by Lin Oliver
“Luna!” I yelled. “Get inside!”
It was too late. The doors had slammed shut, with her cape caught in between them. I could see her through the window of the train. She was outside, tugging on her cape, trying to get it unstuck. She was pulling as hard as she could.
Just as the train began to take off, she gave a mighty tug and her cape came free. She fell backward, away from the train. The last I saw of her, she was sitting on the floor of the station. I could hear her calling, “Tiger! Tiger!”
Luna never sounds scared, but she did then. And I didn’t blame her. I was speeding away, leaving her all alone in the belly of a big, strange city.
CHAPTER 6
The train raced through the dark tunnel, taking me farther and farther away from Luna. I thought how frightened she must be. Then I realized my heart was beating fast. I was scared, too.
I wanted to ask someone for help, but I wasn’t sure who to ask. I decided to take a chance and ask the man standing closest to me.
I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and frowned at me. A gray hat covered one eye and cast a shadow on his face.
“What do you want, kid?” he growled in a mean voice. I tried to stay calm, but my words got all mixed up.
“I was wondering how to get off the subway,” I said. “I mean . . . when to get off. I mean . . . if I should get off.”
He squinted his beady eyes at me.
“Listen, pip-squeak,” he said. “I don’t know where you’re from, but it sure ain’t here. It’s not hard. The doors open. You get out. End of story.”
Well, that was clear. It wasn’t nice, but it was clear.
The minute the doors opened, I grabbed my Snack ’N’ Scoot and dashed out of the train. I was in another station that looked a lot like the one we had just left.
“Hey, little soldier,” a voice said. “I like your jeep. Never seen a pink two-wheeler before.”
It was a man in an army uniform. He looked like this picture we have of my grandpa when he was in the army. He even had a bunch of medals on his chest.
“You AWOL?” he asked me.
“I might be,” I said, “if I knew what that meant.”
“Army talk,” he said. “It means absent without leave. You know, like when you sneak away without permission.”
“Oh, then I definitely am,” I said. “I’m looking for my friend. She’s AWOL, too. I need to get back to the station I just came from.”
“Easy as pie. You go over there across the tracks,” he said. “Good luck.”
I put my hand up to my forehead and saluted. I saw that in a movie once. The soldier laughed and saluted back. He seemed so nice. I hoped he was going to be safe in the war.
I had to wait almost five minutes for the train. I checked the clock on the subway wall. We had already used up seventeen minutes of the hour of power, and we hadn’t even come close to finding David yet.
The F train pulled up and I got on. When the doors opened at the next stop, I jumped off. I raced to the southbound platform.
There was no Luna in sight. Panicked, I shouted her name, which echoed across the station.
“Luna!” I called. “Luna, are you here?”
There was no answer—only a strange, terrible moan, like a donkey with a bad stomachache. What was that sound? And where is Luna? I thought.
My eyes darted around the station. I could feel the minutes slipping away.
Over in a corner, I noticed a small crowd had gathered. I thought I caught a glimpse of something red in the middle of it. I bolted across the station and pushed my way through the people. There, in the middle of the crowd, was Luna!
Sitting on a chair next to her was a man with a saw between his knees. A real saw, like the kind you saw wood with. He held the end of it with one hand, and with the other one, pulled a violin bow across the saw’s jagged edge. So that was where the awful noise was coming from.
“Tiger!” Luna called out when she saw me.
The man stopped playing. Luna threw her arms around me—the kind of hug I call the Luna Special. Normally, I’m not a big fan of the Luna Special, but if it kept that man from playing his saw, I was all for it.
“I’ve been calling for you!” I told her.
“It’s hard to hear anything over Sammy’s playing,” she said. “Tiger, this is my new friend, Sammy Sampson. He invented the singing saw. Isn’t it great?”
“The greatest,” I lied.
I never would have told him the truth—that if I heard one more note from his saw, my ears would jump off my head and run away to the North Pole. I know that when you invent something, it really hurts your feelings if people don’t like it.
“You’re not going to believe this. Sammy lives on Essex Street. It’s his neighborhood.”
“When you kids get there, say hi to my pal Willie,” Sammy said. “And Ethel. And Gino and Paula, too.”
“We will,” I said, even though I had no idea who any of those people were. All I knew was that we had to get moving fast.
Luna said a quick good-bye, and we caught the next train. After four stops, we got off and rushed up the stairs to the street. It was dark, but I could see that the sign said Delancey Street.
“I’m not the best reader in the world,” I said, “but that doesn’t look like it says Essex Street to me.”
“Sammy said you walk down Delancey past Willie’s Kitchen and poof, you’re on Essex.”
We walked really fast. The lights from the windows of the buildings cast weird shadows on the sidewalk.
These are not zombies, Tiger, I said to myself. I admit it. I said it more than once. I might even have said it six times. Okay, it was eight to be exact.
Suddenly, I saw a human-shaped shadow lurch out of a doorway and move toward us.
“Help!” I screamed. I was so scared, I must have jumped five feet in the air.
“Don’t be afraid, kid. It’s just me, Willie.”
“Willie!” Luna said. “Are you Sammy Sampson’s friend?”
“Yup, Sammy and me, we’re thick as mud. Two peas in a pod.”
“He’s my friend, too,” Luna told him.
“How about if I fry you kids up a couple of burgers?” Willie offered. “Any friend of Sammy’s is a friend of mine.”
“Thanks, Willie, but we’re in a huge hurry,” Luna said.
“How about some hot dogs?” Willie asked. Before we could answer, he called to a man pushing a cart.
“Hey, Gino!” he shouted. “You got any red hot dogs and cold drinks left in there?”
“Coming right up,” Gino answered.
“This is really nice of you, Gino, but we don’t have time to eat,” I said.
“Take them to go, kids. Live it up,” Gino said, handing us the food.
“Great idea,” Luna said. “Let’s put them in the Snack ’N’ Scoot. I’ll bring them to the fiesta.” Turning to Willie, she explained, “My dad’s in the army. He’s coming home on leave tonight, and we’re giving him a party.”
A woman in a puffy green coat hurried over, pushing another cart. “We love our soldiers,” she said. “How about I send them some hot pretzels? Extra mustard, no charge.”
“That’s my Ethel,” Gino said. “And I’ll go inside and get Paula to throw in some pickles, too. Dill and half-sour.”
Before you could say “Sammy Sampson and his singing saw,” the cooler on my Snack ’N’ Scoot was full of New York treats for us to take home.
That was the good news. The bad news was that we had to run the rest of the block to Essex Street dragging the Snack ’N’ Scoot behind us. It was much heavier now that it was loaded with food. I made a mental note to do something about that when I got home. An inventor’s work is never done.
At the corner of Essex and Delancey, we saw a Chinese restaurant. Next to it was
a small bakery.
“That’s the building,” I said. “Let’s go find David.”
“Tiger, do you really think we have enough time to find him and get back to the diner?” Luna asked.
“Sure,” I said. “No problem.”
But we both knew that wasn’t true. The clock was ticking, and we were running out of time.
CHAPTER 7
All Ray had told us was that his aunt lived above the bakery. He forgot to mention on what floor. There was a metal balcony on each floor, connected by a long metal ladder.
“Hey, kid, why are you staring at my fire escape?” A man in a white apron had popped out of the shadows and was suddenly standing in front of us. He had flour all over his hands.
“Fire escape? Is that what you call that ladder thing?” I asked.
“Where are you from? Mars?” He snorted. “Never seen a fire escape before?”
“We’re looking for Aunt Janet’s apartment,” Luna said.
“I don’t know any Aunt Janet,” he said. “I got an Aunt Shirley, but she’s upstairs soaking her false teeth in a glass of water. This Aunt Janet, she got a last name?”
“I’m sure she does,” I said. “But we don’t know it. She has a nephew named Ray. And a three-year-old daughter.”
“Oh, I know who you’re talking about,” the baker said. “That little girl’s got some mouth on her. They live on the top floor.”
“Where’s the elevator?” I asked.
“It’s called your feet,” the baker said. “These apartments are all walk-ups.”
Luna picked up the front end of the Snack ’N’ Scoot. I picked up the back.
“On your mark, get set, go!” she said.
By the time we raced up to the top floor, I could hardly breathe. There were four apartments on the floor.
“Which one do you think is Ray’s?” Luna asked.
I walked over to one of the doors and leaned my ear up against it. It was silent inside. Then I went to another door and listened. I heard someone singing.
“He’s in there,” I said. “That’s David.”
“How do you know?” Luna asked.
“Because he’s singing ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand,’” I said. “It’s a Beatles song my grandma always sings. It wasn’t even written in 1942. You would have to be from the future to know that song.”
Suddenly, I heard a little girl’s voice coming from inside the apartment. At least I thought it was a little girl’s voice. Either that or a wicked witch.
“Stop singing!” the girl screamed. “You’re making my ears hurt.”
I heard David say something to her, which made her scream even louder.
“I want my mommy, not you!” she yelled.
“Sounds like David could use some help,” Luna said.
She knocked on the door.
“Who’s there?”
“Surprise visitors from the future!” Luna yelled back.
The door flew open and there was David Dots, standing in front of us. He was wearing pants that came just below his knee, and long colorful socks. He threw his arms around us in a huge group hug.
“Come in,” he said. “I assume my mother sent you. But how’d you find me here?”
“Ray told us where you were,” I said.
“That Ray, he’s a swell guy,” David said.
“He’s got you wearing some crazy pants and talking like him, too,” I said.
“Yeah, he’s teaching me to talk like all the fellows. They say cool things like jeepers and holy applesauce and gee willikers. Did he tell you he lets me play piano in his band? We’ve been jamming together ever since I got here.”
“How long have you been here, David?” Luna asked.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “In the world of art, time doesn’t really matter. I’m having a fantastic time. New York is great, except for the war. Lots of the fellows have dads who are fighting overseas.”
“Your mom told us about that,” I said.
“How is she?” David asked.
“She misses you so much,” Luna said. “We came to take you home. The hour of power ends at five. Will you come with us this time?”
Before David could answer, the little girl let out another loud scream.
“I don’t like you people,” she shrieked. “I want my mommy!”
Luna bent down and took her hand. “Your mommy’s at the hospital having a baby, chiquita. You’re going to have a little brother or a little sister very soon.”
“It better be a baby brother,” she said. “Because I’m not sharing my dolls with a baby sister. Baby sisters stink.”
I had to agree with the baker. This little tot did have some mouth on her. Luna was sweet to her, though. She picked her up and put her on her lap.
“What would you like to call your baby brother?” she asked.
“I want to name him Eddie. Mommy promised me we could call him Eddie, and that’s what we’re going to call him.”
“Eddie’s a cool name,” I said. “And what’s your name?”
“Not telling,” she answered. “I’m not talking to boys.”
“She wouldn’t tell me her name,” David whispered. “And I’m the babysitter.”
“You have to turn it into a game so she learns to trust you,” Luna said. “My grandma taught me that. She’s great with kids.”
Turning to the little girl, Luna said, “I bet I can guess your name. Is it Puffy Pants?”
“No!” the little girl answered.
“Is it Pumpkin Head?”
The little girl was actually sort of smiling now.
“No!”
“I know!” Luna said. “It’s Penny Picklebottom!”
The little girl burst out laughing.
“No, silly!” she said. “It’s Viola! Viola Dots!”
The room suddenly went completely silent. No one knew what to say. We just sat there, letting it sink in. Finally, David spoke.
“Holy applesauce,” he said, staring at the little girl in Luna’s lap. “She’s my mother.”
CHAPTER 8
At first, I didn’t believe it. It was impossible to imagine that the child sitting on Luna’s lap was actually Viola Dots. But as we added up the clues, it made sense.
“This little girl is very grumpy,” I began. “Just like Viola. No offense, David.”
“That’s okay,” he said. “We all know my mother has a temper.”
Luna added some clues of her own.
“Viola did say she was born in New York,” she said. “And that her little brother was named Eddie. David, was your grandmother’s name Janet?”
“No, it was Jan. Grandma Jan.”
“Jan as in Janet?”
“I see your point,” David said.
“Don’t forget that Viola also said her father fought in World War II,” I mentioned.
“My daddy’s in the army, too,” the little girl chimed in. “Far away. I miss him. I’m going to see him soon.”
Luna looked at little Viola. I saw tears fill her eyes. We both knew the truth. Viola was not going to see her father again.
“Your daddy will always be with you,” Luna said to her softly. “Right here in your heart.”
“I don’t want him there,” Viola shouted. “I want him here in my apartment. I’m going to find him right now.”
She jumped off Luna’s lap and ran into the bedroom.
“Do you guys know that my grandpa died in the war?” David said. “My uncle Eddie never even got to meet him.”
“We know,” Luna said. “It’s so sad.”
“Poor little Viola.” David glanced into the bedroom. “I’m going to go see if I can cheer her up.”
“Big Viola could really use some cheering up, too,” I said.
“
Your mother loves you very much,” Luna whispered to him.
David smiled, as if he were remembering happy times from the past.
“I love her, too,” he said. “Lately, I’ve missed her a lot.”
“Then come home with us,” I begged. “If we hurry, we can get little Viola back to the diner. We’ll give her to Ray, and then you can get into the painting with us.”
“Okay,” he said at last. “I’ll come with you. It’s time I came home.” He smiled. “I just hope she remembers how to make that delicious French toast.”
David hurried into the bedroom to find Viola. I checked the clock on the kitchen wall. We had exactly eighteen minutes left until the hour of power ended. If everything went right, we just might make it back.
“Oh no!” I heard David shout from the bedroom. “She’s gone!”
Luna and I dashed for the bedroom. David was on his knees, looking under the bed. I ran into the bathroom and searched behind the door and in the bathtub. No Viola.
“Look,” Luna said. “The window’s open. Where does that lead?”
“To the fire escape!” David answered.
The three of us ran to the window and looked out. There, curled up on the fire escape, five stories above the street, was little Viola Dots.
“Viola, come back in here right now,” I said, using the same voice I use to boss Maggie around. “It’s dangerous out there.”
“I’m not coming in until I get to see my daddy.”
David held his head in his hands. “I’m afraid if I climb out to get her, she’ll try to get away and fall.”
“Hey, what’s going on up there?” came a voice from below. I poked my head out and saw the baker standing on the sidewalk, looking up.
“Go back inside, little girl!” he shouted. “Or I’m going to call the fire department.”
“I don’t care!” Viola shouted. “I’m not leaving here.”
He disappeared inside the bakery. As the seconds ticked by, the three of us tried to think of some way to get her back inside.
