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c ont e nt s Phoe beCome sHome 1 . TheEv e r y t hi ngDr e a m1 2 . Wha tHa ppe ne di nTo wn1 4 3 . Une x pe c t e dFr i e nds2 4 4 . Wha tGl e ndaha dt oSa y3 5 5 . TheCr o s s r o a ds5 0 6 . Pho e bea ndAbby5 9 7 . Re uni o n7 1 8 . Ano t he rSe c r e tGa r de n8 4 9 . Sho ppi ng9 8 1 0 . TheGr e e nCa r1 1 0 1 1 . Pa r t yBus i ne s s1 1 9 1 2 . TheUni nv i t e d1 3 1 1 3 . ALe t t e rf r o mAbby1 4 5 1 4 . ATe a mo fDe t e c t i v e s1 5 4 1 5 . Pho e bePut sHe rFo o ti nhe rMo ut h1 6 4 1 6 . I nt ot heFo r e s t1 7 0 1 7 . TheDr e a ms t o neMi r r o r1 8 4
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TheEv er y t hi ngDr eam Bac khomei nMi ddl et own,Phoebec oul dn’ ts l eep.Herknee ac hed.Shec oul dn’ tgetc omf or t abl e.I thadbeenahotni ghteven f orJ une,whens uddenl yt hec ool nes soft hef or es tai rbegant odr i f t i nt hr ought heopenwi ndow.Thewi ndhadc hanged.Theodorof t heFor es tPr es er ve,j us tbeyondt hef i el dac r os st hes t r eet ,began t oper meat eever yt hi ng,s mel l i ngofl eavesandpi neneedl esanda f l owers hec oul dn’ tname.Thet ens i onofac omi ngs t or mf i l l edt he ai r .Exc i t edands c ar ed,s hel ayi nt hedar knes s ,herener gyr us hi ng andbubbl i ngi ns i deherl i kear i veri nf l ood. Phoebeknews hewast aki ngabi gr i s k.As er i esofkneei nj ur i es hadendedherambi t i onsasas oc c erpl ayer ,ands hehaddec i dedt o dr opoutofc ol l ege,l eavi ngherwi t hal mos tnol i f et ol ead.Shehad c omehomewi t houtac hi evement soranydef i ni t epr os pec t s .Buther hear twass etonal ongs hotpl an. Thepos s i bi l i t yofempt yweekss t r et c hi ngonaheads etheron t heedgeofpani c .Shes atupandgl anc edatt hevaguegr ays hapes i nt hebl eakandempt yr oom.Abi tofs i l ver yl i ghtf i l t er edi nt hr ough t hewi ndow.T wobul gi ng30gal l onbl ac kgar bagebagsf ul lofher c l ot hesands hoes ,andherbac kpac kf ul lofbooksands mal lt r eas ur es ,l ayi nt hemi ddl eoft hef l oorwher es hehadl ef tt hem anhour bef or e.Shedi dn’ thavet hehear tt ounpac k. Shet r i edt or el ax,butf earandexc i t ementr ac edt hr oughher vei ns .A di s t antr ol loft hunders oundeddeepi nt hehear toft he f or es t .Thewi ndwasr i s i ng,andt hel eavest r embl edi nt hebr eez e. Phoebef el li nt oadaz e,s t i l lawar eoft hec oolwi ndonherbar e f eet ,t hewhi s t l i ngnoi s eout s i det hewi ndow,andt hepani cr i s i ng f r om deepi ns i de.Soont hes oundoft hewi nds eemedt oc ar r ya mel ody ,a s l ow and mour nf uls ong.She i magi ned a pr oc es s i on c omi ngt owar dheri nt heni ght ,l i keac ommuni c at i onf r om adi s t ant l and.Thes ongc amec l os erandc l os er .Shebegant ounder s t andt he wor ds .
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PROTECTORSOFTHEWOOD#1 OnadayIs eec omi ng I ’ l lt el lyouwher eI ’ l lbe Wi t hal lofyoui ns or r ow Beneat ht heanc i entt r ee Whent her es eemsnot omor r ow Fort hel i f et hatwe’ veknown I ’ l lt akeyourhandi ns or r ow Wewon’ tbeal one Thent el lmet her e’ sac hanc ef orus Letmehearyous ay Wec anf i ndabr i dget oc r os s Ther emus tbeaway
Phoebehad t heover whel mi ng i mpr es s i ont hatt hes ong was meantf orherper s onal l y .Whati si tabout ?s hewonder ed.Someone wasc omi ngi ns ear c hofher . Suddenl ys he wass t unned by a s hat t er i ng c r as h,a r ol lof t hundert hats eemedt os mas hupagai ns tt hewi ndow.A f l as hof l i ghtgl i nt edonapai rofeyespr es s edupagai ns tt hewi ndowpane. “Wakeup! ”s c r eamedavoi c eoutoft hedar knes s . Herent i r ebodywass haki ng.Shehadt hevi vi ds ens at i ont hat s hewasl yi ng ont hes ki noft heear t h,f eel i ng t heunf at homabl e pul s i ngofl i f ebeneat hher . “Thi si sf oryou! ”pl eadedt hevoi c e.“Lookatme. ” Agai ns tt hewi ndow s hes aw ahand-dar kgr eenwi t has i l ver y s hi mmerl i ket hes c al esofaf i s h.Ther ewer el eavesont hebodyasi f t hec r eat ur ehadr i s enf r om t hegr ound.Theheadwaspoi nt edand hadnohai r ,andt heeyesmether swi t hagr eeni s hgl i nt . “Thi si sf oryou!Yourt i mei sc omi ng!Youmus tr ememberwhat Is ay . ” Anot herenor mousc l apoft hunders hookt heear t h.Thegr een bodypus hedagai ns tt hegl as s .Thepi er c i ngs t ar er eac heddeeperuns peakabl ys ad,yetf i er c e,andur gent ,beggi nghert ounder s t and. Phoebef oundt hats hec oul ds peak:“What ?Whati sf orme?”s he as ked. “Ever yt hi ngi sats t ake, ”t hevoi c et ol dher .“Ever yt hi ng. ” Shet r i ed t os t and up and r un,butf ound her s el fbl oc ked by t hi c kpi net r eesi nadar kf or es t .Ther ai ns t r eameddownherf ac e, andt hewi ndbl ew herof fbal anc e.Herhear tr ac ed.
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“Wher eam I ?”s hecal l edout . A vi ol entgus tofwi nds hookt het r ees ,andt hebr anchesmoved l i kes nakesi nt heai r .Us i ngherhandt os hi el dhereyesf r om t her ai n, s hecoul dal mos ts eeat unnelt hr ought het r ees ,anobs cur epat h,and s hes t r uggl edt owar dt heopeni ng.Soons hecoul dmakeoutabui l di ng s hewoul dknow anywher e. Thet oys t or e!I t ’ ss t i l lt her e!Andt hecof f ees hop!Hereyesf i l l ed wi t ht ear sofr el i ef . Andf r om outofnowher et heeyesappear edagai nbef or eher .The voi ces hookt heear t h:“Ever yt hi ngi sats t ake!Ever yt hi ng! ” Thundercr ackedagai nj us tout s i det hewi ndow.Phoebes atup wi t has t ar t .Herf eetwer ewetwi t ht her ai nbl owi ng t hr ought he s cr een.She s atbl i nki ng i nt he dar knes s ,f i nger i ng t he bl ue s t one gl owi ngonherneckl ace,andbr eat hi ngi ngas ps . She cl os ed t he wi ndow t o wi t hi n an i nch oft he s i l l .A s t r ong cur r entofai rs t i l l car r i edt hedamps mel l oft hef or es tandt hes oundof r ai n.Phoebeavoi ded l ooki ng outt hr ought hegl as s ,af r ai dt hatt he eyeswoul dbel ooki ngback. Sheputherf eetont hef l oorands atont heedgeoft hebed,her headi nherhands .MyGod.What ’ shappeni ngt ome? Shecoul dn’ t s haket hef eel i ngt hatwhat everhadcomei ns ear chofherwass t i l l t her eatt hewi ndow. Whatcani tmean? Shes wi t chedont hel i ght ,ands t ar edbl ankl ypas thergar bage bagsandbackpackatabar edes k,aches tofdr awer s ,andt hedoort o acl os et .A l ands capepai nt i nghungi nt hecent eroft hef arwal l ,t he onl yt r acer emi ndi ng hert hatt hi shad beenhermot her ’ sr oom t he pr evi ousaut umn.Af i er cedet er mi nat i onar os ei ns i dehert omaket hi s r oom herown,s t ayi nMi ddl et own,andcr eat eanew l i f e.I namoment bot hgar bagebagswer eempt y ,andhers hoesanddi r t ycl ot hesl ayi n pi l esont hef l oor . Phoebeunz i ppedherbackpackandr emovedt wos mal lobj ect s packedi ncr us hednews paperandr ubberbands ,andt henherbooks andl apt op.Herhear twass t i l ls pr i nt i ng,ands hepacedar oundt he r oom t ol etof ft heener gyt hats eemedt obes t eami ngoutofher .She gl ancedatt het wos mal lbundl es ,andr emovedt her ubberbandsand news paper .I ns i dewer et wof i gur escar vedbyherf at heroutofwood andpai nt ed.Onewasani mageofSant aCl auswi t hhi sbagoft oys , and t he ot herwasan i mage oft he Good Fai r y–wi t h wi ngsand dr es s edi nwhi t e-r eachi ngoutwi t hawandt i ppedbyas i l vers t ar .She
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pl ac ed t hes ef i gur esont op oft hec hes tofdr awer sand l ooked t hem overc ar ef ul l y .Theyhads ur vi vedt het r i pi nper f ec ts hape. Foramomentt heyc omf or t edher ,andt hent het ear sbegant o r ol ldownherc heeks .Shel etoutas obandbur i edherf ac ei nher hands .Thet ear ss l owl yebbedaway .Herhandsc l enc hedi nt of i s t s , pr es s i ngi nt oherl egs .T omor r ow,Ihavet ogot omor r ow.I tc an’ t wai t .Formont hss hehadbeenwant i ngt oc omehomeandwor kat t het oys t or e.Butnows hemadeas ol emnpr omi s e,wi t ht heeyesof t hegr eenbei nguponherasawi t nes s . Phoebe f l i c ked of ft he l i ght ,and c r awl ed undert he c over s wher ei tf el ts af er .Ther oom s honei nt hegl i mmeroft hemoon.The wor l ds eemedt os l ow down.Ever yt hi ngbec amequi et .Thes t or m hadbl ownof fandt her ai nhads t opped. Shef el tt r ans f or med,c hangedi ns omewayt hats hec oul dn’ t under s t and.Nol ongeraf r ai d,s heopenedt hewi ndowwi deandl ay bac kdown.Herbodyf el tc al mer ,ands hewasover c omewi t ht he s ens et hat t her e was s omet hi ng i mpor t ant f or her t o do.A mys t er i ousc hal l engewai t edj us tahead.Sol ongasIdon’ tgoc r az y fir s t .Thens hef el li nt oadeeps l eep. Phoebeawoket oadel i c i ouswar m br eez ef l oat i ngt hr ought he openwi ndow,ands atupi nt hel i ghtoft hemor ni ng.Hermemor yof t he ni ghtbef or ec ame bac ki n af l ood.She l ooked overatt he f i gur esoft heGoodFai r yandSant aCl ausandf el tr eas s ur ed.It hi nk Ic anhandl et hi s . Shec ons i der edherdr eam.Al ongwi t ht hef earofr ec al l i ngi t t oovi vi dl y ,s hef el tanunexpl ai nabl egl owi nherhear t .As mal l pi ec e oft hes ongandt hewhi s t l i ngc amebac kt oher : Wec anf i ndabr i dget oc r os s Ther emus tbeaway Shehummedt het uneandl ookedoutt hewi ndow,ac r os st he s t r eetandac r os st hef i el d,wher et hevas twoodsandt heHal fMoon Cl i f f sr os ei nt hedi s t anc e.Thi senor mousf or es thadbeenal oomi ng pr es enc ei nherl i f easl ongass hec oul dr emember ,al waysvi s i bl e f r om herwi ndow i nt he l of tovert he s t or e.She t houghtofher par ent s ,f ort hepas tf ew mont hsl i vi ngt oget heri nt hegr eenhous e att heMi ddl et ownGar denCent er ,onl yaf ew s t epsf r om t hef or es t . Hergaz es hi f t edt ot hei ns i deoft her oom andt hec haot i cpi l es ofc l ot hesands hoesl ef tf r om t heni ghtbef or e.Shebeganpul l i ng outt hes hoesandar r angi ngt hem ac c or di ngt oageagai ns tt hewal l .
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Phoebehadas pec i alr i t ualt obegi neac hmor ni ng,ofs c anni ngher s hoesanddec i di ngwhi c hpai rbes tf i therhopesf ort heday .Soona l ongr ow oft went yf ourpai r smar c hedac r os st hef l oorl i kepi ec esof herl i f e,movi ngf r om c hi l dhoodt oal mos tei ght eenyear sol d. Shec ar ef ul l yexami nedt hes equenc eofs hoes ,anddwel l edon t hos ef r om year sago,s omet oos mal lort oodamagedt owear .She z er oedi nonapai rt hats her ar el ywor enow,apai rofi ndoors oc c er s hoes .Onedaybef or eabi gt our naments hehadn’ tbeenabl et o dec i debet weenherr edpai randherbl ac kpai r ,andf i nal l yc hos et o wearoneofeac h.Thatdays hedi dnotal l ow agoali nf i ve20mi nut e gamesi nt hehugegym i nEvans vi l l eHi ghSc hool .Byt hef i nal si t s eemedt hatt heent i r egym wass c r eami ngf orher ,asherunder dog Hal fMoonRavensbeatt hehomet eam Evans vi l l eWi l dc at sf ort he c hampi ons hi p. Ineeds omeoft hatl uckt oday ,Phoebet hought ,andc hos et he r edandbl ac ks hoes ,i gnor i ngt hewhi t ehi ght ops neaker st hats he hadbeenwear i ngr ec ent l y .Thatdec i s i onmade,s heputonherdi r t y j eansf r om t hedaybef or e.Outofhabi ts hef el therpoc ket sf orher wal l et ,keyr i ng,andc el lphone.Thekeyswer enow mos t l yus el es s , ands her emovedal lbutt heonef ort hehous es hewasi n,t heonef or t het oys t or egat e,andt heonef ort het oys t or ef r ontdoor . Shej us tc oul dn’ tl ett hes t or ekeysgo.Thens hec hec ked her phoneandnot edf ort het hi r dt i mes i nc ear r i vi ngi nMi ddl et ownt hat t her ewass t i l lnos er vi c eneart hef or es t .Shet os s edt hephoneand t heus el es skeysi nt ot hedes kdr awer ,andl ookedovert hepi l eof c l ot hi ngt hatl ays c at t er edi nt hemi ddl eoft her oom.Not hi ngwas c l ean,buts hepi c kedoutanavybl uet ees hi r twi t hayel l owHal fMoon Soc c erCl ubl ogo.Herkneebr ac epeekedoutf r om under neat hs ome s hi r t s ,buts hei gnor edi tandwal kedt ot hebat hr oom,herr i ghtknee s t i f fands t r ai ght . Af t err i ns i ngherf ac e,s hec aughtherbr owneyesi nt hemi r r or .I don’ tt hi nkI ’ m cr az y ,butIdo l ookdi f f er ent .Somet hi ng’ snott he s ame.Shet ookherc har m oni t ss i l verc hai noutf r om underhert ee s hi r tand s t udi ed i ti nt he mi r r or .I tf el ts t r ange t o be bac ki n Mi ddl et own,asi fs hewer ei nanew bodyandhadn’ tqui t egot t en us edt oi tyet . Phoebe l i mped down t he s t ai r s and i nt ot he hot ,f r agr ant at mos pher eoft heki t c hen,andpour edac upofc of f ee.Evenwi t ht he dooropen t ot he bac kyar d,hers i s t erPenny’ sbaki ng r ai s ed t he t emper at ur eoft heki t c henbyt endegr ees .Pennys atont hel i t t l e
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por c hj us tout s i det hedoor .Phoebej oi nedhert her eatas mal l t abl e hal f c over edbyabr eadboar dandal ar gebr ownl oafs t i l ls t eami ng f r om af r es hc uts l i c e. Theyhad bar el ys pokent heni ghtbef or e,event hought hey hadn’ ts eeneac hot herf ormont hs .Phoebehad ar r i ved l at eand c l ai med exhaus t i onand aheadac het o exc us eher s el f .Now t hey t r i ed t o behave c as ual l y ,as i ft hei rr el at i ons hi p had notbeen i nt er r upt ed.Bl i nki ng i nt he br i ghts uns hi ne,Phoebe s l i di nt o an openc hai r .Thegi r l snoddedateac hot her .Pennybr okeof fas mal l pi ec eofbr eadandni bbl edati t ,f r owni ng. “I st hi st henewes texper i ment ?”as kedPhoebe. “I ti s , ”s ai dPenny .“ButI ’ m nots ur ei t ’ swhatI ’ ml ooki ngf or yet . ”Shec utas l i c ef orPhoebe.“Whatd’ yout hi nk?Don’ tbur nyour mout h. ” Phoebef el tt hehot ,moi s theavi nes soft hes l i c eandl ookedat i t sr i c ht ext ur e.“I t ’ sal mos tl i kec ake.What ’ si ni t ?”s heas ked,t aki ng abi t e.I twasont hes weets i dewi t ht het angoff r ui tandhar dl y neededbut t er . “Amar ant h. . .appl es . . .c r us heds unf l owers eeds . . . ” “Sunf l owers eeds !Il ovet hec r unc h.Real l ygood.Yourwor ki s payi ngof f . ” “Thanks . ”Pennyf r ownedandr anherhandner vous l yt hr ough hert hi c kbr ownhai r .“I ’ ms t i l lnots ur eIgoti tr i ght . ” “So. . . ”s ai dPhoebe.“Inot i c eal mos tnoneofMom’ ss t uf f ’ sl ef t i nt her oom.Doess heevers t ayher eanymor e?” “Har dl yever .She’ sbeenbac kwi t hDadf ormont hs .I tf eel sl i ke t heynevers pl i tup.It hi nkMom j us tmovedher et oc onc ent r at eon herpai nt i ng.She c oul dn’ tgetanyt hi ng done l i vi ng att he t oy s t or e. . . ” “Iknow, ”i nt er r upt edPhoebe,i r r i t at edt hatPennyhadi mpl i ed t hatt hef ami l ywasbet t erof fwi t houtt het oys t or e.“Dadt r i edt o keepmeupt odat eont hephone. ” Pennyt ookadeepbr eat hands ai di nac omf or t i ngt one,“Wel l , Mom andDadar ehappyatt hegr eenhous e,s ot her oom i syour s . ” Phoebel ookedar ound,andbr eat hedi nt hebeaut i f ulmor ni ng. Anyt houghtoft hel os soft het oys t or es t ungherl i keawas p,but s hedi dn’ twantt oquar r elwi t hhers i s t er .I twas n’ therf aul t ,and t her ewasnot hi ngt heyc oul ddoabouti tnow.Hergl anc ef el lon s ever al f att omat oesr i peni ngont hewoodenr ai l i ngoft hepor c h.At j us tt hatmomentt heywer et ouc hedbyl i ghtast hes unr os eabove t het r ees .Ther ewass omet hi ngs t r i ki ngl yat t r ac t i vei nt hei rvar yi ng
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c ol or sandi r r egul ars hapes .Thet hi ns ki nss eemedt obebur s t i ng wi t hj ui c e. “Whoa!I ’ ve nevers een t omat oesl i ke t hos e.And i t ’ sonl y . . . what ,J une21s t ?Dad’ sgr owi ngt hos e?” “Wel l ,It hi nks o, ”r epl i ed Pennyhes i t ant l y .“It r aded af ew l oavesf ort heveget abl esSammys el l satt hec of f ees hopnow.Chi Chibr i ngst hem overf r om t he gar den c ent er .Ther e’ sl et t uc e, ar ugul a,bas i l ,peas . . . ” “SoSammy’ ss el l i ngDad’ sveget abl esandyourbr eadt oo?Way t ogo! ” “Thanks . . .but . . .I ’ m nots ur eaboutt heveget abl es .Thel as t t i meIwasatt hegar denc ent erMom andDadwer en’ tt her e.Al i s on s ayst hey’ r e outc ampi ng.I ’ d gone byaweekbef or e and t hey wer en’ tt her et henei t her . ” Phoebes t ar edai ml es s l yatt hegr as s ,t het r ees ,t hegar age.I knew s omet hi ng odd washappeni ng.I ’ m notget t i ng t hewhol e s t or y . “Campi ng!Si nc ewhendoMom andDadgoc ampi ng?” Pennyj us ts hr ugged,s o Phoebewentont hi nki ng outl oud, “Wel l ,t hatexpl ai nswhyt heydi dn’ tc al l mebac k.ButIj us tdon’ tget i t .Whatar et heyupt o?” “Mom i spai nt i ngwi l der nes ss c enesf orhers how.Youknowher gal l er yi nEvans vi l l ei sgi vi ngheraonewomans how i nSept ember . ” “Yeah?Ni c e!How aboutDad?” “Pr ac t i c i ngar c her y ,It hi nk.Al i s ons ayshes hoot swi t hChiChi ever yday .Dadt ol dmehemi s s ess hoot i ngwi t hyou. ” “Imi s shi mt oo.Whenwi l lt heybebac k?” “Idi dn’ tr eal i z e you’ d be her es os oon.I ’ m af r ai d ChiChi pr obabl yt ol dMom andDadyou’ dbebac ki nt hemi ddl eoft he week. ” Phoebe’ sf ac e bec ame t hought f ul ,and s he s t ar ed i nt ot he di s t anc e.Somuc hhadc hanged,andi tmadehermi s sherpar ent s evenmor e.Shes hi f t edhergaz ebac kt oPenny .“Ther e’ ss omet hi ng new her e. . .s omet hi ng’ sgoi ngon.IbetDadhasanew pl ant os ave t hewor l d.Doyouknow s omet hi ngIdon’ tknow?” Pennyl aughed.“Youdoknow Dad. . .butdon’ tputmei nt he mi ddl e.You’ l lhavet oas khi m your s el f . ”Shepaus edf oramoment asi fdec i di ngwhet hert oc ont i nue,andt henhereyebr owsc ame downl ow overhereyes .“Butyou’ r er i ght ,t her ear enew t hi ngs ar oundher et hatwi l lt akeawhi l et ogetus edt o,andyou’ vegott o bec ar ef ulwi t hs omeoft hem. ”
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“Li kewhat ?” “Wel l ,peopl edon’ tknow t hatChiChibr i ngst heveget abl est o Sammy .Hewant st okeept hes our c eas ec r et . ” “Thats eemswei r d. ” “Andyourdr eams t onec har m.Keepi tt uc kedunderyours hi r t . ” “Ius ual l ydoanyway , ”Phoeber epl i ed,t r yi ngt okeephervoi c e c al m,“butwhydoesi tmat t er ?” “Peopl ear el ooki ng ever ywher ef ordr eams t one–es pec i al l y her ei nMi ddl et own–andt hey’ r eas ki ngal otofques t i ons . ” “Wher e’ syour s ?” Pennyf el tf ort hec hai nar oundhernec kandpul l edt hes mal l bl uec har m outf r om underhers hi r t .Al lf ourmember soft heHood f ami l yhad i dent i c alc har ms ,wi t ht he s ame i ni t i al s ,s t andi ng f or PhoebeHood,PennyHood,Pat r i c i aHood,and Pet erHood.The P . H.i ni t i al swer eaf ami l yt r adi t i on. “Iknow t hat dr eams t one’ s val uabl e now,but hi di ng my nec kl ac e! ? Who c ar es ?” Phoebe c oul dn’ tkeep hervoi c ef r om t r embl i ng. “Now don’ tgodi ggi ngupt hi si s s ueonyourf i r s tdaybac k. . . Phoebe,l i s t en!Pr omi s eme. ”Pennygaveheraver ys ever eand s i gni f i c ants t ar e.“Pl eas e. . . ” T aki ngt hi ngss l owl yhadneverbeenPhoebe’ ss t r ongs ui t .Asa t oddl er s he’ d been t oo ac t i ve and i mpat i ent t os t ay i nt he Mi ddl et ownpr es c hool ,andherpar ent sf oundawayt ogetheri nt o ki nder gar t enayearear l y .Peopl eal wayst ol dhert os l ow down,but s hec oul dneverac t ual l ydoi t ,unt i l ver yr ec ent l y .Evers i nc eherknee i nj ur y ,l i f ehadf el ti mpos s i bl ys l ow. “Wel l ,t hanksf oral er t i ngmet oal lt hi s , ”s hes ai d,andbr oke i nt oas mi l e. “Now Phoebe, ”war nedPenny .“Wat c hout .Iknow t hatl ook. Don’ tgeti nvol ved.You’ r egoi ngbac kt oc ol l egeanyway . ” “Nott hi syear .Wi t houts oc c erI ’ m nots oi nt er es t ed. ” “Whathappenedt oenvi r onment als t udi es ?It houghtyouwer e onami s s i on. ” “Iwi s hIwas . ” Theyhear df oot s t epsc r os s i ng t hegr aveldr i vewayf r om t he hous enextdoor .I namomental ar geol derwomani nal ongnavy bl ues ki r tandpal ebl ues hi r twal kedupt ot hepor c h. Phoebes aw herf i r s tandc al l edout ,“Dr .Bear ! ”i ns ur pr i s e. “IhopeI ’ m noti nt er r upt i ng, ”c amet hepol i t er epl y .
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“Notatal l , ”s ai dPenny ,j umpi ngup,andgl anc i ngatPhoebeas as i gnal t oendt hepr evi ousc onver s at i on.“I t ’ sSunday .We’ vegott o l eavef orc hur c hi nj us tanhour ! ”Pennyputt oget herabr eakf as t t r ayi nt heki t c henandbr oughtappl ebut t er ,j ui c e,andc of f eeoutt o t hepor c h. Dr .Beargaveeac hgi r laki s sont hec heek,andt henl ooked c l os el yatPhoebe.“I t ’ ss oni c et os eeyou,dear .Youl ookj us tf i ne,a l i t t l eol derandmor et hought f ul . ”Shet ookac hai rnearPhoebeand wenton:“Yours i s t erandIal wayshavebr eakf as ther eonSunday mor ni ngs .I t ’ smyf avor i t emealoft heweek.Andyouc anc al lme Ger al di ne.I ’ m yournextdoornei ghbornow. ” “I t ’ sgoi ngt obehar df ormet oc al l youGer al di ne.You’ vebeen Dr .Bearmywhol el i f e! ” Phoebe’ smi ndf i l l edwi t hmemor i esofbei ngc ar edf orbyDr . Bearf ol l owi nghervar i ousc hi l dhoodi nj ur i es .I nahi ghs c hool s oc c er games he’ dmadeades per at edi vi ngs avei nt oas hoot i ngopponent andc aughtakneeonhert empl e.Dr .Bear ’ ski ndbutpenet r at i ng eyeshadbeens or eas s ur i ngass heawokegr oggyands i c kf r om t he bl owt oherhead.Phoebeof t enwi s heds he’ dhadDr .Bearat t endt o herknee.Butt he i nj ur y had needed s ur ger y ,and s he’ d been r ef er r edt oas pec i al i s tatt hehos pi t alneart hec ol l ege. “Wel l . . . ”t hedoc t or ’ ss of tandl ow voi c ebr okei nonPhoebe’ s t hought s ,“anyt i meyou’ r eatMi ddl et ownHos pi t al ,oranyt i meyou needme,I ’ l lbeDr .Bear .Butc al lmeGer al di newhenI ’ mj us tyour f r i end. ” “Okay ,Ger al di nei ti s . ” “And s peaki ng asa f r i end and a doc t or ,how’ syourknee doi ng?” “Mmm,t hat ’ sbeenhar d.I ’ m onas or tofmandat or yr es tc ur e. No s por t sf or mont hs ,knee s t r engt heni ng exer c i s es ,a knee br ac e. . . ” Ger al di nes t udi edPhoebec ar ef ul l ywi t hherc al m br owneyes . “Soundsl i kegoodadvi c et ome, ”s hes ai d.“AndI ’ ms ohappyt o s eeyoubac ki nMi ddl et own!Idohopeyou’ r egoi ngt os t ayawhi l e. ” Ger al di ne’ swar ms uppor twass uc har el i ef .ButPhoebewas s t i l laf r ai d noonewoul d under s t and herdec i s i ont odr op outof c ol l ege.“Asa mat t eroff ac t ,Imi ghtt r ys omet hi ng new, ”s he expl ai ned.“MaybeI ’ l lf i ndaj obandmakes omemoneyf orawhi l e. Iwast r ai ni ngagi r l s ’t eam atas oc c erc l ubneart hec ol l eget hi s s pr i ng.Myc oac hf oundmet hej obandIr eal l yl i kedi t . ” Phoeber el axedandgaveGer al di neandPennyawi des mi l e.
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“You know, ”s ai d Penny ,“Ger al di ne and Iwer et al ki ng on Thur s dayni ghtaf t eryouc al l ed,andwehadani dea. ” “Uh oh, ” br oke i n Phoebe,“now you’ ve gotme wor r i ed. ” “Nor eal l y , ”i ns i s t edPenny .“Ger al di ne,yout el lher . ” “Yours i s t erandIt hi nkyourhomec omi ngc al l sf orac el ebr at i on. Wewantt ohaveapar t yf oryou,r i ghther ei nt hebac kyar d.Iknow Pennywi l lenj oyt hec at er i ng,we’ l li nvi t ef ami l yandf r i ends .What doyous ay?” “Oh,Idon’ tknow. . . ”Phoebepaus ed.“I t ’ sj us tt hatIhaven’ t s eenanyofmyf r i endsi ns ol ong.I t ’ sr eal l yni c eofyou. . .but . . . ” Ger al di neputherar m ar oundPhoebe’ ss houl der s .“Ther ear ea l otofpeopl eher ewhol oveyou. ”Sheki s s edt het opofPhoebe’ s head.“Buti fi t ’ snott her i ghtt hi ng,we’ l lc al li tof f .We’ r ej us tgl ad t os eeyou. ” “I fyour eal l ywantt o.J us ts omet hi ngs mal l . ” “Wedor eal l ywantt o, ”s ai dGer al di nef i r ml y . “We’ ve been wor r i ed aboutyou, ” Penny s ai d.“We’ r e gl ad you’ r ebac k,andwe’ vebeenwant i ngt ogetever yonet oget her !I t ’ s al r eadypl annedf ort hi sFr i dayni ght . ” Phoebebur s toutl aughi ng.“Okay ,okay , “s heagr eed.“We’ l l do i t .I ’ l lbeher e. ” Ti mewentby ,andPennyandGer al di nepr epar edt ol eavef or t he Sundaymor ni ng s er vi c e att he gr and ol dc hur c h on Br i dge Avenue. “Yous houl dc omewi t hus ,dear , ”s ai d Ger al di ne.“Rever end T uc k’ sf i nal l ygoi ngt opr es entt hec hur c h’ sc ommi t mentonc l i mat e c hange.Ther e’ sgoi ngt obec ont r over s y ,I ’ ms ur e,andheneedsour s uppor t .I ’ m wor r i edt hathe’ sgoi ngoutonal i mbont hi sone. ” Phoebehads t oppedat t endi ngs er vi c eswhens her eac hedhi gh s c hool ,butRever end T uc ks pentagood dealoft i meatt het oy s t or e,s os he knew hi m wel l .He wasan i nt ens e man who had bec ome a r egul armemberoft he Pr ot ec t or soft he Wood,t he Mi ddl et ownc ons er vat i ongr oupdedi c at edt opr es er vi ngf or es tand f ar ml and.Phoebe’ sf at herhadmadet hi sc har i t yhi ss pec i alhobby f ormor et hant went yyear s .Shewasc ur i oust os eeRever endT uc k agai n,buts hehadot hert hi ngsonhermi nd. Al lmor ni ng s he’ d been r emember i ng herdr eam,and t he pr omi s es he’ dmadet oas kf oraj obatt het oys t or e.SowhenPenny and Ger al di ne dr ove of fi n Ger al di ne’ sc omf or t abl e ol ds edan, Phoebes atal oneont hef r onts t eps .I t ’ st i me,s het hought .T oday ,
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r i ghtnow. I ’ l lfigur ei toutasIgo. Shel i mpedups t ai r swi t hs ur pr i s i ngs peed,t wos t ai r satat i me onhergoodknee,andputonanewerandc l eanerpai rofj eansand as l i ght l ywr i nkl edbl uebut t ondownl ongs l eeveds hi r twi t hac ol l ar . Looki ng i nt he mi r r or ,s he t houghts he l ooked pr es ent abl e,but s omehow s t r ange,al mos tunr ec ogni z abl e.I ’ ms t ar t i ng over ,s he t hought .I namoments hewasoutont hef r onts t epsagai n,and af t eronedeepbr eat hc r os s edt hel awnandl i mpedupMai nSt r eet t owar dt own.