"Did you bring some snacks for the trip?" I asked her.

"Of course." Dawn grinned and patted her canyon bag. "An apple, some dates, and two granola bars. Plus they give you something to eat on the plane."

"Something cardboard,"Sharon said crisply.

"No," Dawn laughed. "Something edible. I

checked." She paused and looked at me. "I left that new mystery book on your dresser for you to read. And if you want to take any of my tapes toSeaCity , they're in the shoe box in my closet."

I smiled. Dawn and I don't usually have the same taste in music, but it was a nice thought. "Thanks," I said slowly. I was surprised to find that my voice was a little quavery. It was crazy, but I was already starting to miss Dawn.

Maybe she felt the same way, because she looked at me very seriously. "I wish you were coming with me, Mary Anne. You'd loveCalifornia ."

I shrugged. "I'll have my hands full with all those Pike kids inSeaCity ."

She smiled. "I know, but remember not to work all the time. Take some time out to have fun."

Dawn's flight was announced then, and Sharon enveloped Dawn in a big hug. "Are you sure you have everything?" she asked for the dozenth time. "Tickets, money ..."

"Everything, Mom," Dawn told her. They looked amazingly alike. Blonde, blue-eyed, and pretty.

Dad hugged Dawn then, even though I think he felt shy about doing it. Dad always feels a little uncomfortable around kids, prob-

ably because I am his only child and the two of us lived alone for so many years.

Dawn turned to me with her arms outstretched, and the tears welled up in my eyes. "Oh, Dawn, I'm really going to miss you!" I blurted out.

"Me, too," she said awkwardly, patting my back. "I just hate good-byes." She pulled away to look at me and I saw that her eyes were misty. "Don't make me cry, okay? I can't get on that plane with mascara dribbling down my cheeks!"