"My dog can talk."
Fay said it like it didn't matter, as she fell into step beside us, her round shoulders hunched into her old purple coat.
"What?" Both Melissa and I yelled it.
Fay shoved her lank blond hair behind her neck and nodded, still no sign of a smile on her face. "Yup. Probably won't last long, but it's fun."
"How did that happen?" I asked.
"Saw a triple shooting star, so I did this ritual I read about."
Melissa was silent.
I hurried into speech. "What's he said?"
Fay shrugged, the worn seams of her coat straining, as she sidled a glance at Missy. "Dog stuff."
Melissa still said nothing.
We'd just crossed to the school parking lot when the principal's voice ripped out at us. "Reed!" Melissa flinched, and I jumped, but Fay just hunched tighter, looking kind of like a rock on legs.
"Faith Reed, come here!" Mr. Conley was standing on the steps just outside the gym building, watching the students come to school.
Mr. Conley glared at us until we were right next to him. "Reed, has your mother seen that memo?"
"Yes, Mr. Conley," Fay said, her voice the thin, flat one she always used with adults.
"Well, where is she?" he roared.
"She's in the hospital, Mr. Conley," Fay said.
"What?"
"Foot problem, Mr. Conley. Waitresses get it. She'll be out soon."
The principal stabbed a finger toward her face. "Your brother," he said, loudly enough for everyone in the parking lot to hear, "is going to flunk out unless we get some cooperation. One graduate to four flunk-outs is not a good record, even for you Reeds. You just pass that on!"
"Yes, Mr. Conley."
The principal glared at Melissa, then me; even the furrows in his face looked mean. All around us, the kids were silent, looking sideways, no one coming near.
"Go to class," he ordered.
We hurried away.
"Is your mom going to be okay?" I whispered.
Fay gave her head a shake. "Nothing wrong with her. Matt's problem, not mine."
)
