Part 22 (1/2)

I wrote: Why did I get an empty room?

And: Where did all the keys come from?

Then: Will Franklin forgive me?

Caroline looked at that, crossed it out, and wrote, How can I show Franklin that I still want to be friends? She squeezed my hand for a second, then let go.

I walked around the room, reading old questions that I hadn't looked at yet.

Then I came to this one: What will my Elise be?

”Would you watch Ava for an hour?” Annie found me on the porch, waving to Caroline as she left with her mom.

”I don't know how.”

”Don't be silly. You play with her all the time. She's been fed and changed and just needs someone to be with her. I want to run to the store with Bessie and we'll be in and out quicker without her. I wouldn't ask you if I didn't know it would be okay. And just in case, my cell-phone number is on the kitchen counter.”

”Okay,” I said. She handed Ava to me. She'd grown since she'd come to live with us.

Maybe Annie could see that in me, too, and not just Ava. Maybe that was why Annie wouldn't have left me alone in the house with Ava three months ago, but it was okay now.

Aunt Bessie and Annie left.

”Hi, Ava,” I said, imitating Annie's gentle Ava-voice. ”How about we go ride in the swing?”

I carefully pushed her legs through the openings in her swing, sat her down, buckled her in. Then I set the pace of the swing and stepped back. Ava was smiling, so I guess it was a good idea.

”Why are you here, Ava?”

Ava burbled.

”Why are you here, in my house?”

”Ous.”

”Anyway, now I think it's good you're here.”

”Goo?” she asked.

”Yes, goo.”

That night, I collected all my messages from Dad.

There were seven.

QUESTION.

BELIEVE.

CHOOSE TO LIVE, CHOOSE TO LOVE.

KNOW WHAT YOU COME FROM.

SEEK TO LEARN.

UNDERSTAND THOSE YOU LOVE.

TREASURE YOUR LIFE.

I spread them out in a circle around me on my bedroom floor. They all seemed to be about deciding what was important in your life.

But there had been eight keys, and only seven messages, so what was that empty room for?

I could only imagine.

And then I realized: that was the point.

I knew what the eighth room was for.

It was for me to decide.

It could be whatever I needed it to be, whatever I wanted it to be.

And the truth, I suddenly understood, was that so could I.

Part III.

Settling Up with Friends and Foes.

The next morning I got up really early for a cooking project. Then Uncle Hugh drove me to school. I waited by Franklin's locker with a thermos of milk-free hot cocoa and an envelope.

When the bus kids started streaming in, I looked for Franklin. He seemed kind of gloomy.

”It's for you.” I held out the thermos. ”And this,” I added, handing him an envelope. ”You don't have to read it now. When you want to.”

He took the envelope and the thermos and put them on the top shelf of his locker. I started to leave, but then I turned back and asked, ”Do you hate me?”

Franklin took a minute to answer. ”If I hated you, I would have turned you in.”

I didn't know what to say to that, so I said, ”We have a puzzle to finish, you know. I can't do it by myself. Uncle Hugh had to move it for Thanksgiving, but we should finish it before Christmas so Aunt Bessie can use the table for dinner.” Franklin didn't say anything. ”Well, anyway, read the note, if you want to.” Then I managed to walk away.

Inside the envelope was a list: TEN REASONS FRANKLIN IS A GOOD FRIEND.

1. He's always willing to help, even if he could get in trouble for it.

2. He'll always cover for you to keep you from getting in trouble.