Getting Back to Normal by Marilyn Levinson

have to stay here today,” I tell him. “When the show is over, I’ll let you out.”
    “Do you think he’ll run away?” Robby asks, worried.
    I close the door carefully behind Theodore. “Where would he run to? MG is a pretty big place.”
    Robby and I walk around the craft fair. Most of the craft people recognize me, and I introduce them to Robby. Robby, who’s usually shy with strangers, turns talkative. He tells anyone who will listen about how he rescued Theodore. At one booth, a man lets Robby try on different hats. We laugh as the bigger hats slide down and cover his eyes.
    “This is fun,” Robby says as we move on to check out the next booth. “I like craft fairs.”
    “Me, too,” I agree. “I like having a craft fair in our own back yard.”
    After lunch, we go back to the cottage and Robby changes into his soccer clothes. “I think you should apologize to Carolyn,” I tell him.
    Robby doesn’t say anything. But when Carolyn honks the horn, he goes out to the car.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t keep my promise and went off,” he tells Carolyn. “I promise I won’t ever do it again.”
    Carolyn comes out of the car and hugs him. “I know you won’t,” she says.
    It’s harder for Robby to apologize to Kevin, who’s scowling in the front seat and staring out his window so he doesn’t have to look at Robby. But Robby goes right to him. I hear him say he’s sorry while I’m thanking Carolyn for coming for Robby, especially after what he did yesterday.
    “Oh, Vannie, it’s the least I can do,” she says.
    And I’m so grateful for her kindness and her easy forgiveness, I hug her tight then run inside the cottage so she can’t see my tears.
    Why am I crying all the time? At least I don’t stay glum and gloomy. Five minutes later I’m feeling fine. Ready to pick up the flyers and get to work.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    Monday morning my bus pulls into school late, which means Tammy and I have only a minute to talk before we go to our separate classes. I tell her about the MG Halloween party coming up.
    “Halloween falls on the last Saturday of the month. There’ll be food and games and a contest for the best costume. Aunt Mayda says we can help set it up, Tammy, and you’ll stay over!”
    “Great, can’t wait! I’ll get a new costume.”
    “Me too,” I say. “I’m leaning toward going as a witch, warts and all. It’s how I feel these days—weird.”
    “Want to come over after school?” she asks.
    “Sure. I could use a break from MG.”
    “Oh, but don’t you have to watch Robby?”
    “Nope. He’s going to Kevin’s.”
    “I thought your father grounded him for a month.”
    I grin. “God bless Carolyn. She told Daddy that Robby’s obsession with Theodore is part of his grieving process. She pointed out that I wasn’t the one being punished and it wasn’t fair to expect me to watch him every afternoon.”
    When I call Daddy at lunchtime, he says I can go to Tammy’s but we have to go food shopping on the way home.
    “Fine,” I tell him. “I’ll buy everything I need for Wednesday night.”
    “What’s happening Wednesday?” Daddy asks.
    “Don’t you remember? Aunt Mayda’s coming for dinner. Then we’re going to the mall, just the two of us.”
    I listen intently for any sign of interest, but all he says is, “Oh, right. I’ll pick you up at five.”
    “See you later, Daddy. Bye.”
    I smile as I hang up the receiver. My father has no more interest in Aunt Mayda than he does in going to China.
    *
    Daddy comes for me at five-thirty. I get in the front passenger seat and slam the door. Hard.
    “A hello would be nice,” he says, as we drive off.
    “Hello.”
    “Did you have a fight with Tammy?” Robby asks from the back seat.
    I shrug, but inside I’m wondering if my little brother can suddenly read minds. Tammy and I did have a fight—our first since Mom went into hospice—all because of her stupid obsession with Archie.
    “Because Kevin and I were mad at each