Sara Lost and Found by Virginia Castleman Page A

answer. Saying yes feels like we’re turning our backs on Mama and Daddy, but saying no would mean we like jumping from house to house. So again, I don’t say anything. That way no one can get hurt.
    I let the caterpillar crawl onto the grass, and then I gather up Abby’s arms and legs, like I always do, and pop them back into place. I hand my sister her doll.
    Mrs. Craig grunts as she pushes herself up from the grass and nods to Ben and Rachel, who cross the yard toward us. “I’ll call in a couple of days to see how you’re doing,” she says.
    I don’t even have to look up to know she’s checking the time. I watch her drive away, feeling empty inside.

CHAPTER 15
    â€œHOW ABOUT A WALK TO clear our heads?” Ben suggests. He has his walking shoes on. Anna and I nod. Rachel says she needs to rest, so it’s just me, Anna, and Ben.
    The fresh air feels good. I breathe in deep and let the air blow my thoughts around. At one point, it feels like someone’s watching us, but when I turn around and look down the street, I don’t see anyone or anything strange. A truck and some cars are parked by the side of the road, but nothing looks out of place. Some people are walking their dogs.
    My thoughts drift to Mrs. Craig’s news. I don’t want to go to another house. I want to stay here, with the Silvermans. It’s no secret that they can’t keep us. Why do they have to be so old?
    I keep thinking about being adopted. Becoming a part of a family with a mom and dad who are always there. Can something like that really happen to me and Anna?
    I sigh. Maybe we should just run away again. But where would we go? If only we knew where Mama was. Would she even want us?
    I have this awful feeling that I’ll find her and do something wrong, and she’ll look at me like she isn’t even surprised. “You’re just like your daddy,” she’d probably say, and leave again.
    â€œRuth told me what happened with your papa,” Ben says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “I know it is not something you wanted to hear.”
    â€œDaddy will get better,” I assure him. “He’ll get us back, you’ll see.”
    â€œIt is not easy what your papa has to overcome, Sara. Drinking is not an easy thing to get over.”
    â€œDaddy will choose us over drinking,” I answer, careful not to echo Ben and say the words “drinking” and “thing” like they end with a k .
    â€œI know he wants to, but sometimes something gets hold of us that is not good for us. We convince ourselves we can handle it. But we can’t. It’s called an addiction. And your papa has this addiction.” He grows quiet.
    â€œSara,” Anna says softly.
    I study my sister’s face. Her chin is trembling. She has the same look as when we thought a burglar had broken into the house. But what can be scaring her? We’re with Ben. We’re safe.
    Ben stops to rest at a bench and invites us to sit down, but Anna won’t sit.
    â€œShe hears something,” I explain.
    Ben looks at her thoughtfully. “I hear something too, Anna. Birds. The wind. A siren—hear it? An ice cream truck.”
    I grin. For an old man with a hearing aid, Ben sure is hearing a lot.
    â€œAre you making that up?” I look closely at his face for a sign that he’s teasing.
    â€œMaybe I am, but you hear them too, don’t you?”
    I nod. The siren is getting closer. Wait! Is someone calling my name?
    Ben jumps up from the park bench and stands straighter and stiffer than I’ve ever seen him stand. The expression on his face is grim and set. Something is wrong.
    â€œSara! Over here!” a voice yells.
    I turn and see him. At first I think it’s a man who looks like Daddy who just happens to be driving a pickup like his. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me again. But then, when he says my name again, I start to run toward him.