Mom looked at me sympathetically. "Why don't you call them tonight?"

"Yeah, I guess I will," I said. I chewed on some bok choy for a minute. "Mom? Would it be, like, too expensive for me to go out and visit?"

Mom looked at Richard, who shrugged. "Well, we can book some tickets for Thanksgiving," Mom said.

"Okay," I replied. "That would be great, I guess."

I tried to sound happy, but I know I didn't. Thanksgiving was months away.

"Unfortunately, it's the closest school holiday," Richard added.

"I know ..." I mumbled.

"You really miss them, don't you?" Mary Anne said.

My eyes started to well up. My eyes. The ones belonging to me, Dawn Schafer, who teases Mary Anne about being a water faucet at movies. Boy, was I bummed.

"I know how you feel," Mom said. "Look, Thanksgiving's not that far away. But I guess we could try to arrange a long weekend before then, if you're desperate to see them."

"No," I said, "that's okay. I can hold out."

I dug into my Tofu Garden Delight. I had this great need to stuff my mouth. If I didn't, I might blurt out that I was lying.

I did call home that night. Jeff answered the phone.

"Hi," I said. "It's your sister."

"Duh."

I ignored the snide remark. "How's it going?"

"Fine."

"Is school okay?"

"Yecch."

"Too bad."

"Guess what? In gym I won the home run derby. And guess what else? I came in fifth in the physical fitness contest, but that was out of a hundred and three kids. And I got an O on my book report. That's for Outstanding. It's like an A in the older grades. Or better."

Typical Jeff. He'll tell you everything eventually, but he won't answer a direct question.

"That's fantastic! And how's Dad?"

"Good."

I took a breath. "And Carol?"

"What about her?"

"Well ... is Dad still going out with her?"