I tried to walk past them, but Miri stepped in front of us. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Corpse Girl and Zombie Boy.”

“Get out of our way,” Oren said.

“Oh look, Miri,” Sasha said. “Zombies can talk after all.”

“Careful he doesn’t eat your brain, Sasha,” Miri said in a pretend whisper.

Oren snorted. “You’d have to have brains for me to eat them,” he said. “I guess I’d starve around you two.”

I laughed.

Sasha sputtered.

Miri narrowed her eyes. “You think you’re so smart?”

Oren shrugged. “Smarter than a couple of girls whose best insult is telling someone they’re a zombie. Please. Everyone knows zombies are awesome.” He put his arms straight out, widened his eyes and started moaning.

I giggled. I’d never seen him act so silly.

“She lives at a funeral home,” Sasha pointed out, as though Oren didn’t know.

“I live next door to a funeral home,” I corrected.

Then, like a flash of lightning, I remembered what I’d seen on the funeral home website. And the something I now knew about Sasha’s family.

“The funeral home,” I added, “where yourgrandmother went to when she died.”

“What? No way,” said Sasha.

“That’s right. Her name was Sandria Kepler, and she died eleven years ago. My parents took care of her.”

Sasha didn’t say anything but swallowed hard.

“What did you do to her grandmother?” Miri demanded. “You didn’t…”

“You’re kidding, right?” I said. “You really aren’t very bright, are you? I was a baby then, just like you were. But my parents treat every person who comes into our funeral home with respect. They don’t eat brains, they don’t make fun of people, they don’t do anything other than what is exactly right.” I spoke calmly and with authority, feeling a sense of pride for my parents’ profession.

As the girls stared at me, their mouths hanging open, Oren jumped in, breaking out of his zombie character. “Evie’s parents are amazing—supporting the families of the people who have died too.” Then he narrowed his eyes and added, “Even if their grandchildren are selfish jerks. So maybe you should think twice about picking on Evie for what her family does. Someday you’re going to need them. Think about that.”

“Oh, and you know what else, Sasha?” I blurted out, even though it hadn’t seemed like Oren was done talking. But I was on a roll now. “Your grandfather? He helps out at our funeral home too. He’s part of the chevra kadisha, the special team that prepares bodies for burial.”

Sasha laughed. “He does not. No way he would ever do anything gross like that!” she said.

“Oh no?” I crossed my arms and stared straight into her eyes. “Maybe you should ask him. How do you think he knows my parents so well? You remember the ice cream shop?”

I would have kept going, but Miri grabbed Sasha’s wrist and dragged her into the store, the bell on the door tinkling as it closed behind them.