Chapter 14
A Plant With New Tricks
LuizOnce I was in the front yard, I realized I didn’t have many options for escape. I could hide in the house or try my luck in the backyard. But my luck hadn’t been all that great lately. I ran up the front steps two at a time and threw myself at the front door. Locked.
And by now the vine was within arm’s reach. I whipped around, ready to poke it to death with the colored pencil if necessary. But instead of lunging and squeezing the life out of me, it went for the lock. That was not what I expected, but if it wanted to break down the door, that was all right by me. It slipped a sturdy stem inside the keyhole and jiggled it around. After a few moments, there was a soft click, and the plant withdrew from the lock and turned the knob.
So, the thing was
