CHAPTER 14
The next day was Friday. With the early conference with Arch’s teacher, one house to clean, and a driving lesson with Patty Sue and Pom, the day looked as unpromising as the ominous morning clouds spilling like oatmeal over the hills of the Wildlife Preserve. A frost had turned the streets to glass. Foreseeing slippery-road delays meant leaving early, just after I served Arch his French toast.
He talked to me briefly when the soaked bread was beginning to sizzle. I pointed out to him that I was able to cook with electric power thanks to Todd’s deftness with fuses. Arch told me he had bought the alarm system from a radio store with his own money, and he was going to return it.
“But what I can’t understand,” I said when he was pushing the last bite through a puddle of syrup, “i
