dgirlschasedfirefliesincrazycircles.Sullenlong-hairedteenstossedaballaroundwithred-facedcrew-cutpoli.Inthemiddleofthenight,whenmanyhadalreadyheadedforhome,LewisLovebuttonholedmefortheloime.ImissedhalfofwhathesaidbecauseIwaswatgTess,whowasengagedinanimatedversationwithheroldboyfriehadarkelmtree.

    "Ihaveatheory,"Lewistoldme."Hewasscared,right,outallnight,andheheardsomething.Idontknow,likearaorafht?Sohehidesoutinahole,onlyitsrealhotinthereasafever."

    ShereachedoutandtouchedUngerlandonthearm,andtheywerelaughing,onlyherhandstayedthere.

    "Sohehasthisrealweirddream—"

    Theywerestaringateachother,andoldOscar,oblivioustotheend,marchedupandjoiheirversation.Hewasdrunkandhappy,butTessandBriaaringintoeachotherseyes,theirexpressionsrealserious,asiftryingtounicatesomethingwithoutsayingaword.

    "Ipersonallythinkitwasjustsomehippiesoldcampingground."

    Iwaellhimtoshutup.NowUngerlandshandwasonherbiceps,andtheywerealllaughing.Shetouchedherhair,noddedherheadatwhateverhewassaying.

    "...otherkidwasarunaway,butstillyouhavetofeelsorry..."

    Shelookedbackmyway,smiledandwaved,asifnothinghadbeenhappening.IheldhergazeabeatandtuoLewis.

    "...butnobodybelievesinfairytales,right?"

    "Yht,Lewis.Ithinkyourtheoryisdead-on.Onlyexplanationpossible."

    Beforehehadthecetothankmeorsayanotherword,Iwasfivestridesaway,walkingtowardher.OsdBriannoticedmyapproadwipedoffthegrinsfromtheirfaces.T