As Simple as It Seems by Sarah Weeks Page B

idea,” she said. “Do you want me to come along?”
    â€œNo,” I said quickly, “I’d rather go alone if you don’t mind.”
    She hesitated for a minute.
    â€œPlease don’t bite my head off for asking this, Verbie, but are you going to change first? Forgive me, but that nightie looks even worse now than it did this morning.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” I said, “I’m going to change.”
    My mother’s face flooded with relief.
    â€œI’ll cut you some brownies right away,” she said.
    Upstairs I put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Then I stood in front of the mirror combing the tangles out of my hair. When I had finished, I pulled it back into a tight ponytail and fastened it with a rubber band.
    â€œI remember you,” I whispered as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
    Downstairs my mother was happily bustling around the kitchen. She had cut the brownies into squares, and she’d made me a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich too, which I wolfed down in a couple of bites, much to her delight. Five minutes later I was standing on the porch of the Allen house knocking on the front door.
    â€œI’m your next-door neighbor, Verbena Colter,” I said when Pooch’s mother came to the door. “I brought you some brownies to say welcome to the neighborhood.”
    Her face looked a little puffy, and you could tell that she had tried to cover the bruises under her eyes with makeup. She was wearing another tight black outfit, but instead of the fancy shoes, she had on flip-flops with little rhinestones glued on them.
    I handed her the plate of brownies. She seemed surprised, but not as surprised as Pooch, who was standing behind her with his eyes popping out.
    â€œCome in— Verbena , did you say?” said Pooch’s mom. “Let me introduce you to my son. Shake hands with Verbena, Pooch.” Dixie came running in to check me out, growling and baring her sharp little teeth at me. “Don’t mind Dixie. The only one she ever actually bites is Pooch.”
    â€œI swear I didn’t recognize you at first,” Pooch whispered the minute we were alone. “And how’d you come up with that name?”
    â€œIt’s real,” I told him, “Her family lives next door. I floated over there and borrowed some of her clothes. And some brownies. And her name.”
    â€œAwesome,” said Pooch.
    Pooch’s mom came back into the room.
    â€œI was just about to make lunch, Verbena. Can I interest you in some tuna fish?” she asked.
    â€œVerbena only eats marshmallows,” Pooch told his mom. “And mashed potatoes.”
    I gave Pooch a look. He was going to have to be a lot slicker than that if this was going to work out.
    â€œThank you, ma’am, but I ate lunch already,” I said.
    Pooch’s mother grimaced.
    â€œ Ma’am? That makes me sound so ancient. I’m Shari. Shari with an i.” She made a little dot in the air with her finger. “I know it’s a little late for lunch, but better late than never, right? Run along, you two, and I’ll call you when the sandwiches are ready.”
    Pooch turned to me.
    â€œDo you want to look around?” he asked.
    â€œSure,” I said.
    The house didn’t have much furniture in it, and what was there was old and worn. I wondered if the Allens had taken everything with them, or if these were the same couches and chairs that Tracy and her family had sat on.
    â€œIs it like you remember it?” asked Pooch. He sniffled. His nose was dripping, and I noticed his eyes looked a little pink.
    â€œNot really,” I said, amazed that I was actually standing inside the Allen house. Annie would never have believed it. She and I had peeked in the windows hundreds of times, fascinated by the spooky-looking shapes of the sheet-draped furniture. I had been right about the musty smell and the feeling of