"Hello, Mary Anne," they greeted me.

Mrs. Bruno bent down to look at Hunter. "Oh." She clucked her tongue. "Now your eyes look bad, too." "They're rudding," said Hunter pitifully. "They itch." Mrs. Bruno shook her head.

"Is there anything special I should do for Hunter?" I asked Logan's mother.

"Nope," she replied. "Just the usual. He better stay indoors today. His bedroom would be the best place for him, but I don't want to coop him up in there. Don't let him near Logan's room, though. It's a mess." "A dust factory," added Kerry.

"And he's got down pillows," finished up Mrs. Bruno.

"Is there anything I should give Hunter?" I asked. "Does he have allergy pills?" "Yes, but he just took them. He'll be all right, won't you, pumpkin?" said Mrs. Bruno, cupping Hunter's chin in her hands.

"Sure," he replied.

"And don't forget. I'll help," said Kerry. "I'll tell Mary Anne anything she needs to know. About Hunter or his allergies or - " "Dear," Logan's father interrupted, tapping Mrs. Bruno on the shoulder, "we're going to be late. We'd better go." "Oh, right," she agreed, and Kerry looked frustrated.

The Brunos left then, Mrs. Bruno calling instructions over her shoulder as they grabbed their tennis rackets and dashed out the back door.

I looked at Kerry and Hunter. I was just about to suggest that the three of us go to Hunter's room, when Hunter said, "Let's play hide-ad-seek. That's a good gabe. We cad all play." "Huntie, no!" exclaimed Kerry. "You can't go running and hiding all over the house. Think of it. The basement." "Oh, the basebet," said Hunter. "Ah-choo!" "And hiding behind curtains." "Curtids. Ah-choo!" "And lying on rugs and in back of couches." "Rugs. Couches. Ah-ah-ah-ah-CHOO!" "You'd be better off outside," said Kerry.

"Oh, doe. Dot outside. There's grass ad leaves ad - ad pollid." "Pollid?" I repeated.

"He's trying to say 'pollen,' " Kerry whispered.