Melissa hardly felt she could start to paddle backward, though it was what she wanted to do. The girl hoisted herself onto the rock and sat on the smooth edge, dripping water, her legs dangling in the lake. She studied Melissa and then suddenly grinned. “I was just kidding,” she said. “I know,” said Melissa quickly. “I’m Alice May Hope,” said the girl. Melissa wasn’t sure if that was meant to be said all together. Alice-May. “I’m Melissa.” “Do you have a nickname?” “No.” Sharlene was the only person who ever called her Mel. “Me neither. I just like being called Alice.” So not Alice-May. Problem solved. Melissa tried to think of something to say. “We just got here. We’re staying in the Templetons’ cabin.” “I know,” said Alice. “I saw you come. I watched you through my binoculars. Your little brother is very cute. And your mother is beautiful.” Binoculars! Melissa felt uneasy. Had Alice been spying on them this morning too, while she was giving Cody his swimming lesson?
