"You want to go bike-riding sometime?" Zach asked James.

"Yeah! That would be ra - that would be great. Or how about skateboarding? Do you have a skateboard?" "Of course." "We could go skateboarding now," said James. "You could borrow my brother Ben's if you don't want to go home for yours. He'd let you. He's awfully nice about things like that." It was at this point that I stormed into the Hobarts' backyard with Susan in tow. I fully expected James to run to Susan - his mate. Instead he waved, but turned back to Zach.

"Hello, everyone!" I called.

"Hi," replied Claudia and the boys.

"Here's Susan," I announced needlessly.

"Hullo, Susan," called James.

"Claud," I said, "I have to talk to you." Then I added, "James, can you play with Susan while I talk to Claud?" "Can - can Susan skateboard?" asked James doubtfully.

"I don't think so," I replied.

"Oh. Zach and I were going to go skateboarding." James looked quite pleased to be able to say "Zach and I" as if Zach were a celebrity. He also looked hesitant. I could tell he didn't want to hurt Susan or disappoint me.

"Hey, that's okay," I said. "You guys go on. Susan will be fine with Claudia and me." Johnny went back to his truck, Mathew went back to the swing, and Claud and I sat on the stoop. Susan stood nearby. She refused to sit down for some reason.

"So you know what that Mel Tucker was doing?" I said indignantly as I finished telling Claud about the afternoon's events.

Claudia leaned forward. "What?" "He was charging the kids around here a dollar to go into the Felders' house and either ask Susan dates or get her to memorize a new piece of music. It was like she was a freak or something. Mel was calling her 'the retard who can memorize dates and music' and 'the dumbo who can sing but not talk.' " "That's - that's terrible!" cried Claud. Then she lowered her voice. "Are you sure you should say that in front of Susan?" I looked over at Susan, who was standing exactly where I had left her. As usual, her hands were flapping away. She was staring at the sky, weaving her head from side to side.