention how I always wanted an older brother?”
    She laughed and we entertained ourselves for the next little while watching Jilly attempt to wash the car. She kept her body as far away from the car as possible, leaning in and basically patting the car with the soapy sponge as though she was terrified of breaking a nail or something. Dad sat on our stone wall just shaking his head.
    Now I was kind of relieved that Sam wasn’t with us. Had Jilly seen him, she probably would have dumped the bucket over herself, going for the wet T-shirt effect.
    â€œOkay, Jilly, thanks for your…er…help. You can go now,” I heard Dad announce. I guess he couldn’t take it anymore.
    â€œThanks, Daddy,” Jilly squealed as she dropped the sponge and ran.
    â€œCan you believe that?” I said to Megan. “I mean, why does he let her get away with crap like that?”
    â€œThat’s what dads do,” she said wistfully.
    I shrugged.
    â€œYou’re so lucky. Your dad seems awesome. I can just tell.” Her voice was barely more