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Back The Copycat Save as PDF
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Chapter One
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Chapter Two
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Chapter Three
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Chapter Four
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Chapter Five
  23. Fifteen
  24. Sixteen
  25. Chapter Six
  26. Seventeen
  27. Eighteen
  28. Nineteen
  29. Chapter Seven
  30. Twenty
  31. Twenty-One
  32. Twenty-Two
  33. Chapter Eight
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Twenty-Five
  37. Chapter Nine
  38. Twenty-Six
  39. Twenty-Seven
  40. Chapter Ten
  41. Twenty-Eight
  42. Twenty-Nine
  43. Thirty
  44. Thirty-One
  45. Chapter Eleven
  46. Thirty-Two
  47. Thirty-Three
  48. Thirty-Four
  49. Thirty-Five
  50. Chapter Twelve
  51. Thirty-Six
  52. Thirty-Seven
  53. Thirty-Eight
  54. Chapter Thirteen
  55. Thirty-Nine
  56. Forty
  57. Forty-One
  58. Forty-Two
  59. Chapter Fourteen
  60. Forty-Three
  61. Forty-Four
  62. Forty-Five
  63. Forty-Six
  64. Forty-Seven
  65. Chapter Fifteen
  66. The Following Summer
  67. About the Author
  68. About the Publisher

“I didn’t want to make you worry,” said Ali. She paused, then decided there was no more holding back. “Besides, you guys weren’t getting along that well when we moved here. I didn’t want to make things worse.”

Her mother frowned. “I’m sorry we didn’t keep that better hidden, but I don’t want you to worry. Your father and I are fine.”

“But he doesn’t work and he spends half his day as a dog.”

“I’m not going to lie to you: it’s been hard for years, with your father feeling so guilty about Teddy’s death and his ongoing struggle to find work he likes. I realize now that our choices have caused you anxiety. But that’s going to change. Your father and I had a long talk. No matter what, we’re not leaving Saint John. Digger and I agree that you deserve to live in one place for a few years.”

“Really?” For a second, Ali was thrilled, then it hit her: she had no friends. “Maybe I wouldn’t mind if we moved again.”

Her mother shook her head. “You can’t run from your problems, Ali. If you learn nothing else from your father, you should learn that.”

“I need to ask you something,” said Ali. “And you have to tell me the truth. Do you wish Digger and I weren’t Copycats?”

“No! Never! The first time your father showed me he could change into other people and animals, I loved it. It was magical. I wish I could change too.”

“Do you worry I won’t be able to hold down a real job either?”

“Oh, sweetie. That’s not why he can’t hold down a job. Digger is one of those people who needs to do something different every day or else he gets antsy. And it’s hard to hold down a regular job when you’re a dog half the time, which is Digger’s way to escape his grief about Teddy. But I actually think that coming back to Saint John and you becoming a Copycat has put him on a new path. You are not your dad, Ali; you’ll have whatever kind of job you want and do well. I promise.”

Ali snuggled into her mother’s arms, relief washing over her. No matter what happened at school, at least things were okay at home again.

Her mother kissed her forehead. “Your father’s washing the kitchen floor. Want to turn into a penguin and go sliding?”

Ali didn’t have to be asked twice.

Forty