Colin stood up from the couch, so pale. Translucent, almost as if he was in a trance, smiling so strangely. He started to walk towards Max, purposefully, step by step, directly to him, almost as if Colin was playing chicken or else he wanted to whisper something to Max. That was the only thing Tess could figure out anyway, at first.

But then there was the most startled look on Max’s face . . . as Colin walked directly into him and simply disappeared.

Max felt really strange for a moment, as if he had a wrench in his stomach, as if he’d swallowed cold ice. He almost doubled over. Tess ran to his side.

There was no sign of Colin anywhere.

~ CHAPTER FIFTEEN ~

in which max has no idea what’s happened to him

Tess seemed to be yelling at him, “Max, Max! Are you okay?!” But he had absolutely no idea why she’d be yelling.

“Of course, I am, Tess,” he said. “Why would you think I wasn’t?”

Tess didn’t know how to explain this next part.

He was standing upright now, as if nothing whatsoever had happened to him.

Tess was frightened. She felt a tear run down her cheek.

“Oh, Tess. Don’t get upset. You know I can’t bear it when you’re upset. And we’re on vacation.” He smiled. His face looked softer somehow. As if he’d lost that growl he’d been wearing for the last few days, as if his crankiness had worn off.

Not outside though. It was suddenly gray again, amped up by a huge crack of lightning that lit up the sky, like a jagged streak, above the garden trees. She waited for Max to count which he didn’t. So Tess did, picking it up at two . . . three . . . four . . . five . . . And then finally the sound of thunder although it seemed to be faraway. The rain wasn’t. It was suddenly pouring again, like it had been in the morning.

“Colin,” said Tess. “Are you hiding?” She realized he really had disappeared.

“No,” said Max, “didn’t you hear him? He said he was going to ask his mother if we could take the carriage out which might be lovely, even if it is raining. We could put on galoshes and raincoats.”

Tess started laughing. Max looked at her puzzled. She’d never heard him use the word “galoshes” before. But Max clearly didn’t get the joke.

“I didn’t hear him say he was leaving to go and ask his mother,” said Tess.

“I did. Most definitely,” said Max sounding slightly British when he said it. Tess wondered if he was playing with her. Putting on a British accent.