Then Jessica took the podium again, thanking everyone for coming and especially for their generous contributions of canned food. “Your donations will brighten the lives of many people — like Amber brightened yours. And I’m sure that wherever Amber is, she’s watching us right now … smiling.”
Yes she is, I thought.
Chairs scraped the floor and voices rose as people filed out of the room. Some stayed to pay respects by lining up to view a “memorial box” that my Aunt Suzanne had brought from my family.
“Amber’s parents couldn’t come — they’re at the hospital dealing with sad things,” I heard her tell Jessica.
“The hospital?” Jessica asked. “I thought Amber passed … um … a few days ago.”
My aunt seemed to hesitate. “At the last minute, my sister insisted that Amber moved her hand, so the doctors postponed everything. But it was only false hope. Everything should be over now.” She sighed. “Amber’s parents appreciate this lovely tribute, so they sent along a few mementos of Amber.”
The box was the size of a shoe box and wrapped in silver foil with my name glitter-glued on the front. What had my parents sent? Curious, I joined everyone else in line. I managed to be the last one, so I could look without anyone watching over my shoulder.
When I reached the box, emotions swelled in my throat. Inside the box were pictures of me as a baby, toddler, and a few recent ones that looked much better than my awful junior year picture. In one photo I was hamming for the camera at my thirteenth birthday party, posed between Dustin and Alyce, our arms around each other. But instead of a smile, there was an uncomfortable look on my face. My stomach had ached because I’d just eaten one-sixth of my double fudge strawberry cream birthday cake.
Now my stomach ached for sad reasons. I missed me so much.
I picked up the photo, caressing it fondly, when I noticed a bright object hidden underneath. Rainbow thread, woven by my grandmother — the bracelet I was wearing when I died.
My lucky bracelet! Staring down at it, I thought fast. No one else cared about this bracelet. It would probably be tossed out or tucked away in a forgotten corner of the attic. No one would even remember it … except me.
I wanted my bracelet back.
So I glanced around furtively. Jessica was talking with the principal, Dustin was deep in a conversation with Margrét, and a small group of people I vaguely recognized were talking near the door. No one was watching me. I slowly raised my hand, acting all casual like I was going to push my bangs back. I touched my hair, then slowly lowered my hand. My fingers shot out — and I snatched the bracelet.
I hurried away from the box, snaking down the aisle and passing the people still talking by the door, and left the auditorium. I ducked around a corner, leaned against the wall, and gazed at my precious bracelet. So many memories twined in colorful thread, binding me to my grandmother.
I started to slip the bracelet on my wrist when I heard a shout behind me.
“Take that off!”
Whirling around, I saw Alyce.
30
“I said to take it off!” I’d never seen her so angry.
“Alyce!” Even though she looked angry enough to hit me, I was thrilled to be with her again. “It’s so good to see you!”
But she was having none of me, pointing her finger in my face like she’d take my eyes out if I didn’t do what she wanted. “Take off Amber’s bracelet.”
“Let me explain,” I said quickly as I backed away.
“Shut up and give me that bracelet.”
“Alyce, please listen. I’m not who you think.”
“I know who you are and you can buy anything you want, so why bother stealing my best friend’s bracelet? You’re pathetic.”
“I wasn’t stealing it — I was taking it back. Alyce, look into my eyes — don’t you recognize me?”
“Everyone knows who you are.”
“But Dustin knows who I really am. Ask him — he’ll tell you about the body switch.”
“Body switch?” She was the one who stepped back now. “Not only a thief, but crazy.”
I held tight to the bracelet. “Alyce, I want to tell you everything, but I’m afraid you won’t believe me. Dustin will tell you I’m not Leah. Why don’t you get him?”
“So you can run off with Amber’s property while I’m gone? No way.” She held out her hand. “Give it to me or I’m going to walk back into the auditorium and announce over the loudspeaker that you’re a thief.”
“Don’t, Alyce! Besides, my lucky bracelet isn’t worth anything except to me.”
“Lucky bracelet?” Her voice dropped. “How do you know about that? Did Dustin tell you?”
“How could he? Dustin doesn’t know. I promised Grammy I wouldn’t tell anyone except you, because I always tell you everything … like when I got my period while we were on a hike and had to use an old shirt for a pad. Or when we had that water balloon fight and you threw one so hard I got a black eye but we told everyone that Chris Bundry hit me. That bully was always hitting kids, so everyone believed me.”
“And he got grounded.” She started to smile, then gasped. “No … no way! You can’t know those things … only Amber does.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” I glanced around cautiously, then whispered, “You know how I have such a bad sense of direction? You’re always saying, ‘Dramber, you could get lost walking out of your own bedroom.’”
“Ohmygod,” she moaned. She sagged against the wall.
I could tell she was listening even though it would take more to convince her. So I went on. “When I got hit by Sheila’s mail truck, I went to the light — and guess who I met there? Grammy Greta and Cola.”
“But they’re … dead.”
“I couldn’t believe it either, but Grammy and Cola convinced me it was real. We talked awhile, then Grammy told me it wasn’t my time yet. She said to turn left at this Milky Way place — only I got it all mixed up and turned right. And I landed in the wrong body.”
“But you’re … you’re Leah.” Alyce rubbed her head. “Only you’re talking like Amber. I must be sick.”
“You’re fine. I’m the one stuck in the wrong body.”
With her back against the wall, she sank to the floor. “I–I don’t know … it’s impossible. Prove it.”
“Haven’t I already proven it? Who else would know everything I just told you?”
“You’re talking with Leah’s voice and moving in her body. I don’t even know why I’m listening to you — this is impossible.”
“I can prove it. Ask me something that only I would know.”
She pointed to the rainbow bracelet. “You say you know that’s a lucky bracelet. But do you know the ritual to make the luck work?”
I nodded. “Sure.”
She narrowed her brows skeptically. “So do it.”
“Here? What if someone walks by?”
“Do it now.”
“Oh all right. But it’s humiliating.”
I looked around to make sure no one was around. Then I turned the bracelet to the right two times and to the left once. I whispered the childhood chant:
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear.
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy.
Was he?
Then I sealed the magic with a kiss. Embarrassed, I looked up to find Alyce’s powder-painted face dripping black stains of tears. She sobbed out my name, then opened her arms and hugged me.
* * *
Eli, Dustin, and now Alyce knew.
You’d think that would solve everything, and I could be myself again.
But there was still the problem of Mr. Montgomery controlling my life.
When Dustin finally spotted us together in a corner of the hallway, he raised an eyebrow. Alyce and I shared an “I know what he’s thinking” look and giggled.