Page 59 of Don't Cross Mo Ellery

Back on track.

And then a pink-haired tween rudely appears out of nowhere. “Whoa, what happened to you?”

“Marlowe!” I shout. “You can’t sneak up on people like that.”

“I’m standing directly in front of you,” she says. “This is not me sneaking. You’ll know when I’m sneaking up on you. Or you won’t, is the point. So, anyway. What’d you do this weekend? Join Roller Derby?”

“I... I am not telling you that,” I stammer, because right when Marlowe interrupted me, I’d been imagining Tasha doing something extremely excellent and X-rated to me, and wait—isRoller Derbya euphemism that the kids use these days? Suddenly I’m breaking out in a nervous sweat that this literal child can read my mind.

“Looks like somebody punched you with a tiny fist,” she says.

“OH.The black eye.Right.” I try to wipe the guilty look off my face. “No. Yeah. That was a dog thing.” I remember Sheila and my rapidly vanishing bank account, and it’s really taking the fun out of thinking. “I have to get rid of those dogs.”

“You should make an adoption video,” Marlowe says.

“A what?”

“You know. A cool video you can post that shows off how awesome and adoptable they are. Adoption agencies love when you do that. Animals with great reels always get adopted faster.”

I hold her back from crossing as a fire truck whizzes up the street and parks in front of the construction site, followed by some kind of utility vehicle. Gas company, looks like.

Marlowe jogs into the street without waiting for me.

“Hey, hello, remember me? Crossing guard?” I run into the street, stop sign first, even though no one’s coming.

“I’m trying to see what’s going on over there.” She cranes her neck, but the fire truck is blocking everything.

“Probably some routine construction-related thing,” I say. “If there was a fire, I’m sure it would have its lights on or something.”

“But they stopped construction there a month ago. For safety stuff.”

“Oh, right,” I say.

“You really should pay attention to your surroundings,” she says. “As a crossing guard.”

“I am paying attention, and I’m telling you there’s no fire.”

Just then we hear some sirens, and an ambulance wedges itself next to the curb in front of the fire truck.

Marlowe gives me a look. “I’m going to go check it out,” she says.

“Marlowe, it’s just normal stuff. They probably always send an ambulance, just in case.” I put on my best grown-up voice. “And don’t you have to go to school?”

“I’ve got ages before the first bell,” she says dismissively, jogging diagonally across the street before I can stop her.

Get your head in the game, Mo. Guard this crossing. Save those kids.

Still, that was a really good idea about making a video. And I know just who can help me. I take a quick glance around, and it’s still pretty quiet, so I hop on my phone, just for a sec.

Me:Hey hey!

Hannah:Heeeey

Me:What’s up

Hannah:Woof they are handing out stalkers like candy these days

Me:Ha ha what tho