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down, keeping my eyes on my plate.
    Mom reached over and put her hand on Stella's. “We are so happy to have you come live with us for a while.” She glanced at me and Darci. “Aren't we, kids?”
    “Yes!” Darci said, giving Stella her best smile.
    Stella half smiled back, then glanced at me.
    I held my fork in midair. “Uh, yeah. We're, uh, happy.”
    Stella's eyes narrowed, her half smile still plastered on.
    I coughed and lowered my fork.
    Stella turned to Mom. “They won't give me any trouble, will they?”
    “These kids?” said Mom. “No trouble. No trouble at all.”

    That night, I lay on my back on the top bunk in my new room. In the corner just above my head, a small black spider slept in its web. “You like this room, spidey?”
    The spider didn't move.
    “That bad, huh?”
    I turned over on my stomach and mashed my pillow up under my chin. The window was a black square of night. When I turned the light off, maybe I'd see the river.
    Someone knocked and opened my door. “May I come in?”
    “Sure, Mom.”
    “Wow,” she said, looking around. “You and Ledward really got this place cleaned up. It looks great, don't you think?”
    I rolled over and pointed to the spider. “See my new roommate?”
    “Want me to get it for you?”
    “No, he just sleeps.”
    Mom leaned against the counter that ran along one side of my new room. She crossed her arms and looked up at me. “There's a sweetgirl under Stella's rough exterior, Calvin. I think she just needs to get to know us.”
    “She doesn't talk much.”
    “Give her time. She comes from a … well, a difficult situation. Her parents are struggling now. Her mom thought sending her here would help everyone, including me, and she's certainly right about that.”
    “Okay.”
    “You're old enough to take care of yourself now. But Darci needs someone at home while I'm at work.”
    “Stella could do the garbage,” I offered. “That would free me up to cut the grass.”
    Mom laughed, a real, deep laugh. She pushed herself away from the counter and reached up to squeeze my hand. “I just don't know what I'd do without your good humor, Cal.”
    She kissed me good night and left.
    I looked up at the spider. “What was so funny?”

T he next morning, Sunday, I was jolted out of my dreams.
    “Calvin!”
    I squinted at my clock. Eight-fifteen.
    “Calvin! Get in here this
minute!”
    Mom didn't sound happy.
    I slid off my bunk. I put on yesterday'sshorts and T-shirt and stumbled through the garage.
    Mom stood in the kitchen with her arms crossed. “I told you to fix that lock on your door.”
    Oops. “I … forgot.”
    “Yes, you forgot, and now Stella is stuck in her room. What are you going to do about it?”
    “Um, I can get it open.”
    “So get to it!”
    I ran to my old bedroom and knocked on the door. “Uh … Stella?”
    “Unlock this door!”
    “It's just supposed to pop open when you turn the knob.”
    “Well, I'm turning and it's not popping. Your mom said you could get it open, so do it. I need to go to the bathroom.”
    I tried the knob.
    Locked, all right. “Uh … try turning and lifting at the same time.”
    Stella huffed and grunted, then banged her fist on the door. “Get me out of here!”
    “Wait. Be right back.”
    I ran to my room, grabbed my pocketknife, and ran back. “Look by your feet.” I slid the knife under the door.
    “What's this for?”
    “Stick the blade in the slot on the thumb lock, then turn it. That's how I get it open.”
    I could hear her working the knife into the doorknob. “You better not be joking around with me.”
    “I'm not. Turn it like a key.”
    “I'm not kidding, buster, if you're—” She banged the door again. “It! Doesn't! Work!”
    “Okay, wait! I'll be back.”

    “I've had enough of this, buster!”
    I raced out to the garage. Boy, she was getting mean. Could I help it if the lock always got stuck?
    “Did you get it open?” Mom asked as I ran through the kitchen.
    “Not