I know I shouldn’t worry. She often works late. Then again, maybe she had something scheduled for tonight, and she forgot to mention that she wouldn’t be calling. Whatever she’s doing, I hope it gets her mind off her troubles. All day, I’ve been saving up interesting things to tell her, little things that might make her smile— like the fact that Jeanette got me a dentist appointment at the end of this month. After half an hour of hanging around the wall phone, though, I’m pretty sure my very punctual mother won’t be calling, and I’m relieved when Sarah comes to the door. She’s wearing yet another of her many awesome outfits, this time a white blouse with tight jeans that show off her butt. Her hair is shiny, and she’s applied the faintest hint of lip gloss. I stand there in my basement-cleaning shorts and a ragged T-shirt, still puzzled that she wants to be my friend. She flops onto the couch and asks what treasures we unearthed today. “My favorite was Wardrobe Renovation Made Simple—all about how to make dresses out of aprons, scarves out of pant legs, and bowties out of old socks,”
