Later, after Mom goes to bed, I make copies of Grandpa Felix’s picture on our printer and get to work on the posters. This is how they turn out: Even though I gave Terrible all of my allowance and don’t have any money left for a reward, I decide that a reward can be lots of things and doesn’t have to mean only money. For example, I could draw a picture, make a ham-and-egg sandwich, or even show them a real live alien. Mom has already left for somewhere by the time I get up. Before I can think of a way to leave the apartment without getting caught by Terrible, Littie Maple comes knocking. She’s got a look on her face that says, I’m Not Supposed to Be Here. She holds up the stopwatch she’s got in her hand. “I’ve got exactly four minutes and twenty-eight seconds to tell you what I have to tell you before my momma gets out of the shower. So don’t say anything.” “Okay,” I say. “Don’t even say okay. There’s no time for okay.” I nod and wonder if there’s even time for that.
