Raven dressed in gray sweatpants and a dark-blue T-shirt. The T-shirt was one she’d seen Jackie wear. It said MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK with a drawing of the mountain on it. She took out her braids and spread her hair into waves to help it dry. Jackie said he liked her hair like that.
Ms. Taft gave them hummus, avocado, and vegetable sandwiches. She told Raven they ate vegan, food with no animals in it. The hummus tasted strange, but Raven ate it so Ms. Taft would like her.
They went to Jackie’s room upstairs after they ate. His room was smaller than hers but nice with its blue walls, ceiling stars, and pictures of things Jackie liked. There were dinosaurs, planets, and Star Wars movie characters. There were a few posters that said Seattle Seahawks, Jackie’s favorite football team. Jackie closed the window blinds and turned off the lights to show her how the stars on the ceiling glowed like real stars at night.
Then he showed her how to play Chutes and Ladders. She liked it so much they played twice. They played Candy Land next. Then Mouse Trap, her favorite. Huck came in and asked if they wanted to play soccer. The rain had stopped, and the sun was coming out.
After she changed back into her clothes, she and Jackie went out to the mowed grass behind the house, and the boys explained soccer. They put Jackie and Raven on a team with Huck against Reece and Chris. It didn’t work so well because there were supposed to be more people on each team and they had no goalies. Raven liked it, but she couldn’t get the ball away from the boys. Jackie also rarely got it, but when he did, he’d pass the ball to her.
After soccer, the boys taught Raven how to play softball. In the second inning, when Raven was in the outfield, Baby flew down to her shoulder and begged for food. The boys gathered round and took turns feeding her peanuts. They said Baby was “cool” and “awesome.” Huck and Chris started calling Raven “Bird Girl,” same as Reece. Raven liked the attention, even if it made Baby nervous.
Ms. Taft had everyone come inside for dinner. Raven was having so much fun listening to the boys joke and tease she didn’t notice the day—the best of her whole life—was ending.
After dessert, Jackie took Raven into the living room. He said, “Reece and Chris are sleeping over, and my mom says you can, too.”
“Sleeping over?” Raven said.
Jackie was used to her not knowing things. He never looked surprised now.
“It just means you stay overnight. Like a long playdate.”
Playdate. Raven remembered Aunt Sondra had said Raven should have playdates.
“It’s really fun,” he said. “We play games and watch a movie and stay up late.”
Ms. Taft approached. “Would you like to sleep over?” she asked.
“I want to . . . ,” Raven said. She couldn’t remember ever wanting anything so much. But Mama would be upset if she didn’t come home.
“Let’s go ask your mother,” Ms. Taft said. “I’ll drive you over.” She had car keys in her hand.
Raven couldn’t let her talk to her mother. The alarms would go off, and Mama would get upset and probably mad when she found out Raven had gone to Jackie’s house.
Ms. Taft saw Raven’s worry. “I can’t let you stay unless I ask your mother,” she said. “I think I should meet her. She should know where you’ve been all day.”
“I have to go home,” Raven said.
“Okay. I’ll drive you,” she said.
“I’ll walk,” Raven said.
Jackie, Huck, Reece, and Chris stared at her.
“It’s getting dark out,” Ms. Taft said. “There’s no way I can let you walk that far alone.”
There’s no way I can let you. That scared Raven. She looked at Jackie. She was afraid she would never see him again if she did what she had to.
“Will you come with me?” Ms. Taft said.
“No. I’m going home.”
“Raven . . . honey, you can’t—”
The front door was closest. She ran, flung it open, and hurried down the steps. She was halfway to the fence when Reece called out, “Hey! Cinderella! You forgot your boots!”
She ducked through the fence boards and kept running.
6
The next day, Raven went to the Wolfsbane and waited for Jackie for a long time. She wanted to cry when he didn’t come. She had ruined everything. She remembered the looks on Ms. Taft’s and the boys’ faces just before she flew away. As if they were looking at an animal very different from them.
Baby stayed with her more than usual. She seemed to know Raven needed comfort.
Raven should have kept to her kin, the earth and the birds, rather than starting to want people. She felt like a bird around them. Always confused by what they did, always watching their every move, always ready to fly. Even Mama made her feel that way when she was in her moods.
She looked at the Wolfsbane, thinking of Jackie. He was the only person who didn’t make her feel like she might need to fly away. She supposed it was the part of her that was a human being that made her like him.
But she wished she didn’t. It hurt too much.
“Let’s go find you an insect,” Raven said to Baby.
She ran away from the Wolfsbane, pretending she was flying, and Baby flew with her.
When she got home, Mama was in a sad mood. Raven was almost more afraid of the sad moods than the angry ones. Mama was lying on the ground by the back door. Her eyes were open, staring up at the sky.
Raven knelt next to her. “I’m home, Mama,” she said.
“I’m a bad mother,” Mama said without looking at her. “I should have left you in the forest.”
“You asked for me. I was yours. You were supposed to take me.”
“I did ask for you.” Tears pooled in her eyes, and when she closed the lids over them, they squeezed out like two tiny creeks that ran down her cheeks.
“You’re a good mother,” Raven said. She
