We sit side by side like that, quietly, the way Micah and I sometimes do. It doesn’t feel uncomfortable. Not really. But I can’t stop wondering who her crush is on, and if it could be me. I wonder if that’s what she’s thinking about right now, too, as we watch the chickens tire one another out. It makes me think of the Townsends’ chickens, and of poor little Bashful, who always seems left out and forgotten. That’s me, I realize, whenever I’m with this group and Micah joins in and forgets about me. Until now. Now maybe I have Cybil, who is willing to watch with me from the sidelines. Not excluded, not really, but not quite fitting in, either.

Chapter Fourteen

Pretty soon, it gets too hot to stay on our towels, so we reluctantly join the crew in the water, but of course just as we do, they all decide they’re too cold and need to warm up in the sun. Cybil and I tread in the deep area, letting our hot skin cool in the water. Micah goes off with the group instead of joining us. Even Ivy follows them, though I’m sure she’d prefer to stay in the water. She’s probably hoping Micah brought some food.

Cybil tells me about working at the pharmacy, babysitting, and a dog-walking job, and I tell her about the Townsends’ animals. I describe trying to feed Lucy and walk Ferdinand, and she describes this baby named Ted who will only take his pacifier out of his mouth when it’s time to eat and how he turns purple from screaming if you try to take it out any other time. It’s funny how I’ve known Cybil since kindergarten but we never became good friends. I mean funny in a sad way, because she’s really nice and I bet we could have been close. Maybe we can be now.

When we get cold, we join the rest of the group, who are all sunbathing and gossiping about various teachers we’ll have next year. Ivy is lying down next to Micah, but she doesn’t look very happy and I realize it’s the look she gets before she throws up.

I poke her toe with my foot. “You OK?”

She shakes her head.

“Want to go home?”

She nods.

“C’mon, then.”

I gather up our stuff, and everyone but Micah says a friendly good-bye to us. At least he tells Ivy he hopes she feels better.