I listened as if disconnected from reality. All these wonderful, sweet, funny, heartbreaking stories were about me. I began to feel sad, too, about my being dead — until I remembered that this memorial should be for Leah. She was the one gone forever. What would people have said about her? She was popular. She was pretty. She had a hot boyfriend. But did anyone know what she was really like? She played different roles and drifted in her popularity. It was Jessica who seemed to be the real force behind Leah’s image.
Then Kat and Moniqua went to the podium together and recited a prepared speech that rang totally false to me. They acted liked we’d been best friends. Not one word about dissing me and calling the HHC members “Basket Cases.” But did it really matter?
No — and I continued to be awed by my many genuine friends.
Margret came hesitantly to the podium, speaking softly with a lyrical Icelandic accent. She was slim and fragile and it seemed like a loud voice could knock her over. She held a small stuffed toy bird — the puffin from her welcome basket.
“Amber was so sweet to me, so friendly when I knew nothing about your school and little about America,” Margret said. “I lost this puffin for a while but Amber found it and returned it to me. So small a thing — but it was big to my heart. Amber shared her big heart and asked for nothing in return. In her honor, I’m going to join the Halsey Hospitality Club and welcome new students like she did.”
Applause fluttered across the room like wings of an idea taking flight. This idea spread as more people stepped forward to talk about the gift baskets they’d received. Over a dozen students volunteered to join the HHC.
Always quick to action, Dustin stepped up with a notebook to take names of the new club members. I looked around for Alyce, to see if she was excited by all the new members. But I couldn’t see her. I’d been hoping she’d come to the podium to say something — I mean, she was the closest person to me in the entire auditorium.
But she never spoke up.
Dustin said a few words — mostly about how I started HHC and worked hard to keep it going. He credited Alyce with the creative design of the baskets, but even then Alyce didn’t come forward. Maybe she’d left already.
Three more classmates (all recipients of HHC baskets) came up and said nice things about me — how getting a welcome basket gave them confidence in a new school. They all said they liked how I smiled and waved whenever we passed in the hall.
I’d made people feel good simply by being friendly and smiling?
But that was so easy.
Then Jessica took the podium again, thanking everyone for coming and especially for their generous contributions of canned food. “Your donations will brighten the lives of many people — like Amber brightened yours. And I’m sure that wherever Amber is, she’s watching us right now … smiling.”
Yes she is, I thought.
Chairs scraped the floor and voices rose as people filed out of the room. Some stayed to pay respects by lining up to view a “memorial box” that my Aunt Suzanne had brought from my family.
“Amber’s parents couldn’t come — they’re at the hospital dealing with sad things,” I heard her tell Jessica.
“The hospital?” Jessica asked. “I thought Amber passed … um … a few days ago.”
My aunt seemed to hesitate. “At the last minute, my sister insisted that Amber moved her hand, so the doctors postponed everything. But it was only false hope. Everything should be over now.” She sighed. “Amber’s parents appreciate this lovely tribute, so they sent along a few mementos of Amber.”
The box was the size of a shoe box and wrapped in silver foil with my name glitter-glued on the front. What had my parents sent? Curious, I joined everyone else in line. I managed to be the last one, so I could look without anyone watching over my shoulder.
When I reached the box, emotions swelled in my throat. Inside the box were pictures of me as a baby, toddler, and a few recent ones that looked much better than my awful junior year picture. In one photo I was hamming for the camera at my thirteenth birthday party, posed between Dustin and Alyce, our arms around each other. But instead of a smile, there was an uncomfortable look on my face. My stomach had ached because I’d just eaten one-sixth of my double fudge strawberry cream birthday cake.
Now my stomach ached for sad reasons. I missed me so much.
I picked up the photo, caressing it fondly, when I noticed a bright object hidden underneath. Rainbow thread, woven by my grandmother — the bracelet I was wearing when I died.
My lucky bracelet! Staring down at it, I thought fast. No one else cared about this bracelet. It would probably be tossed out or tucked away in a forgotten corner of the attic. No one would even remember it … except me.
I wanted my bracelet back.
So I glanced around furtively. Jessica was talking with the principal, Dustin was deep in a conversation with Margret, and a small group of people I vaguely recognized were talking near the door. No one was watching me. I slowly raised my hand, acting all casual like I was going to push my bangs back. I touched my hair, then slowly lowered my hand. My fingers shot out — and I snatched the bracelet.
I hurried away from the box, snaking down the aisle and passing the people still talking by the door, and left the auditorium. I ducked around a corner, leaned against the wall, and gazed at my precious bracelet. So many memories twined in colorful thread, binding me to my grandmother.
I started to slip the bracelet on my wrist when I heard a shout behind me.
“Take that off!”
Whirling around, I saw Alyce.
30
“I said to take it off!” I’d never seen her so angry.
“Alyce!” Even though she looked angry enough to hit me, I was thrilled to be with her again. “It’s so good to see you!”
But she was having none of me, pointing her finger in my face like she’d take my eyes out if I didn’t do what she wanted. “Take off Amber’s bracelet.”
“Let me explain,” I said quickly as I backed away.
“Shut up and give me that bracelet.”
“Alyce, please listen. I’m not who you think.”
“I know who you are and you can buy anything you want, so why bother stealing my best friend’s bracelet? You’re pathetic.”
“I wasn’t stealing it — I was taking it back. Alyce, look into my eyes — don’t you recognize me?”
“Everyone knows who you are.”
“But Dustin knows who I
“Body switch?” She was the one who stepped back now. “Not only a thief, but crazy.”
I held tight to the bracelet. “Alyce, I want to tell you everything, but I’m afraid you won’t believe me. Dustin will tell you I’m not Leah. Why don’t you get him?”
“So you can run off with Amber’s property while I’m gone? No way.” She held out her hand. “Give it to me or I’m going to walk back into the auditorium and announce over the loudspeaker that you’re a thief.”
“Don’t, Alyce! Besides, my lucky bracelet isn’t worth anything except to me.”
“Lucky bracelet?” Her voice dropped. “How do you know about that? Did Dustin tell you?”
“How could he? Dustin doesn’t know. I promised Grammy I wouldn’t tell anyone except you, because I always tell you everything … like when I got my period while we were on a hike and had to use an old shirt for a pad. Or when we had that water balloon fight and you threw one so hard I got a black eye but we told everyone that Chris Bundry hit me. That bully was always hitting kids, so everyone believed me.”
