SPEAKER_01 1:05

Chapter 7 Days Later, I'm still ticked off. Not to mention bored out of my mind. By now it feels like I've reread every single book I own and I've texted my friends until I just can't stand feeling so left out and alone. Dad hasn't even been letting me walk Peeve. Instead, having his assistant come to the house twice a day just to walk my dog, which just makes life feel all wrong. One thing's for sure though, this argument is not over. Maybe I shouldn't have sneaked into my dad's room, and I'm sorry about that, but he shouldn't have kept things from me. And he definitely shouldn't have been such a jerk when he caught me. While I sit on my bed and hug Peeve, sniffing his musky grassy fur, I decide once and for all that my punishment shouldn't have happened either. It's just not right. The restlessness comes back, making my head buzz and my legs tingle. I need to get out of this apartment. I have things to think about, things Miriam told me it's time to figure out, and if I stay here, I'm just going to be sad and upset. If I stay here, there will be no change. Of course, at this point, getting out will be pretty close to impossible. I have absolutely no idea how to do it. Peev lifts his head, yawns, and nudges my hand like I might have something in it. I think about a treat for him, then realize I haven't eaten anything myself since the muffin I woofed down for breakfast. Okay, come on, boy. We're still allowed in the kitchen, so let's go get a snack. Eyes and ears newly alert, he dances to the door and waits for me. My heart lifts a little, just knowing I can always count on Peave, my best friend. His tail wags, telling me I've got that right, and we slip out of our pink painted prison cell and into the hallway. We're almost to the kitchen when I hear a knock at the front door. I stop and reach out to grab Peave's collar and show him the silencing finger. Then listen hard as I tiptoe forward. The last thing I want is to have to be nice in front of a stranger, whoever might be at that door. I'm not ready to be the well-behaved daughter just yet. I hear my dad open the door and I hurry to peek around the corner, keeping my body out of sight. A well-dressed woman, one more person I've never seen before, is there fidgeting in the doorway. Her dark colored suit seems to be sopping with sweat, and she faces my dad with a very serious looking face. I need a word with you in private, she urges. He says nothing, just nods and guides the woman into his office, closing the door firmly behind them. I glance down at Peev, stunned. Not what I had planned, but hallelujah, this is definitely our chance. Just like that, I'm ready to fight back. I grab some treats, some string cheese, an apple and my water bottle, clip my keys to the belt loop of my shorts, make sure the compass is back in my pocket, then slip us out the door and into the elevator. As we ride down, I think about the woman at the door. She looked really upset, and my dad let her in without even a question. I wonder what that is about. I don't remember any of the visitors looking like that before. We hit the lobby without anyone else getting into the elevator, which makes me breathe a sigh of relief. And then we don't see anyone on the way out the door either. The less witnesses, the better, I think. Then catch myself. In one week, I've become a thief and a sneak, and I've lied more times than I ever have in my life. But I just don't see another way. I just don't know how to feel about that. Peev hits the sidewalk with his usual energy, busting me out of my thoughts. The first thing I notice is that it's really, really hot out here. Hmm. I make Peev sit down for a few minutes and try to figure out what exactly I plan to do now that I've set myself free. I close my eyes to breathe, which isn't easy in this humidity, trying to see if I can make that under the skin bubbly feeling happen again. It doesn't, but a picture of Central Park fills my mind, so I call that a clue and get us walking that direction. We quick walk for several blocks and then to the left. I spy a small opening in the fence. We slip into the park onto a paved pathway with benches lining one side. Instantly my breathing changes and my spirits lift. I know this path. It leads to a section called Strawberry Fields, a memorial to John Lennon, one of the Beatles who was killed before I was born. My mom used to love this place, particularly because her mom loved John Lennon and the Beatles, and I realize it's been a really long time since I've been here. Tears come back again, and I'm not sure why. Maybe I haven't even been letting myself miss her anymore. I swap my feelings away, not willing to let my sadness touch this place. It's too special. It was mom's and my favorite spot for thinking and dreaming. Usually people walk the path and sit on the benches. A lot of tourists, but local people also, with artists and other folks. But today nobody seems to be around. It's probably because of the heat. I see it as we approach the giant sparkling black and white mosaic tile artwork, which leads to a circle in the middle with the word imagine in the center. In honor of one of John's most famous songs, I'm struck by the word in the completely new way than ever before. The letters almost seem to be calling me. Coral, imagine. Coral Imagine. I stop in front of the circle, asking Peev to sit, and then close my eyes. The letters keep calling like a wind whisper, tickling my ear. Images float in my mind, though I feel them more than I can see them. An endless stretch of trees, waterfall, mist, baked earth, troubled skies. For a minute it seems like my body lifts off the ground, like waves of air flutter beneath me. At first it's so amazing, but then I get scared and force my eyes open. Planted by my side, Peev looks up at me, one ear cocked. When I smile at him, he gives a little whine, like he wants me not to do that anymore. We're good, boy, I tell him. I know it's been a weird day, but we're good. Do your parents know you're here? I startle and look behind me. An older woman sporting a librarian bun and a thick sweater stands a few feet back, her eyes dark and concerned. My first thought is to ask why she's dressed like it's winter. But I know that's not my business. One more odd thing for the list. It's okay. I come here a lot, I tell her. I'm not sure that's a good idea. Flashing a big smile, I try something else. Plus, I have my big dog bodyguard. I hold up Peev's leash. The woman nods. He definitely looks like a good protector, but you're still young to be out there fending for yourself. Fending for myself? Can't I just be walking in the park? Did the mayor issue a citywide protection order for me or something? We're good, I snap. I've been taking care of myself for a long time now. Her eyes narrow as she looks Peev and me up and down. Then she gives me a sad looking smile. Well, you should probably head on home before too long. Don't want your parents to be concerned. All I can do is purse my lips and nod. It makes sense for her to say parents, but it hurts just the same. Tears building for what feels like a millionth time. I give her a little wave and walk Peev away from the memorial. We keep going until we come to the lake, which is usually surrounded by a great carpet of the greenest grass, providing a lush picnic and play space, but today it looks like a burnt field of dry straw. Still, I find a stick for Peeves and let him have some fun for a while. When his tongue starts to lull, I sit us down on the pricky grass and pour some water into the cap of my water bottle so he can have a drink. I guzzle some myself, and when we finished what we have, I settle him beside me and pull the compass out of my pocket. I need to figure out how this thing works, Peev. He cocks his head and watches me. I mean, I don't really even know how to use a compass, but at least the north, south, east, and west stuff makes some sense. Peave chuffs and puts his big paw on my leg. Maybe he just wants me to stop complaining. I scratch his head and then pull the compass close, trying to see something new in the cymbals. Mostly they just look like squiggles. Though I guess if I squint, I can see a few differences. One looks kind of like a cloud, maybe with rain in it. Another is more like a thin arched cloud, something like a bridge, or maybe a rainbow. The third is a whole circle, so maybe a ring of some sort? And the last one, the smallest one, looks like a wedge of the circle with a pointy top. Like a raindrop, I decide. Whatever that means, suddenly remembering Miriam's riddle, you will be the drops that create a rave of change. I look up, thinking about clouds, and it occurs to me that maybe I'm supposed to point the thing at the clouds. Maybe the sky matters. Or the horizon, I sigh, or the sun or the grass or the lake. How in the world am I supposed to know? Feeling dumb, I hold it up anyway, not knowing what else to do. For the first time I realize that nothing moves when I move it. There's a needle, but it stays still, no matter what I do, and I'm waving it around. Doesn't the needle on a regular compass move? A little chill slides across my neck. What if it's broken? Or even worse, what if I broke it? What if I finally got something related to my mother and I've ruined it? If a feeling could make a sound, mine would be a snap. A break of heart, of hope, of spirit. I'm feeling lost. For a little while I thought I got a gift, but now this day just feels like it's making fun of me. Peave whimpers like he always does when he can tell that I'm upset. He scooches his body closer and lays his head on my thigh. I rub his sweet head and try not to cry. That's not gonna fix any of this. I just wish I knew what I'm supposed to do, I say, looking down at the compass. My hand gets warm as I'm holding it. I lift my hand, pick it back up, and look underneath. Then notice that the needle is moving. Back and forth, back and forth, then around, back and forth, back and forth, then around. Holy moly, I scream. It's working, Peev, it's working. But Peev has already noticed. He's sitting up, staring out at the lake, as if there's a boatload of T-bone stakes out there. I pat his head, and it gives me a little jolt to feel how tense he is. What in the world? I look out at the water too, then back at the compass, which now almost burns my skin as the needle moves faster and faster. I tap the face of the compass, more curious than I can ever remember. Beside me, Peev snorts and leans forward, though his ears still lay low and relaxed. He's not worried, I tell myself, as a strange roaring sound surrounds us. I follow Peeves' gaze, and then my eyes almost fall out of my head. Somehow, the lake is changing. As we watch, the water rises, first in a huge puff like a train smotestack, and then thinning into a tube. It stretches way up into the air, almost like it means to touch the sky. I can't even gasp. I can't even think. In my hand the compass starts jumping up and down, up and down. Then a wobble, up and down, up and down, then a wobble. Faster and faster it jumps. I watch, afraid to touch it until Peev rises to a stand next to me. Pulse leaping faster than the compass, I make myself look at the water again. OMG, I murmur. I want to rub my eyes because they can't be working right. But I also don't want to miss anything and close my eyes. The shimmering bluish golden tube bends toward us, flattening like a giant dog tongue at our feet. Peev barks just once, and I reach for him, securing his leash in the hand while I clamp down on the compass with the other. I can feel the water pulling us forward, slurping at my toes, sucking at my ankles. Hold on, boy, I scream. The water's pull is the strongest thing I've ever felt, like it's bonding with my body from the inside, drawing me into itself and tugging me onto what now looks like a massive bridge. Peith barks again, and I hope that means he understands that he's okay, that we're okay. I want to reach out and pat him, but my arms feel glued to my side. My whole body feels different, as if I'm a liquid, merging with the water. I make one more wish for a soft landing, and then whoosh We're gone.

SPEAKER_00 20:17

Hi everyone, this is Lucy, and just to recap this past chapter, it starts off with Coral escaping her house and taking Keith to Central Park, and she sees this imagine symbol on the floor, and it it feels like she's almost drawn to it in a sense, which I thought was really interesting. Um, and then we meet this really mysterious lady who's dressed in really warm clothes for it to be in the middle of summer in New York City. So it's kind of just an off-putting situation, and she's asking Coral if she knows if her parents or if her parents know if she's here and things like that. So it's just kind of giving a very eerie tone, which I thought was um kind of really interesting. As the chapter progresses, Coral starts to um the the compass starts to work. And I thought that was cool, and it starts to progress us into the next chapters and take us on the journey that Coral's about to embark on. And it ends with her on the water bridge traveling. So I'm really excited to see what this next chapter unf unfolds.