A Million Miles From Boston (23 page)

“He loved it. He was totally surprised! And I saw an eagle.”

“You
did
? Next year we’re staying out there
all day
until we see one.”

“What are you talking about?” Michael asked. “Your painful summer together?”

“Nah, it was a great summer,” Ian said.

Michael hooted.

When my name was called, I grinned at Ms. Bruner as she handed me my schedule. Ian ran to the front when it was his turn. He took his schedule, then saluted Ms. Bruner. Everyone cracked up. Ian bowed; then she bowed; and then he bowed.

We laughed again. How he loved being the star!

The day before, I’d told Jenny about Ian and Allison and all that had happened. “Ian isn’t as annoying as I always thought he was. He’s got this other side to him.”

Jenny bunched up her brows, serious. “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Then we cracked up, because that has to be the most overused saying ever.

But as I watched Ian, I remembered how Julia had said he might be covering up for something. I thought about how nervous she’d been up at the Point and how mixed up I’d felt
when Mom died. Maybe there were all kinds of ways people acted to protect themselves against things that hurt or scared them.

Maybe everyone had another side.

Ian sat. I didn’t know what kind of friends we’d be that school year. But the next summer we’d take out the kayak, look for eagles and share the tree during chase. Maybe we’d run camp together. Good things to look forward to.

Ms. Bruner finished handing out schedules.

Then she smiled. “Welcome to middle school.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to my editor, Wendy Lamb, and associate editor Caroline Meckler, for expert advice and bringing me back from the abyss. Thanks to Henry, Hannah, Herbie, and Bill and Heather Holmes Floyd for introducing us to paradise. Thanks to my supporters and readers: Susan Raskin Abrams, Jean Holmblad, Jane Malmberg, Pam McCuen and the other wonderful librarians at the Newton Free Library; Mordena Babich, Janessa Ransom and my critique group; Amy Jameson, Cynthia Pill, Susan Hurwit, Linda Gelda, Bryn Wood, Whitney Williams (dog extraordinaire), Dr. Stefanie Chin, Alison Dinsmore, the Balmuths and, as always, Kathy Read (the dramatic tension of closeness, wow). Forever love and thanks to the very best people I know, David, Dylan, Emma and Elizabeth.