On the way back to the trailer, Lolly carried her stuff, and Munch carried Fluff. The cat was sniffing the air like a dog, taking in every scent. His ears were alert and his eyes were doing that freaky thing that cat eyes did. They glowed like demon eyes. For years Munch had known Fluff, but after this week he had an actual relationship with the cat. Weird. Another weird thing crossed his mind, it was really weird how the house and the trailers had morphed in this kind of gigantic house with long outdoor halls.

The wind was low tonight, but it was still nippy. In the pool of the porch light, Mitzi sat wrapped in a quilt clinging to Puccini. When they got closer, she stood up and ran to Lolly. Her tiny arms reached around and hugged Lolly and all her stuff. She said, “Oh, I missed you so much!" While Mitzi had been staying at the house she had seen her everyday, but Munch got her meaning. Having Lolly in the house day and night had been different than just seeing her during the day. It brought him and Lolly closer than they ever had been before. Having her eat and sleep in the same house, seeing first hand how she interacted with her pa, Munch had learned things about her, seen sides of her, he had never known. As he looked at the two girls, he wondered if Lolly could really leave Grandma Toady’s trailer for good. Grandma Toady was home to her. Max and Mitzi were more than cousins to her. They were like siblings. Mitzi let go of her and said, “Puccini and me is SO glad you’s finally home.”

Lolly said, “Me too.” It sounded like she meant it.

Inside the trailer, Grandma Toady’s eyes were a bit red rimmed, but it didn’t look like she’d been crying. She said, “Hey Munch,” like she hadn’t just seen him ten minutes ago.

Aunt Jessie was on the couch in her work uniform. Mitzi ran to her mother and gave her a quick hug. Aunt Jessie said, “You be good.”

“Yes, Mama.”

To Grandma Toady, Aunt Jessie said, “Thanks, Mama.” She waved at Lolly and Munch and headed out the door.

Mitzi followed Munch and Lolly down the hall. The boom of Led Zeppelin came from Max’s room. Munch wasn’t into rock, but he thought Robert Plant had a really soulful wail.Lolly unlocked her bedroom door and went in.She dumped her stuff on the floor and looked around her room.Mitzi said, “I haven’t been in here, I swear.”Lolly raised her eyebrows at her. There was no way of knowing if the girl with the bear was telling the truth. Munch still hadn’t figured out how she got into his locked room. Sometimes Munch thought Mitzi was more magic than real.

Fluff jumped out of Munch’s arms and began his own inspection of the parameter.

Grandma Toady entered the room and said to “Mitzi, it’s time for your bath.”

A change came over Mitzi face. Her lower lip stuck out and she asked, ever so meekly, “I don’t gotta wash my hair do I?”

Firmly Grandma Toady said, “You know you do.”

There was tension in the air. Munch could feel it. Mitzi was weighing her options. For Grandma Toady’s sake, Munch prayed a fit was not in all their futures.

Lolly said, “Go on Mitzi. I will read to you when you get done.”

“Oh, okay.”

Grandma Toady, mouthed, “Thank you,” and led Mitzi out of the room.

Munch said, “I’m gonna go.”

“No, wait. There is something I need to do first. It’ll take just a sec.” Lolly left the room.

What was Lolly up to?

Fluff had finished his inspection and hopped onto the bed. The face he made when he landed was comical. It was obvious he wanted HIS new bed. Though the cat pushed the blankets around he couldn’t seem to get them just right. Finally, he flopped down and gave up. When Lolly came back she trailed the long cord of the kitchen phone. She said, “I’m about to call Thahn Ho.”

Just the mention of her name, sent Munch’s heart to galloping. She dialed the number. Someone answered. “Hi, this is Lolly Phelps, may I speak to Thanh Ho.” Munch stood frozen. Lolly smiled at him. A few silent moments passed and then she said, “Hi Thahn Ho, how are you feeling?” Lolly nodded her head as she listened. Of course Thahn Ho’s response was short. Lolly asked, “Would you like a visitor tomorrow after school?” A VISITOR! Why not TWO VISITORS? Why had Lolly decided he needed to hear this? A smile spread across Lolly’s face. She said, “Yeah, really. I would love to stay for supper.” Lolly was going to get to have supper with Thahn Ho! Thahn Ho said something else, and then Lolly said, “Munch is here.” There was a response and Lolly shoved the receiver into Munch’s hands.

Instant panic set in. So this was why Lolly had called while he was there. His sweaty hand gripped the receiver. This was the next thing. He swallowed hard, held the receiver to his ear and said, “Hello.”

Her sweet voice came over the line. She said, “Hi, how are you?”

Currently he was completely over the MOON. The sound of her voice made his heart explode with happy vibes. “Uh, I am good. How are you?”

“Much better. I have finished my painting and started the next assignment. It will be good to be back in class.”

It would be SO good to have her back in class. He said, “I finished mine too. I haven’t figured out though what to do next. I’ve done some sketches, but I can’t make up my mind.”

“I know what that’s like.”

He knew she did.

She said, “I am looking forward to seeing you Sunday.”

“Thanks. I’m looking forward to seeing you too.” Boy, he was looking forward to seeing her!

“I told Mama you were a vegetarian so there will be the right food for you at lunch.”

What? On Monday night when Ong noi spoke to him about the lesson, he hadn’t said anything about staying for lunch. He was gonna have lunch with Thahn Ho!!! “Thank you. That was really sweet of you.”

“You are welcome.”

In the background Munch heard Le ask, "Who you talking to?"

Thahn Ho said, "Lolly called me go away."

"I need to tell her something."

There was a scuffling sound and Munch heard Thahn Ho, say, “Give it back.”

What was happening? At a volume that was ear splitting Le said, “Hello Lolly! Is CRUNCHY there?"

Lolly had heard the kid. She called out, "Yes. Here he is."

Munch said, "Hi Le."

"Hello CRUNCHY! Ong noi told me you was coming over Sunday for a lesson. He said, If I’m good I can paint with y’all, but I have to be good. I was wondering, when we get done will you play Lego’s with me?”

Tentatively, Munch said, “If its okay with your mom.”

“She won’t care. Bye.” The kid slammed the phone down and the line went dead.

Lolly asked, “What just happened?”

“Le hung up the phone.”

Lolly said, “Oh good grief. I better call Thahn Ho back.” She took the phone receiver back to the kitchen. Fluff chased after the cord as it trailed behind her.

In a total daze, Munch just stood there. All think could think was WOW!. The little twerp had ended his conversation with Thahn Ho, but if Le’s mom was agreeable he might get to stay even longer at Thahn Ho’s house on Sunday. He felt warm and happy all over.

A freshly washed, Mitzi came into the room with a towel on her head. She asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Munch smiled at her and said, “Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

“Well, you should tell your face that cause it looks real goofy.”

*

The night air swirled around Munch. Clouds scudded across the starry sky. He was waiting for Lolly to get home. Grandma Toady and Mitzi had left a while ago to go pick her up. Max had stayed home. Currently, the trailer was blasting Black Sabbath. If he blew out Grandma Toady’s stereo speakers, he was gonna be in so much trouble.

Lights turned into the drive. Grandma Toady’s pick up approach. It passed Munch and headed down their drive. At the house Lolly got out, followed by Mitzi. The two girls headed in his direction. Lolly said, “Hi,” and handed him an envelope. She then told Mitzi, “Race you home.”

The two took off running.

The envelope in Munch’s hand was made of good quality paper. It was sealed with purple sealing wax. The design on the seal was a bird in flight. Was this from Thahn Ho? He turned over the envelope. Nothing was written on it. He slipped it into his jacket pocket and went inside. Mama was working in their studio. He went to his room. His heart was doing that kerthumping thing again. He sat down on his bed and carefully opened the seal. There was a card inside. The card was made of rice paper. On it was a painting of two sparrows. This was an ink brush painting. Thahn Ho had made this for him. She was really good. Wow. He opened the card. There were not any words inside only a small pencil drawing of a kitten with a ball of yarn. If only he could call and thank her, but he couldn’t. On Sunday when he saw her, he would thank her. In silence he stared at the kitten. Was this her way of saying she liked him without words? He hoped so, he really hoped so