Penny left Sullivan’s an hour later with two new books under her arm; a compilation of classic ghost stories for her and a fantasy story for the girl in the park. The lone girl in the park was as good a place as any to start trying to make new friends. They had one thing in common at least.
“Give this to her,” Susan said, shoving the book into Penny’s hands, “tell her it’s from you and Susan at Sullivan’s.”
Penny walked down to the end of the short block, pausing at the crosswalk for several seconds before stepping into the street. She wasn’t accustomed to light traffic and had to convince herself that traffic wouldn’t materialize the second she stepped into the road.
She crossed at a run and made it to the other side unscathed. A look back over her shoulder showed empty blacktop in bot
