；　Harry　called　and　it's　not　raining。〃　He　was　creating　a　stack　of　food

on　the　counter　as　he　spoke。

Suddenly　he　looked　up　again　as　if　he'd　just　realized　something。　〃Say；　did　you

want　me　to　stay　with　you；

since　Jake's　out？〃

〃That's　okay；　Dad；〃　I　said；　working　to　sound　indifferent。　〃The　fish　bite

better　when　the　weather's　nice。〃

He　stared　at　me；　indecision　clear　on　his　face。　I　knew　that　he　was　worrying；

afraid　to　leave　me　alone；　in

case　I　got　〃mopey〃　again。

〃Seriously；　Dad。　I　think　I'll　call　Jessica；〃　I　fibbed　quickly。　I'd　rather　be

alone　than　have　him　watching　me

all　day。　〃We　have　a　Calculus　test　to　study　for。　I　could　use　her　help。〃　That

part　was　true。　But　I'd　have　to

make　do　without　it。

〃That's　a　good　idea。　You've　been　spending　so　much　time　with　Jacob；　your　other

friends　are　going　to　think

you've　forgotten　them。〃

I　smiled　and　nodded　as　if　I　cared　what　my　other　friends　thought。

Charlie　started　to　turn；　but　then　spun　back　with　a　worried　expression。　〃Hey；

you'll　study　here　or　at　Jess's；

right？〃

〃Sure；　where　else？〃

〃Well；　it's　just　that　I　want　you　to　be　careful　to　stay　out　of　the　woods；　like

I　told　you　before。〃

It　took　me　a　minute　to　understand；　distracted　as　I　was。　〃More　bear　trouble？〃

Charlie　nodded；　frowning。　〃We've　got　a　missing　hiker—the　rangers　found　his

camp　early　this　morning；

but　no　sign　of　him。　There　were　some　really　big　animal　prints　of　course　those

could　have　e　later；

smelling　the　food　Anyway；　they're　setting　traps　for　it　now。〃

〃Oh；〃　I　said　vaguely。　I　wasn'