When Crane called everybody to supper, I went to him and said quietly,

"I'm not hungry. It hasn't been that long since I ate lunch."

"Technically, that was breakfast for you. You need to eat. Sit down."

I hardly said a word at supper. I wished like crazy that Guthrie was sitting in his regular spot

to my right. It seemed like my world would be a whole lot brighter if he was.

Luckily, for him, Evan didn't say anything to me, or even look my way. More than likely

he was mad. Oh, well, let him be mad. I didn't care. He had a big nerve telling me I was a brat.

After supper, I went back to my report. I was working on it when the phone rang. I knew

even before Ford answered that it was Adam calling. He always tries to call at the same time every

night, so that he can catch as many of us as he can. Since I'd gone to bed so early the night before,

I'd missed his call. I knew Adam was going to have plenty to say to me about what I'd done, and I wanted to

avoid it as long as possible.

Everybody else was taking their turn and I wrote furiously. Crane was sitting on one of the tall bar

stools by the phone, while Evan talked. I went to Crane and laid my finished report on his knee.

"Your turn to talk next," he told me.

"I'm going to bed," I said, and made my escape upstairs.

Since I'd spent the day in my pajamas, all I had to do was brush my teeth. That's what I

was doing when Crane came to lean in the bathroom doorway.

"Come down and take your turn."

"I'm tired. I want to go to bed."

"You can go to bed right after."

"I don't feel like talking."

"Not even to Hannah? She's asking for you."

"She is?" I looked up at him.

"Yep. You going to hurt Hannah's feelings just because you think Adam

might growl at you?"

I rinsed my mouth, thinking. I sighed. "No," I said.

"That's my girl.". He squeezed my hand and we went back downstairs.

Brian was talking now, but when he saw me standing there, hesitating at the bottom

of the stairs, he said, " Here she is," and held out the phone to me.

"It's Hannah," he told me.

Crane gave me a little push forward, and I took the receiver from Brian.

"Hello?"

"Oh, sweetie!" Hannah's sweet voice said. "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"I've been so worried about you!" Her breath caught and it sounded like she

was crying. Which made me tear up, too.

"Please don't cry! I'm alright, I really am."

"You're doing everything the doctor said?" she asked, sounding as if she was trying

to get ahold of her emotions.

"Yes."

"And Brian and Crane, they're looking after you?"

"They're doing a good job."

"I wish I could be there with you, see for myself that you're alright."

"Please don't worry, I want you to have fun!"

"We'll be home Friday. If everybody's at home that night, we'll do Around the World," Hannah

said, changing the subject.

"That sounds good," I told her. Around the World is when Hannah, or anybody else

that wants to, can cook something from any country they want to. In the past, we've

fixed Mexican, Chinese, Italian, and of course, good old American hamburgers.

"Guthrie says to tell you that he has a surprise for you, but he's sworn me to

secrecy," Hannah said.

"That's cool. Will you tell him I miss him?"

"I will. I love you, sweetie, I'll talk to you soon."

"I love you, too."

"Here's Adam," she said, and before I could protest, I heard him say,

"Hey, sugar plum."

Sugar plum? Wow. At least he wasn't going to start out the conversation by taking

my head off.

"Hi."

"I have something to say to you, Harlie. Are you listening?"

"Yes," I whispered. I turned around to find the living room empty. At least I wouldn't

have witnesses when he started yelling at me.

"'The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.' That's a quote from

a man named John Powell."

"It's a good quote," I said quietly.

"It is. I've said it to myself plenty of times. I want you to remember it, too."

"I will."

"Think this will turn out to be a real mistake? Or are you thinking you're going to

learn from it?"

"I've learned from it."

"Okay."

"Are you mad at me, Adam?"

"That's a question you already know the answer to, Harlie."

"What's going to happen-when you get home, i mean?"

"We'll sit on the porch, and have a heart to heart talk, and go from there, alright?"

I sighed. I felt like I was all talked out.

"Okay."

"Alright. I miss you, and I love you, and I'll see you in a couple of days. Put Brian

back on the phone, okay?"

"Okay." I laid the receiver on the table and went to the kitchen where everybody

was congregated.

"Adam wants to talk to you again," I told Brian.

"Okay," he said, and tugged my braid as he went past me.

Evan and Ford were sitting at the table, devouring brownies.

"Want a snack?" Crane asked me.

"No, thanks."

"Well, it's time for your medicine anyway, so you have to eat something. What sounds good?"

I sighed. I wanted to protest that I wasn't hungry, yell that I was tired and just wanted

to go to bed, but I didn't want to hurt Crane's feelings. Besides, Evan was sitting there,

and I didn't need him saying that I was still acting bratty.

"Do we have any oranges?" I asked.

"I think so." Crane rooted around in the refrigerator until he pulled out a sack of oranges.

"Hey," Ford protested, "I didn't know we had oranges."

"That's because I have to hide stuff from you wolverines, or we wouldn't have anything

left to eat," Crane told him.

"Ha ha," Ford said, apparently not insulted, because he said, "So can you toss me an

orange, then?"

Crane rolled his eyes, and tossed an orange at Ford, and Ford caught it in one hand.

I ate my orange and drank some milk, and took my medicine, standing up to push

my chair into the table.

"Hey, don't forget I'm gonna wake you up in-" Crane looked at the clock, "four hours or so

to give you more medicine."

"Okay. Night."

Crane and Ford both said goodnight, but Evan didn't, and I didn't say it to him, either.

I resisted the urge I had to thump him on his head as I passed behind him. I didn't think

I could outrun him quite yet, until my back was better, anyway.

7/7/7/7/7/7/7/

The next day was basically more of the same. I got up, ate, and then did homework.

After homework, the report of the day. Today was John Adams. By the time supper rolled

around, I was feeling closed in, and I wanted to scream. I'm not used to being inside all

the time like this.

I picked at my supper, until Crane said that it reminded him of a phase I went thru

when I was eight.

"That was your 'I'm not touching anything that's green' phase of eating. Remember, Brian?"

"Yeah. Green, or red, either, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, I think so," Crane said.

"Crazy kid," Brian said.

"I'm sitting right here, you know," I told them. "And it wasn't every single thing that was green.

Just spinach, and asparagus is what I wouldn't eat."

"And peas, too," Ford chimed in.

"And brussel sprouts," Crane added.

"Well, brussel sprouts, now that I understand," Brian said, and they laughed.

After supper Daniel said he would go check on the calf, and Evan went with him. I watched

them go, wishing I could get outside, too.

I surveyed Brian, stacking the supper dishes, and Crane, running hot water into the sink.

All the further that Crane had let me go was the front porch the last two days.

"Could I go outside?" I asked them.

Crane looked at me suspiciously. "And do what?"

"Just walk around a little. Go see the baby calf. I'm going stir crazy, Crane."

I knew if anyone understood how cooped up I felt, it would be Brian, and when I

looked at him, he looked sympathetic.

"Just walk around. Nothing else," Crane said.

"Nothing else," I promised.

Crane looked at Brian. "What do you think?"

"I think it's alright. Your baby chick will be fine, mama hen."

I giggled at the look on Crane's face.

"Mama hen! I cook, and clean, and look

after all these kids, working my fingers to the bone around here, and that's the thanks I get!

No respect!" He sounded insulted, but I knew he was just playing along.

"Alright," he told me. "Go on. Don't be long."

"Thanks, mama," I teased him, and went before he changed his mind.

I went to look at the horses first, and Petra came up to the fence, seeing if I had

any treats for her. I decided to go to the barn to get her some horse treats or an apple.

Daniel and Evan were looking over the baby calf as I passed by them in the barn.

"How is he?" I asked.

"Better," Daniel said. "So the wardens gave you a pass out of prison?"

"Yeah. Just for a bit."

I went over to the corner where all the apples were. One of the neighbors brought us a bunch

of apples to feed our pigs, and they're in bins against the wall. I sorted thru them. Some of them were getting

rotten, and others were still good. I found two good ones that I planned to feed Petra.

Daniel came out of the stall and came over to me.

"Gonna give Petra an apple?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, don't get in there with her. Your back might get bumped."

I sighed. "I know, Daniel."

Evan spoke up from the stall with the calf. "Don't give any apples to Sierra. You probably

shouldn't give any to Petra, either. Those apples are all rotten."

And just like that, I was mad again. "There's still some good ones. I wouldn't give my

horse a rotten apple, Evan."

"Okay, fine," he said.

"There's something out there, Evan, maybe you haven't heard of it. It's

called MINDING YOUR OWN BUSINESS!"

"Go feed Petra the apples, squirt," Daniel said quietly.

"Yeah," Evan said, "and then go back inside and give your grief to Brian

and Crane.". He turned to shut the door to the stall.

I was livid. Filled with frustration. Temporarily insane. I reached into one

of the bins, and grabbed one of the nasty mushy apples, and chucked it

straight at Evan. I aimed it at the center of his back, and since I'm typically

a pretty good shot, normally it would have been dead on.

Throwing it pulled on my back, though, so it was a little off. It hit his

shoulder with a juicy splat, and some of it splashed onto his cheek.

He turned on me furiously. I'd been trying to rile him up for days, and

it looked like I'd finally succeeded. " Dammit, Harlie!"

He started towards me, retaliation in his eye. I don't think he would really

have done anything to me, mostly because of my back, but I didn't have to find

out, because Daniel stepped in front of me. "Go cool off, Ev," he said.

"You're makin' me crazy!" he yelled. "If you weren't hurt right now, Harlie, I'd take

you down a notch!"

"Don't let that stop you!" I yelled back.

"You're awfully mouthy with Daniel standing there to protect you."

I picked up another rotten apple, ready to hurl it at him. "Give me a reason, Evan!"

Daniel gave me a dark look, and knocked the apple out of my hand. "That's enough."

"Tell him that!"

"Harlie. Shut. Up."

Well, I shut up then.

Evan stalked out of the barn, and even though I knew I shouldn't find it funny,

the thought of Evan with apple all over his shirt and face made me smile a little.

When Daniel turned on me with a steely eye, I quit smiling.

"What?" I asked him.

"You know what. You came out here looking for a fight with Evan."

"I don't think so."

"Well, I do think so."

"He called me a spoiled brat today, Daniel!"

Daniel put his hands on his hips. "He's entitled to his opinion," he said.

"What's that mean?! Do you think I'm a brat, too?!"

"Well, your attitude leaves alot to be desired, that's for sure."

I wished I wasn't too old to stamp my foot like a little kid. Because that's what I

would have done right then.

"You're making me mad, Daniel!"

"Go on and get mad. "

"You're being mean! Out and out mean!"

"I'm not being mean. I could get a hairbrush and take you out behind the barn, and show

you how mean I CAN be."

I studied him, trying to determine if he was serious.

"I'm sorry, Daniel," I said quietly. "It's just that I'm so tired, and so frustrated! I just

wish I had a re-do of the other day. I'd never go with Allison!"

"I understand that. But that's no reason you have to take out your moods on Evan. You

hurt his feelings when you do that."

I stared at Daniel, aghast. "Hurt his feelings!"

"Yeah. Hurt his feelings."

"I do not, that's crazy, Daniel. I couldn't hurt Evan's feelings."

"Sure, you can. And you do, alot of the time. He just doesn't show it like the rest

of us."

I could tell Daniel really believed what he was saying, and I was too tired to argue

any more. I shrugged. "Okay."

"You need to be nicer to him."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine."

"Fine," he mimicked me. "Go on in the house now, before Crane comes searching."

"After I feed Petra her apples."

"You've done enough with those darn apples. Go in the house."

7

The next morning I got up in time to eat breakfast with the family. A fact which Brian, Daniel

and Ford made much of.

First Brian staggered, clutching his chest, pretending he was having a heart attack in shock.

Daniel bowed from the waist, announcing that the queen had risen from her bed before noon.

Ford kept looking at the kitchen clock, then at me; kitchen clock, then back at me, over and

over.

I tried to remain all haughty, but I couldn't help giggling.

I punched Brian's arm first, then Daniel, then Ford.

"Ha, ha," I said. "The Three Stooges."

"I must be Larry then," Daniel said, running a hand over his head. "He has a beautiful

head of hair, just like me."

"That makes me Moe," Brian said.

"I was thinking you were more Curly," Daniel said. "It looks to me like you're starting to

lose your hair a little bit there, big brother."

"I've got more hair than I've ever had," Brian countered.

"Ok, if you say so," Daniel said, and then he and Ford went up behind Brian, reaching up

to move his hair back and forth.

"What do you think, Ford?" Daniel asked.

"Right there, right there," Ford pointed. "That's where it's nearly bald."

Brian slapped their hands away. "I'd stop right now, boys, if I was you."

Daniel turned to Ford. "You know, Ford," he said casually, "when I was in the drugstore

the other day, it seemed to me that there were an awful lot of hair care products."

"Is that right?" Ford said, playing along with the joke.

"Yeah. You know, for this sort of problem," Daniel said, pointing at Brian's dark head.

"Some of that stuff would be handy to have, alright," Ford agreed. "You know, if a person

was to NEED it."

Evan and Crane were laughing now, too.

Brian reached out and took the platter of bacon in the center of the table, picking it up.

"I reckon as I'll be distributing the bacon this morning," he said, and Daniel and Ford groaned.

"How many pieces you want, Ev?" he asked Evan.

"I'll take three."

"How about you, Crane?" Brian asked, heading around the table to Crane's spot.

"Oh, I'll take four."

Brian forked those onto Crane's plate.

"Harlie?" he asked me.

I giggled. "Two."

Brian took the remainder of the bacon on the platter and dumped it all onto his own plate.

"I'm just joking, Bri," Ford said. He went to bend on one knee beside Brian's chair.

"I humbly apologize," he said to Brian.

"Suck up," Daniel jeered.

"Please return my share of the bacon," Ford lamanted, and I thought Crane was going

to choke, he was laughing so hard.

Brian looked as if he were considering Ford's request. "I'm waiting," he said.

"Your hair is thicker by far than Daniel's," Ford said, straight-faced. "It's a beautiful head of

hair, Brian."

Brian forked some bacon onto the platter and handed it to Ford.

"Enjoy," he said.