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road. “I don’t think either will have you.”
    And people wondered where I got my dry wit. “Then I guess you’ll be stuck with me.”
    “I guess we’ll be stuck with each other.”
    I glanced sideways at her profile. I had always been proud of the fact that I had the coolest and the prettiest mom in the neighborhood. I still couldn’t see why Dad had left her. Jenny’s father was still around, and her mom had the figure of a snowman, and she screeched about everything. I know if Mom had just tried a little harder, Dad would have stayed.
    We turned up the driveway. A gray mist started to collect out on the horizon behind the ancient house. It was a bit like driving onto the set of a horror movie. “I’ve got macaroni and cheese cooking in the crock pot. It should be ready in a couple of hours.”
    The climb to my room was getting easier so my toe must have been healing. I hesitated at my door suddenly remembering the key and the drawer… and the voice. Especially the voice. I stepped in cautiously. I guess I was expecting someone or something to jump out at me, but the place was exactly the way I’d left it. The drawer on the bookcase was shut, and the key was on top.
    There was definitely a draft coming through my closed window, so I threw on my hooded sweatshirt and sat down to my computer. Jen’s screen name Pinkalicious popped up with a message.
    My fingers plunked hard on the keyboard.
    
    
    
     I wrote back. And then my throat tightened. All of a sudden I missed her. I’d gone the whole day without a true, best friend conversation. I had so much to talk to her about.
    
    Without warning hot tears gushed down my cheeks. I signed off, stared at my blue desktop, and wiped tears with the sleeve of my sweatshirt. Suddenly, through the blur, I saw a reflection on my computer screen just like in the dirty window. Someone was standing behind me. “Tyler!” I screamed and twisted up out of my chair. But the room was empty. My heart raced as I flew down the hall. “Mom! Where are the boys?” My voice was frantic enough for her to come running.
    She was wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “Brazil, what’s the matter? You look upset.”
     “Tyler and Raymond are trying to scare me. They keep playing tricks on me. One of them
    was hiding in my room just now.”
    Mom’s face blanched. “Sweetie, the boys aren’t home yet. They stayed after to play baseball.”
    I sat down on the top step and wrapped my arms around my knees. “It’s official. I’m going crazy.” The tears came again.
    “Stay down there,” Mom told her pets as she climbed the stairs. She scrunched down next to me and put her arm around my shoulder. “Brazil, it’s hard getting used to a new house and school. But, I promise, it will be fine. I’ve never known anyone as level headed as you, Zilly. You are not going crazy.”
    “Mom, there was someone standing in my room. I saw them.”
    She stood and offered me a hand up. “Let’s go see.” She opened doors and looked under the bed. I felt like I was five again and she had to prove to me that there was no boogeyman in my room so I’d go to sleep.
    A brief inspection of my vacant room only confirmed my suspicions. I was losing it. Mom took hold of my hand. “I think it’s just the stress of moving, Brazil. Why don’t you sleep with me in my room until you stop having these—”
    “What? Hallucinations? See, you think I’m crazy too.”
    “I don’t think you’re crazy, Zilly. Just stressed. We’ve been through a lot this last year.”
    “Fine, I’m stressed.” Having her think I was just imagining things made me feel worse about everything, my sanity, this house, and my new life. “Then you won’t mind if