Chapter 5: Frozen Cards

I woke Junie at ten to six and put my finger to my lips.

She looked at the bags, then at me, and slid out of bed without a word.

We went down the stairs on the edges of the steps, where they did not creak.

Brad was asleep in the recliner with his mouth open.

Eli lay on the couch under a blanket, with Junie's sash still tied around his waist.

His left hand was tucked under his cheek.

Brad's left hand hung off the arm of the recliner in nearly the same place.

I did not stop to think about it.

Junie whispered, "Can I take Rabbit?"

"Rabbit is already in the bag."

I eased the front door open and shut it behind us.

My hands stopped shaking only when we were on the road.

At the first red light I sent Brad a text: Junie and I are at my sister's. Do not come tonight.

My sister was waiting on her porch in a robe, with the door already open.

She hugged Junie first, and then me, and said nothing about it.

By the time the pancakes were done Junie had eaten two and told my brother-in-law the whole story of the pirate show.

I drove her to school myself, because her teacher needed to see that nothing had changed.