“Can’t tonight, Row. Sorry about that. But we will. We’ll catch up soon. Once I get some things figured out. You got my word.”

Rowan shoved his hands in his pockets. “Sure. Whatever.”

“I said you got my word. That means you got my word.”

We walked home behind Gloria. She was talking the whole way. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” I think she was pretending she was me. “What a disaster,” she said when we reached the circle. “What an awful, awful embarrassment. I was so ashamed.”

I couldn’t keep the tears inside no more. They just slipped out. They were really wet and quiet. Rowan squeezed my hand until it hurt. He whispered inside my ear, “You were the best sprite I ever saw, Turtle. You banged those tulips on the head like a hired hit man. That sun was so lame. What a loser in a crap costume. No wonder you didn’t want to say anything.”

When we got home Gloria went to the kitchen and called out, “Rowan, sweetheart.” Then, “Chicken.” She never said my name. I waited on the bottom stair. I waited a long time thinking she might call me. That was how I knew she disappeared me. She did that sometimes. Mostly it was Rowan, but tonight it was me. She couldn’t see me no more. Gloria’s heart was all locked up because only one of us was allowed in at a time.

I heard them cutting the cake. “I’m going to give you an extra big piece, my darling.” Rowan was her darling. “I’m not hungry,” he said. “I don’t want cake.” And then she said, “Nonsense, Row. After sitting through that display of garbage, you need a treat.”

I went to my bedroom and waited and waited until Gloria closed her door. Then I waited another long time before I sneaked downstairs to find Jenny. I was afraid I’d lose her. I could see the cake under a glass bowl. Some moon was coming through the window and making it look extra special. I wouldn’t touch it though. She’d know.

Then I felt something strange under my feet. Like dirt. I looked down and I didn’t know at first. Something was all over the kitchen floor. It was Mrs. Spooner’s oatmeal.

“You don’t have much luck with dolls, do you, Turtle?”

My arms jumped up. I didn’t know Rowan was behind me.

“She was on the table when I went upstairs. Chicken must have gotten hungry.”

“Yeah.” I swallowed.

“Made a real mess, hey? Probably wishing he didn’t now, though. I bet it gave him bad dreams.”

He was in the corner snoring. He wasn’t having bad dreams at all.