"Ha ha," I laughed dryly. "It's not that. In five years she'll be a grown woman, while I'll still be like this."

Evra shook his head. "Worry about the next five days," he advised, "not the next five years. You've been hanging around Mr. Crepsley too much — you're getting as gloomy as he is. There's no reason for you not to date girls."

"I guess you're right." I sighed.

"Of course I am."

I chewed my lip nervously. "Assuming it is a date," I said, "what do I do? I've never been on a date before."

Evra shrugged. "Neither have I. But I guess you fust act normal. Chat with her. Tell her a few jokes. treat her like a friend. Then…" " Then?" I asked when he stopped.

He puckered up his lips. "Give her a kiss!" He laughed.

I threw a pillow at him. "I'm sorry I told you," I grumbled.

"I'm only kidding. But I'll tell you what." He turned serious. " Don'ttell Mr. Crepsley. He'd probably move us on to a new city immediately, or at least a new hotel."

"You're right," I agreed. "I'll keep quiet about Debbie when he's around. It shouldn't be hard: I barely see him. And when I do, he hardly says anything. He seems like he's in a world of his own."

Although I couldn't have known it then, it was a world me and Evra would soon be part of… and Debbie, too.

The next day passed slowly. My stomach was a jumble of nerves. I had to drink warm milk to calm it down. Evra didn't help matters. He kept reading the time out loud and announcing: "Five hours to go!" "Four hours to go!" "Three and a half…"

Luckily I didn't have clothes to worry about: I only had one outfit, so there was no problem choosing what to wear. But I did spend a couple of hours in the bathroom, checking that I was spotlessly clean.

"Calm down," Evra said eventually. "You look great. I'm half tempted to go out with you myself."