“The park is his territory. He’s shown up more often lately, though. Getting old and bold, I guess. He hasn’t made any threatening moves. I think he’s just curious.”

“Which is not—” Dad began.

“The point, I know,” I said. “The problem is that if we relocate him, another cat will move in. A younger and potentially more dangerous one. The best thing to do would be to have Dr. Hajek tranq him a couple of times, teach him that humans aren’t fun to hang out with.”

Mayor Tillson smiled at my dad. “The girl knows her cougars, Rick. Do you remember when you caught her throwing sticks for one?”

The mayor retold the story, as if everyone in the room hadn’t heard it a million times. It’d been just after we moved to the park. Mom had come out back to find me playing fetch with a young cougar—probably Marv.

“…and Maya says, ‘Don’t worry, Mom. He’s got blood on his fur so he just ate. He isn’t hungry.’”

Chief Carling laughed, then said I was right—Marv had to be taught that humans and cougars couldn’t be friends. “And the best way to do that would be to take Maya along. Make sure he gets the connection between her and the tranquilizer dart. With luck, that’ll solve the problem. I agree that he doesn’t seem to be a danger, but I don’t like this sudden interest.”

“Neither do I,” Dad said.

“All right, then. We won’t keep you any longer, Maya.” Mayor Tillson rose. “I hear you have gym next. Wouldn’t want to miss that.” He paused, voice lowering a notch. “I hope we’re going to see you on the track team again this spring.”

“You will.”

“That’s our girl. We need our champ.”

He waved at the wall of trophies. Not all mine, obviously. But there were a lot of trophies, considering the size of our school. As in academics, in sports we get the best of everything. Top equipment. Great coaches, plus expert trainers flown in a few times a year.

We can’t field a team for football or hockey, so the school concentrates on track, swimming, wrestling, and boxing. In kindergarten we’re encouraged to join at least one. I dislike the water, and hate hitting anyone, but when it comes to running, jumping, and climbing, I’m in my element. I’d taken last year off the track team, though. I just didn’t have the heart for it after Serena died.

I left the meeting. As I walked back through the principal’s office, I nearly tripped over a guy with his chair pulled over to the door, eavesdropping.