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control? Because Julie asked you to?”
    â€œWell…”
    â€œWell?” my father demanded.
    â€œI was confused…I didn’t really understand what Julie wanted, and Adam said he did, so—”
    â€œNo,” my father said. “That’s no good, Andrew. You’re in charge of the body—but you won’t stay in charge if you give Adam the idea he can come out whenever you’re confused. From now on, when we’re out in public, I don’t want you giving up the body for any reason other than a life-and-death emergency. Understood?”
    â€œUnderstood,” I said. “But…”
    â€œAndrew—”
    â€œBut what if somebody asks to speak to Adam, and I’m not confused about it, but I just don’t want to be rude? What do I do then?”
    â€œIf somebody needs to speak to Adam, you come talk to me about it first. And then I’ll make sure Adam behaves.”
    He decided not to punish me, figuring the hangover was punishment enough. The hangover, and also the consequences of my mistake—once my head started to clear, it dawned on me that Julie and I hadn’t exchanged phone numbers, so I had no way of getting in touch with her. She did know my address, and for a few days I held out hope that she might drop by, but after a week with no visit I reluctantly concluded that Adam had scared her off.
    Then about a week after that I was walking on Bridge Street when some tourists stopped to ask me for directions. They were French Canadians who didn’t speak English very well, and I ended up calling Aunt Sam out to the pulpit to help translate. It was a laborious process—Aunt Sam would tell me what the tourists had said, and I would tell her what I wanted to say back, and she would give me the French, and I would try to repeat it out loud. After the tourists finally drove off, I turned and found Julie Sivik standing beside me, smiling and shaking her head.
    â€œAmazing,” she said. “Like watching someone receive a satellite transmission. So who’s the French-speaker in the family? Your cousin Adam again?”
    â€œNo,” I said, “my Aunt Samantha—really she’s my cousin too, but we call her Aunt Sam because she’s older.” I went on: “Adam’s still being punished for what he did in the bar.”
    â€œPunished? How?”
    â€œWell, for a while after he drank the beer he wouldn’t come out of hisroom, so my father locked him in for three days. He’s got the run of the house again now, but he still can’t come out on the pulpit for another week.”
    â€œSounds pretty harsh,” Julie said, but there was an undertone of approval in her voice.
    â€œWhat Adam did to you was very rude,” I said. “And I was wrong too, to just let him out without warning you.”
    â€œYeah, well, I was kind of freaked out by that,” Julie admitted. “I was also pissed about the car…”
    â€œI’d be happy to pay for repainting the door,” I offered.
    â€œNah, it’s no big deal…The paint job wasn’t so great to begin with, to be honest.”
    â€œNo, really, let me pay for it…Or at least, let me pay you back, once I start my new job.”
    â€œNew job?” Julie said. “That’s right, I heard you were looking for work.”
    â€œHeard from who?”
    â€œYour old boss. I was out at Bit Warehouse the other day and I asked for you, but the manager told me you’d quit.”
    â€œYou asked for me? Really?”
    â€œYeah, well…once I calmed down, I felt kind of bad about just dumping you in front of your place that night. I had to pick up some things at the Warehouse anyway, so I thought I’d see how you were. But you were gone. So what’s the new job?”
    â€œI haven’t actually found one yet,” I said. “I’m having a little problem with references.”
    Julie nodded.