“That’s enough of today’s mouse show,” said Ms. Ryder, pointing to the door. “Take it outside and then wash your hands before rejoining us, please and thank you, Murray.”

Out in the hallway, Murray eyed Ali. “Change back. I don’t want to put you outside.” They began to walk toward the double doors that opened onto the playground.

Ali didn’t want to be put outside either, but she couldn’t calm down enough to change back. They were almost to the door when the national anthem began. Murray stopped and began to sing along, which, for some reason, seemed so funny to her that she stopped being upset. By the time the song was halfway done she was able to picture herself, and after several deep breaths, she began to change back.

“What the—” Murray shouted, drawing his hand back in fright and dropping Ali the mouse. Fortunately for her, by the time she hit the floor she was Ali the girl again.

An angry Ms. Ryder poked her head out of the classroom. “Keep your voice down, Murray! Oh, there you are, Ali. I assume you got rid of the mouse, Murray?”

A chastened Murray nodded.

“Good. Now get inside, you two; I’ve had enough drama this morning.”

“She’s had drama,” Murray muttered.

Lunchtime was strange. Murray, Cassie, and Ali didn’t say much, though they exchanged significant glances whenever Alfie wasn’t looking. Alfie seemed oblivious; he was too busy telling them about a movie he’d watched the night before.

“It was so cool,” he said, his legs bouncing up and down so hard it made the table jiggle. “It was about this robot from the future that could change into anything!”

Murray raised an eyebrow at Ali and she scowled. She was not a robot.

“Anything?” Cassie asked.

“Anything. It kept fooling people because it could look like their friends, their pets, anything. It was unstoppable.”

Cassie leaned forward, enthralled. “But if it was unstoppable, how did they stop it?”

“The heroine figured out how to turn him off. We should all watch it together sometime.”

“It sounds scary,” said Ali. “I hate scary movies.”

“It’s not that scary. It’s more thrilling than anything.”

“It would be amazing to turn into other people,” Murray mused. “Remember when Harry and Ron turned into Crabbe and Goyle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?”

Murray was turning into a blabbermouth.

“I’ve never read a Harry Potter book,” said Alfie. His grin was wicked; he knew Murray’s head was about to explode.

“YOU’VE NEVER READ HARRY POTTER?” Murray spluttered.

As the two boys got into it, Cassie whispered in Ali’s ear. “Want to hang out after school? We could work on your thing.”

Cassie was too loud. “What thing?” asked Alfie.

“Oh, you know, a school project,” said Cassie, shrugging.

“What kind of project?”