We trudge back to the path, leaving a trail of gold behind us. Siri’s shaking as she walks, like a dog after a dip in the pool. “You had to open that stupid box.”

“Terry would never do anything to hurt us.” I hack out an extra nasty gob of shiny spit. “We’re going to be fine. Let’s go do my hair! You can put the crap in it!” We start down the hill.

Siri trots behind me. “You don’t know we’re going to be fine! What if we were just contaminated with some sort of scary plague explosion, Jamie?”

I walk backward for a moment. “Oh my god, you’re right. I’ve heard about rare plague-starting viruses being delivered via glitter.”

Siri’s face folds into a grimace.

I pivot back around, smiling. “God forbid you laugh at something I say.”

“Plagues aren’t funny,” she says behind me.

“I mean, there’s something to be said for a glitter plague.”

“No, there’s not.”

“I mean, yes, there is. I’m saying it right now.”

31. Angst and Cellular Device Access

SIRI

September 3, Thursday Afternoon

Colorado

We’re actually doing this.

I’ve showered multiple times, we’ve dyed Jamie’s hair, and Terry’s unlocking her cell phone safe.

Jamie’s insistent on trading phones both for general “authenticity” and so we have each other’s local contacts at the ready: Siri, we have to go big or just go back to our regular homes.

We’re going big. I’m about to casually switch identities with my sister.

I’m going to get to know Jamie.

I’m going to get to know the rest of my family.

Jamie plaited her new dark hair into a headband braid. She’s wearing a pair of my leggings and her red plaid button-up. She’s eventually going to put one of my sweatshirts on, but she says she “wants to be in color for as long as possible before having to desaturate.”

I feel silly in her red overalls and bright pink top. How does anyone take her seriously like this?

“Is there a reason you’re dressed as each other? You are dressed as each other, right?” Terry asks as she places five cell phones on her coffee table. “The makeovers really threw me for a second,” Terry continues slowly as she studies us, “but Jamie’s nose ring gives it away.”

“We’re doing an experiment, Terr,” Jamie explains. “You passed. You really know us.”

My eyes snag on an ancient phone among the smartphones. It looks like it’s from the mid-2000s. Wow. Probably the one old lady out here that was in our fishing class.

“Is that why you dyed your hair black?” Terry asks. “And you cut off your beautiful hair? Are you doing a weird twin cosplay thing?”