“No, really?” Ally asks.
“Really. This is from my violin bow. To remind me of how you stood by me and Viking-funeraled my violin when I was really mad and needed to get back at my mum. You didn’t stop me. You joined me. Even when it was probably wrong.”
I smile to myself. I’m glad Rose realizes it was probably wrong.
She places the lock of horse hair into the box and says, “And you want to hear something stupid?”
“Yeah,” I say.
“I sort of miss my violin.”
“You do not!” I say.
“I actually do. Looks like I’m going to have to be cool with Mum buying me a new one when we get to England. Is that messed up or what?”
“That’s freakin’ hilarious is what that is,” Ally says.
“Yeah, well. What are you going to do?” She smiles at both of us, then asks, “What about you, Bird?”
“Right.” I reach into my plastic bag and pull out the mood ring.
“Not the haunted ring!” Ally says.
“It’s not haunted. It was Girl Detective’s mood ring and I think it belongs back in the clue box. Because—”
“You don’t have the knife in there, do you?” Rose asks.
“If you want, I could go get it. Along with some animal bones.”
“Funny,” Rose says. “Go on.”
“Because this ring represents my friends going on this strange journey with me even when you thought it was crazy.”
“Oh yeah, it belongs in the box, then,” Rose says.
“Yeah, definitely,” Ally says, and they both laugh.
“And this.” I pull out the Polaroid selfie we took on my birthday. It’s of the three of us at my kitchen table when my mom was bringing in my birthday cake. “This was one of my happiest moments this summer. I want this picture to go into our time capsule so that when we open it ten years from now, we’ll see how we are now. How we were then. Whatever.” I grin. “We’ll be reminded of this.”
Together, we gaze at the photo, taking it in. Then I place it in the box with the tassel, the chewed gum, the stink bomb, the horse hair, and the haunted ring.
I hold out my hand, palm down, between us. Ally puts her hand on top of mine, then Rose, and we stack all of our hands together. Our eyes search one another’s.
“We three friends. Wherever we go,” I say and look to Ally.
“Whatever we do and whoever we meet.” Ally looks to Rose.
“And whatever land or sea stands between us,” Rose says.
“We will always be bound by this time and place,” I continue.
“Of our own special island,” Ally says.
“Of our own special world,” says Rose.
We look at one another, making it sacred, and together we pledge, “Us three forever.” Then throw up our hands.
I’m happy and I’m sad. I lock this moment into my heart—the sights, the feelings, the sounds. And even though it’s unsaid, I know we’re sharing the same secret fear. That a moment like this might never come for us again.
I close the clue box, latch the lid, and place it at the bottom of the hole that Ally dug. I shovel in the loose soil, and we pat it down with our shoes and the back of the shovel.
And I wonder what we’ll be like the next time we dig up this box and Open If We Dare.
40
THE NEXT day we say good-bye.
What hasn’t been sold or given away has been loaded on a moving truck to be shipped to England. My dad offered to drive Rose and her family to the airport, but her mom decided to hire a car to take them instead. She said it would be easier.
So we stand in Rose’s front yard, or what will soon be a stranger’s front yard, and watch a driver wearing a hat load up Ashcroft luggage into the back of a massive SUV. It’s a Monday afternoon but we’re all there. My dad, Zora, Ally, me. Even my mom and the General have skipped work to say good-bye. Simon is huddled with Ashley on the other side of the driveway. And Mrs. Ashcroft is orchestrating it all as if she’s directing traffic.
Rose hands the driver her carry-on bag and then walks over to Ally and me. We stand there looking at one another while Rose’s mom says good-bye to the other parents.
“So,” Rose says.
“So, we’ll Skype over the weekend,” I say.
“Tell you how school went,” adds Ally, because Ally and I start middle school in two days. So many changes in so little time.
“I don’t start for weeks,” Rose says. “What am I going to do there all by myself?” Her face turns splotchy. Her bottom lip quivers.
“Right. Come on, Rose,” calls out Mrs. Ashcroft. “Let’s go, Simon.”
Simon’s girlfriend is crying as Simon hugs her one last time. I don’t realize that I’m crying, too, until Rose says, “Don’t cry, Bird.”
“Okay,” I say but keep crying anyway. Then we’re all crying. Rose hugs Ally. Then she wraps her arms around me. “Guess what?” she says through her tears.
“What?”
“Remember yesterday when I whispered something to Romeo?”
“Yeah.”
“I told him to ask you to the sixth-grade dance.”
I pull away from her and stare into her traitorous eyes. “You didn’t!”
“I did,” she says, laughing and crying.
“We have to go, Rose,” her mom says from the car.
We hug one another, in the circle that is us, one last time.
“Okay.” Rose lets us go, then gives us one more look. “Go have a wonderful life, my awesome Americans,” she says. Then she turns and climbs into the car.
As the SUV pulls out of the driveway, Rose waves to us and we wave back. The SUV rounds the curve in front of the house, and India Rose Ashcroft vanishes from our sight. Reluctantly, we stop waving. I look down and realize I’ve been holding Ally’s hand the whole time.
Afterward, Ally goes home with her mom. With school starting, we probably won’t see each other until the weekend, either. I still can’t imagine going to school without them. I don’t know what that will look like.
As we walk home, Zora starts skipping, and even though she’s been feeling better, my mom reminds her not to get too excited. I look back at my mom, walking hand-in-hand with my dad, and realize I’m going to tell her about the summer. About the clue box and everything. I want to be the kind of twelve-year-old girl who still talks to her mother.
Zora grabs my hand and I let her. She looks up at me, concerned. “Don’t worry, Birdie,” she says. “Rose is going to be all right.”
I look down at her and grin. And even though I’m not completely sure, I say, “I know, Zora. I know.”
When we get home, I run up to my room because I need to be alone. The pancake Polaroid from the day before is sitting on my desk. My mom must have put it there. I take it to my corkboard and pin it on the last remaining space. Standing back, I see that it is complete. Not another place for another picture. Like we’re done now. Those same faces, over and over again. With a few Zoras sprinkled in. It’s my life up until now. I wonder what comes next.
Lying back on my bed, I hear thunder and think of Rose. I think about how her new life will be so different. I wonder who her new friends will be and if we’ll be jealous. I wonder if she’ll hold on to her American accent or slowly concede it over time. And mostly I wonder how, in all my life, I’ll ever have another friend like her.
I think about Ally and how this year will be so different for her. Without us at her constant side, who will be her new friends? Will I like them? And will they like me? And what about Joey and the middle school baseball team? I’ll be at her games and see her on weekends, but I wonder if things will be the same between us.
And finally, I think about me. Who will be my new friends? And will I have any? I haven’t told anyone but I’ve been thinking about joining the middle school drama club. And I wonder if I would do that if Rose and Ally were with me.
I turn over and pick up the book I’ve left on my bed
ever since I brought it home. I Don’t Know Why She Swallowed the Fly by Emily McAllister. I open to the inscription for the hundredth time and silently read what she wrote to me:
To Birdie, the intrepid—
Go forth and be brave
For the world is waiting.
You have much to give,
And so many books to read.
Imagine.
Love,
Your biggest fan,
Girl Detective
Acknowledgments
BIRDIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD is based on the one where I grew up in Atlanta. I drove through it recently and it looked the same, except the hills weren’t as steep and the swimming pool not as grand—and oh, my house wasn’t there anymore (shocker!). It’s now trees and woods to make way for a flood plain. But Birdie’s window was my window and it will always be thus in my heart and mind. So thanks to the families and neighbors of Gainsborough who shaped my childhood, some who sprang up again to populate Birdie’s world.
To my visionary agent, Susan Hawk, I live in appreciation of you. Thanks for believing in me. You could have gotten into anybody’s rickety car, but you got into mine. And that was a very lucky day for me. I’m so happy to be part of the Roost.
To Anna Roberto, my amazing editor, who encouraged me to write what was in my heart. I so appreciate your brilliant insight and kind support. And special thanks to the Feiwel & Friends team—Liz Dresner, Brittany Pearlman, Nancee Adams-Taylor, Matthew Griffin, and Rebekah Wallin.
I stole from many friendships across my life in the writing of this book. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank Alison Bearman, Patty Lorenz, Gail Plummer, Heather Place, Joy Brown, Margaret Anne Smith, Kate McLaughlin, and Lori Bertazzon for gracing me with friendships that have imprinted upon me for life.
Also, my love and gratitude to Kristine Oller, Alicyn Packard, Jen Brehl, Jen Wenzlaff, Marla Maples, Liz Femi, Robert Davis, Amanda Laufer, Karyn Blaylock, Beth Wolfe, Laura Dawson, Kevin Gregg, Tara Reynolds, Marilyn Alauria, Sonya Vai, Loren Kling, Jen McCreary, Rachel Stander, Margaret Eves, Amy Linton, Rick Lee, Jamie Reeves, Frank Izurieta, Chris and Rita Hamilton, and Greg and Glenda Weaver.
I am so grateful to Oren Weintraub for all his support along my journey. And huge thanks to Kim Haavet, Kate Chavers, Angela de Jesus, and Aaron Mendel for … you know … everything.
To my Writer’s Group and friends, Kate MacDonald, Anna Miller, and Margaret Anne Smith. You wonderful, talented women! Our dinners together helped me believe I might actually become a writer someday.
To bookstores! I was especially blessed to have my first book launch at Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose, CA, my southern launch at FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, GA, and my first hometown signing at Giggle Monkey Toys in Dahlonega, GA. Thanks to Maureen Palacios and Kris Vreeland; Jackie Tanase, Karen Schwettman, and Gary Parkes; and Tammy and John Clower.
Mostly, thanks to my readers. I love visiting schools and talking to kids about reading, writing, and creativity. Your enthusiasm fills me with purpose and joy. And it reminds me that kids are the same everywhere—absolutely awesome! Thanks to all the schools and teachers and librarians for having me. And a big shout-out to the coolest book club on the planet at Lumpkin County Elementary!
To my mom, Anita Middleton, who uses her many superpowers for good, always supporting me and my writing. How did I get so lucky? And to my father, Guy Middleton, who taught me to ride a bike, to ride a horse, to drive a tractor, and practically everything else—thanks for giving me so much to write about! And to my first and forever friends, my sisters, Sally and Lisa, to whom this book is dedicated. My favorite sound is when you laugh.
And of course the biggest thanks to my fella, Pete.
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About the Author
DANA MIDDLETON grew up in Georgia before moving to Los Angeles to work in film and theater. She produced the Academy Award–nominated short film Down on the Waterfront and was part of the award-winning cast of La Gioconda, while nurturing her real passion of writing for children. She lives in sunny Hollywood with her British husband, author Peter Atkins. She is also the author of The Infinity Year of Avalon James. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Part 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Part 2
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Part 3
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Part 4
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Part 5
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 by Dana Middleton
A FEIWEL AND FRIENDS BOOK
An imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
mackids.com
All rights reserved.
Feiwel and Friends logo designed by Filomena Tuosto
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Middleton, Dana, author.
Title: Open if you dare / Dana Middleton.
Description: First edition. | New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2017. | Summary: Their last summer before going to different middle schools, best friends Birdie, Ally, and Rose follow clues found in a mysterious box labeled Open If You Dare.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017002288 (print) | LCCN 2017030331 (ebook) | ISBN 9781250085733 (Ebook) | ISBN 9781250085726 (hardcover)
Subjects: | CYAC: Best friends—Fiction. | Friendship—Fiction. | Change—Fiction. | Mystery and detective stories.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.M517 (ebook) | LCC PZ7.1.M517 Ope 2017 (print) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017002288
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at [email protected].
First hardcover edition, 2017
eBook edition, October 2017
eISBN 9781250085733
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