“Sorry, I—” I stutter, rooting around in my desk cubby, trying to find my math book. “I have it; I’ll get it out.”

She looks like she wants to say more, or maybe even send me to the principal’s office again. But instead, she walks back up to the front of the room. I’m in so much trouble if Moms hear about this.

I look over at Macy—her whole face is contorted. “I tried to get your attention,” she whispers.

I can’t shake this fog that seems to be surrounding me today—or maybe it’s more like smoke, invisible but lingering on me from last night. When we get off the bus, Macy and I walk together until we get to her street, and then we have to go our separate ways because she said her Grandma told her she’s going to wear out her welcome.

I race home, trying to outrun the fog.

“I’m home!” I yell as I cross the backyard.

Dewey comes running out to greet me.

You were gone so long!

“I know,” I tell her as I crouch down to give her a big hug.

I thought you might never come back.

She sniffs me all over, her tail wagging so hard against my legs that it hurts.

I missed you so much today.

Gramps joins us. “I kept her company until you got home. Or rather, she kept me company.”

He was fine today, Dewey tells me, answering the question on my mind.

“Thank you,” I whisper to her as I bury my face in her coat.

Gramps stoops to pat Dewey’s head, and then mine. I don’t know what to say, but thankfully Gramps does the talking. “You really did find yourself a good dog, Sassafras.”

I look up at him; he seems happy, normal, not a trace of the person I saw in the kitchen last night.

“Now, you two enjoy each other,” he says. “I’m going to go inside and warm up my bones. I’ll give you a heads-up when it’s time, okay?”

That smoky fog lifts away, and things begin to feel normal again. I start to think that maybe last night wasn’t all that terrible. It was an accident. Everybody has accidents sometimes. Besides, that fire alarm got to all of us, dialing our nerves up to the maximum. Everyone was upset.

I watch as he heads toward the house, and I call after him, “Thanks, Gramps!”

“Welcome, kiddo!” he yells back with a wave.

We’re okay, I think to myself. We’re going to be okay.

I’m more than okay!