The Graham Cracker Plot by Shelley Tougas

said with a scratchy voice, “You shouldn’t have to pay water bills. Water’s everywhere. It should be free.” Then she closed her eyes, like she’d been sleep talking.
    As we settled into our indoor campground, Fred ate marshmallows and pretzels and Graham counted money.
    â€œI’m not sure he should be eating that stuff. He must have dog food in the barn,” I said. “Where are those Beefy Bits?”
    â€œYou screwed me up. Now I gotta start over. One, two…”
    I took the bags from Fred, but man, dogs eat fast. The marshmallows were gone . I slid the pretzel bag under the sofa because I was too tired to go to the kitchen. I crawled under my blanket again. I thought about Mom and the Chemist. Who would I miss most? I figured the answer didn’t matter, because the Chemist needed help . Mom didn’t. At least she had Alex, even though he was old and had a ring of hair. Alex told her things like, she’s smart enough to get through nursing school, she deserves a good job, and he’s proud of her. Which is way better than old boyfriends who said stuff like, “Can you make some tacos, babe?”
    So the answer was pretty easy. The Chemist.
    And I really missed the Chemist. I missed how we’d sing together back when he had me for sleepover custody. He’d tuck me into the couch and we’d sing “Two of Us” until I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
    â€œSo what’s the plan tomorrow?” Graham yackity-yacked right over my memory.
    â€œGet our clothes. Fill up the trunk with towels and sheets and food.”
    â€œWe should bring Fred and one of the horses.”
    â€œFred’s exactly what we need for the distraction. But a horse? In a car? How’s that going to happen?”
    â€œListen. A storm led us to an empty house with horses . We need a crazy distraction for the plan to work, and here we are in this nice house with a barn and three horses. It’s a sign.”
    â€œCould be one of those weird timing things,” I said.
    â€œWe need a distraction and a good one. Something that will stop people and make them stare at me instead of staring at you, the illegal person. When they see me, well, I’m a kid on a horse being chased by a vicious dog. A kid who falls off the horse in an explosion of ketchup blood. They won’t even notice the Chemist is wire cutting the top of the fence.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with you having a pretend seizure? That’s way simpler.”
    â€œI don’t know what a seizure looks like!”
    â€œNice time to inform me of that little detail!” I punched my pillow. “Graham, did the Idea Coin tell you this?”
    He shrugged.
    â€œWell?”
    â€œI sure wish we hadn’t tipped over the refrigerator. We could’ve made pancakes for breakfast. Or eggs. Or egg salad.”
    â€œAnswer me!”
    He nodded. “Right. The Idea Coin.”
    Still, if there was no seizure, I thought Fred chasing Graham was distraction enough. All we needed were the Beefy Bits, and the chase would be on. It was simple.
    Ashley breathed soft little snores.
    Graham turned off the light.
    â€œHey,” I said. “Will you give me my backpack? It’s right by Ashley. Don’t wake her up.”
    I pulled the book from the pack. It was small and pink. The cover had a black outline of a big hand holding a little hand.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    I showed him the cover.
    â€œ Daddies and Daughters: Stories to Inspire and Nurture . Sounds snoring-boring.”
    I whispered, “It’s supposed to help me remember good times with the Chemist.”
    â€œI guess it’s cool the Chemist gave you that. I mean, it’s all pink and boring and I wouldn’t want it, but you know, at least he knew you’d want something like that.”
    â€œGo to sleep, Graham. I just want to read something short.”
    â€œRead it to me.”
    â€œIt’s