Arriving home, Lester once again felt absolutely famished and quickly devoured two breakfasts. Mrs. North was delighted, insisting he must be going through a growth spurt. However, Lester suspected his increased appetite might simply be a side effect of being able to eat in peace for a change.

Bernard had been oddly subdued all week. Each morning, he appeared in the kitchen, hair neatly combed, and quietly took his seat. His usual array of sports jerseys was replaced by an endless stream of dress shirts and sweater vests. The only interaction he had with Lester was a curt nod from across the table, as though they were two businessmen boarding the same train. Weirder still, Bernard hadn’t once stolen anything off of Lester’s plate.

For his part, Lester didn’t buy it. It was as if Bernard were rehearsing for a role in a play, one in which he’d been cast as the mature older brother. Gone were the taunts about Lester’s bookishness, as well as the endless stream of wedgies and choke-holds. Even the family dinner conversation had taken a turn for the better. Bernard no longer seemed compelled to regale them all with a play-by-play retelling of his latest athletic triumph. It was a welcome respite, to be sure. Still, Lester fully expected his brother’s speedy return to form once the novelty of his Drawing-In wore off.

After breakfast, Lester headed to school. Walking across the soccer field, he spotted Amanda. She was smiling and talking with someone. Lester watched as she absentmindedly tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear and giggled.

“There you are!” Amanda called, seeing him approach. “Come meet my new friend.”

For the second time that morning, Lester found himself standing face to face with the boy from The Darling Place.

“This is Thomas,” Amanda said. “He just moved here.”

“Actually, we’ve already met,” said Lester cooly. He knew he shouldn’t judge someone based on a brief first encounter, but he couldn’t help feeling a growing animosity toward the new kid.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

Perhaps the feeling was mutual because Thomas barely glanced in Lester’s direction. “Ah, yes. The paperboy. Lucas, was it?”

“Lester.”

“Quite.” Thomas’s attention quickly returned to Amanda. “Well, I really should get going. Things to do. New school and all. It was wonderful to meet you. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other.”

“Absolutely,” Amanda said, her gaze lingering on Thomas as he walked away. When she turned back to Lester, her face was flushed. “What?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Nothing,” said Lester.

“Don’t nothing me. I was simply being nice.”

“Okay.”

“Anyway, he’s new,” said Amanda. “It’s called being polite.” She sent a punch into Lester’s arm.

“Ow! What was that for?” Lester asked.

“For thinking I’m swooning over some mop-top boy with an accent,” said Amanda.

“So — you like his hair then?”

Lester dodged another punch, and Amanda’s cheeks went even redder.

“Speaking of hair,” she said, “what is up with Bernard? When I stopped to get you this morning, he called me Ms. Poole. Then suggested I run along and that you’d catch up.” At Lester’s laugh, she added, “It’s not funny. He looked as if he was going to pat me on the head.”

“It’s not just you,” said Lester. “He hasn’t put me in a headlock once this week. I even saw him reading a book the other day.”

“Well, tell him if he calls me Ms. Poole again, I’m going to kick him in the shin. I mean, who does he think he is? He’s barely a year older than me. That ceremony went straight to his head.”

“Yeah, I know,” said Lester. He thought of the strange humming, the bright light, and the pale man with the cards. Why cards? Something familiar flickered through Lester’s thoughts, but when he tried to draw it nearer, it slipped back through the maze of his mind.

“Where’s Mae this morning?” Amanda asked. “Is she too busy chasing El Chalupa to come to school?”

“It’s El Chupacabra. Also known as the Mexican goat sucker,” said Lester.

“What did I say?”

“You said Chalupa, which is a taco.”

“Whatever, nerd,” Amanda said, landing another punch on his shoulder. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”

Amanda strode away, and Lester followed, rubbing his arm and thinking about how good a half dozen spicy tacos would taste right now.