“Of course I wear diapers,” Myles shouted. “You would too if you had CP. But I have to tell you something. You need diapers on your brains. All of you!”

Myles slammed his hand on the joystick. The chair blasted forward. There was a screech as all three girls fell backward into the bushes.

“Ouch!” Rose recognized Lisa’s voice.

“I’m scratched.”

“I have thorns in my hands and legs. Help me, Carrie,” Brianna whined.

“Help yourself,” Joe growled.

Susan roared. “Yes, help yourself, you sack of pig droppings!”

Rose and the boys were stunned—a roar from Susan!

The attackers’ masks had slipped off. Two of them, Belle and Jasmine, were snagged on the brambles. One, Briar Rose, was in the mud by the side of the path.

Myles’s wheelchair was off the path in the mud as well, but not in the bushes where the girls were thrashing about. Joe and Susan ran and pulled the chair back onto the path.

“Ludicrous speed!” Myles whooped as he raced ahead. He was grinning like crazy. Rose had never seen him happier. Rose felt her body unlock. She, Susan, Anand, and Joe ran to keep up, leaving the girls to disentangle themselves from the prickly bushes. The last thing Rose heard was Carrie cawing like an outraged crow. “My dad will sue you, Myles. My dad’s the best lawyer in the city and you’ll be charged with reckless . . .” The voice faded into the night.

By the time they got to Myles’s house, they were all laughing.

“Omigod.” Joe was gasping with laughter. “How many times has Carrie threatened to sic her lawyer dad on people? She was going to have him sue me for libel when I called her a jerk.”

“The funny thing is, her dad is kind of a jerk,” Susan said. “My dad told me that he’s one of those ambulance-chasing lawyers. He even advertises on the radio and TV.”

“Well, now he’s a wheelchair-chasing lawyer,” Myles said. “Reckless. I’m reckless. Love it!”

“I nominate you, Myles Randolph, for a slice from the quiche of manliness!” Joe said.

This was one of the boys’ favorite jokes, and it sent the kids into another round of hysterics. The boys were big on making up awards.

On the sidewalk they all said their good-nights to Myles, who went back into his garage.

“Want us to walk back to your house with you, Rose?”

“No, it’s not far for me.”

“Are you sure?” Susan asked. Rose thought how kind it was of her to offer, because Susan lived very close to Joe and most likely was hoping that they could have a romantic walk home. As romantic as one could feel walking next to a boy dressed as an Ood Sigma, with sausages attached to his face.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just few blocks for me and way out of your way home.”