I can’t stop seeing Brian’s face hating me as I bolt across the street. I’d do anything to take my words back, to put them again in the safe silent vault inside me where they belong. Anything. My stomach’s like I’ve eaten nails. How could I have done that after what he told me?
I’d do anything to not have seen what I saw at The Wooden Bird too.
Once in the house, I go straight to my room, open a sketchpad, and start drawing. First things first. I need to get Mom to stop this and I only know one way to do that. It takes a long time to get the picture right, but eventually I do.
When I finish, I leave the drawing on her bed, and then go look for Jude. I need Jude.
Fry tells me she went off with Zephyr, but I can’t find them anywhere.
I can’t find Brian either.
There’s only Prophet, who as usual won’t shut up about Ralph.
At the top of my lungs, I yell, “There is no Ralph, you stupid bird. Ralph does not exist!”