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jaws and didn’t have very good control of where it was going. It banged into a tree and almost crashed into a lamppost in its hurry to get away.
    But the gargoyle made it across the street and settled on the roof of Candles by Daye. Christopher stood with his mouth open, staring. Marbles was barking furiously at the gate. The gargoyle was outlined against the roof of Cassandra’s store for a moment, and Christopher could make out its head over the edge of the rooftop. The gargoyle shook its wings like an angry goose, looked straight at Christopher, then stuck its tongue out at him.
    â€œHow RUDE!” he gasped.
    He wheeled around to look at Cassandra, who was busily examining her nails. Marbles flopped down onto the park grass and panted, tired out from all the excitement.
    â€œWas that … a gargoyle? ” Christopher whispered.
    Cassandra looked up from her nail-examination and smiled politely. “Was what a gargoyle?”
    Christopher was astonished. He wasn’t sure what to say next, but he decided a direct question might be best. “Did I just see a gargoyle fly across the street and land on the roof of your store?”
    Cassandra nodded slowly but wouldn’t look him in the eye. Her nails seemed much more interesting to her.
    â€œDid I hear it talking to me?” he asked.
    She nodded, a little faster this time. “You’re lucky you can understand them. I can’t. Only children and some lucky adults understand them properly …” she said wistfully. Christopher suddenly felt a little sorry for Cassandra, since she sounded so sad — but he needed answers, VERY CLEAR and VERY SIMPLE answers. He pressed on.
    â€œSo … just to be clear, there is a gargoyle … living in this park?” He realized he didn’t sound very intelligent, but he didn’t care.
    Cassandra looked him in the eye this time and nodded. “Well, two gargoyles actually.”
    At that very moment another gargoyle flew past Christopher, but this one could fly a little better and didn’t bang into anything. It was so quiet and stealthy that Marbles didn’t even notice it. Christopher watched as it flew across the street and joined the first gargoyle on the roof of Candles by Daye, disappearing around an old chimney.
    â€œAm I losing my marbles?” he asked and flopped down on the bench beside Cassandra. At the sound of his name, the dog raised his head and barked.
    â€œNot you. I know I haven’t lost you, you crazy dog. I mean me, my marbles. Am I going crazy?”
    â€œNo, Christopher, you’re not crazy,” Cassandra said slowly. Christopher looked at her closely. She seemed like a nice, normal lady, if really tall. She didn’t seem crazy, or like a liar. But she didn’t want to tell him the truth, either. She was very reluctant to say anything at all.
    But before he could ask anything else, the back door of his house creaked open, casting a circle of warm yellow light to the edge of the park. His mother called his name.
    â€œI’m coming, Mom!” Christopher shouted back. “It’s dinner time. I have to go!” Marbles jumped up and shook himself. Cassandra and Christopher walked to the hidden doorway and back out to the sidewalk. Cassandra practically had to crawl on her hands and knees to fit through. The doorway swung closed with a click, and when it was shut, Christopher almost couldn’t see it. You’d only see it if you knew where to look.
    Cassandra said, “Come by my store tomorrow after school. I’ll make you tea. We’ll talk. Oh, and for now, maybe don’t tell anyone about the gargoyles. Bye, Christopher,” she said thoughtfully, then crossed the street, which was empty and quiet.
    Christopher turned to go to his house but noticed there were two gargoyles on the park gateposts.
    â€œCassandra, what about these two?” Christopher called across the street after her.
    â€œStone! Just