Chapter 37

“Come to bed.”

It was Marilyn, and it was barley eight p.m. At least one budding new romance had worked out.

“I gotta go.” Mr. Feldman turned but then stopped to look our way again. “I hope Alfonse comes back.”

“I do, too,” I said.

Back at Toni’s, Carmen hugged me, ready to go on her way, as Abby surveyed the yard, like she was seeing it for the very first time. Despite four goodbyes, three of us remained.

“I’ve been wondering,” Carmen said.

“What?” I hated unfinished thoughts.

“I’m not sure I should say.”

“We can say anything to each other, right?” Despite that, I felt trepidation, too.

“Well, I hope this isn’t prejudice, a prejudiced way of thinking, that it even entered my mind.”

“What, Carmen?”

“After what Mr. Feldman said, how Z went back to Mexico…”

“No digging, Abby.”

Dirt kept flying.

“Abby Cadabby naughty and baddy.”

“Really?”

“It works,” I told Carmen.

Abby stopped—eventually.

“Now, what were you saying?”