by Sheela Chari
“Here’s one from Julia in London,” Mars said, holding the flyer up. “Lost in London.”
“Look, it’s Jonas!” Caddie held up a flyer with a photo of Jonas wearing his Mariners baseball cap.
“And here’s Aurora!” JP said.
Mars leaned forward. “I took that picture on her phone,” he exclaimed.
There was Aurora, holding a Sharpie in her hand. She had struck a bold pose next to the words she’d scrawled on the school’s back wall: MOPS 4-EVER. It had been a rare sunny day, and she was squinting a little. Mars remembered angling the phone so he got both her and the graffiti tag inside the photo. Was that only a few weeks ago? It felt like forever. Just seeing the photo now sent a shiver down his back.
Everyone had fallen silent, seeing the flyers with their friends’ faces on them.
“Why would LIL want us to see these flyers?” JP finally asked. “And use a drone to send them . . . here?” Above them, rainwater continued to drip from the rafters, leaving puddles across the dilapidated floor.
“Drones can be used from far away,” Toothpick said. “She can’t get to us, so this is the next best thing.”
“Buy why use Oliver Pruitt’s drone?” JP asked.
Mars jumped up. “Because it’s a clue. Don’t you see? Kids are missing all over the world, not just Aurora and Jonas. And maybe what Julia is trying to tell us is that Oliver Pruitt is behind it!”
When Mars returned to his apartment later that afternoon, he was greeted by big boxes. For the first time he could remember, his mother was home early. And she was packing.
“M-m-ma,” he stammered, surprised. “What’s going on? Why are you packing?”
Saira Patel stopped to look at him. She was still dressed in a dark turtleneck and leggings, and her hair was up in her customary ponytail. But now there were dark lines around her eyes where her eyeliner had run. She had been crying. Mars had never seen his mother cry in his life.
“So, Mars,” she said, her voice steely. “How was the GIFT?”
Mars’s stomach dropped. “You got my voice mail, right? Did the school call you?”
“The school did,” she continued, her voice as icy as before. “Principal Fagan called me, as a matter of fact. You know why? To tell me that you are EXPELLED!”
“Expelled?” Mars said, gulping. He knew that would be a possibility, but he’d never really expected the school to go through with it. “But that’s wack! Who cares if I take the GIFT or not?”
“Don’t you get it? We are finished here. This community — it’s over!”
Mars looked fearfully at her. “What do you mean? We can go and talk to Fagan, right? She’s just trying to scare us!”
Saira shook her head. “Enough. We are moving to Cleveland. Tomorrow. I knew all along. This place is no good for you. You have bad influences in school. Too many mistakes. I thought it would be all right living here. Close to . . . well, I see now. I was wrong. We need a fresh start. We need to get away from the bad influences. ALL of them.”
“My friends aren’t bad influences, Mamaji,” Mars cried. “They’re good. I’m sure I can convince Fagan to let me back in. I can’t leave now. Aurora and Jonas aren’t the only missing kids.”
“We aren’t discussing this, Mars, beta,” she said firmly. “My decision is final. Tomorrow. I will be done packing soon. I’ve made all the arrangements.”
Mars staggered back. All along, his mother had been warning him about moving to Cleveland. But he’d never taken her seriously. He walked slowly to his room and was stunned to find everything gone. His clothes, his books, even his computer and charging cords. On his bed lay the toy rocket. For some reason, Saira had not packed it yet. He picked it up, feeling the familiar fabric under his fingers.
He needed more time. He couldn’t leave tomorrow when there was so much left to do and he was in touch with Lost in London about the missing children. He was so close to solving the mystery. He’d seen the flyers, he’d seen the pictures of his friends, and now it wasn’t just about them — Oliver Pruitt could be involved, too. One way or another, Mars had to get to the bottom of it. If only there was a way to hold his mom off.
And Caddie! Tonight was the dance. He had promised her. Mars’s mind raced. He still had his backpack, his coat, and his phone. And his bike.
Mars put the toy rocket back on the bed and went to the living room, where his mom was wrapping up framed photos. The last items left on the mantel of a fireplace that hadn’t seen a single fire. Saira never had time to make one.
“Ma . . .” he started softly.
Saira was lost in thought, looking at a photo of her with Mars as a toddler, wearing a bright-red knitted hat. It was her and him. It had always been her and him as long as Mars could remember.
He swallowed. “Ma . . . you worked so hard. Like, this must have taken you all day.”
Saira turned to him. “Yes, Manu,” she said. Her voice was throaty. “I guess we didn’t have much to begin with. But we have each other, right?” She smiled tightly. “A fresh new start, that’s what we need.”
“So . . . let me get takeout, OK? Like, one more time Pepe’s Pizza, OK? I don’t think Cleveland has pizza like they make, right?”
Saira shook her head. “I’m not hungry. We still have some bread and jam in the fridge.”
“No, I’ll run out and get it, OK, Ma? I won’t be long. They’re just around the corner.”
Saira studied him for a moment. “Be back in fifteen minutes. I mean it. You better not disappoint me.”
“Of course,” Mars said easily. “I always come home, right? See you in the stars!”
Saira smiled unconsciously at their old saying.
“Chalo, chalte hai. Come quickly, Mars. Don’t delay,” she said. “I’ll see you in the stars.”
Mars gathered his coat and ran outside to where he had left his bike leaning against the apartment building. His heart was heavy. He’d never thought this day would come. His mother was silent, mysterious, going somewhere each day without telling him where. There were too many secrets, too much sadness, and in her eyes flashed a hidden anger, not at him but at something Mars didn’t understand. Even so, he loved her. She was his Ma. There was no one else in his life who had always been there. Except for his friends.
And now they needed him. They were worth fighting for, especially when he had lost everything else. “Here I go,” he whispered to himself, kicking off with his bike. “Forgive me, Ma.”
He pedaled rapidly down Chinook Street. He knew which way to go. And he didn’t need to look behind to know the drone was following him.
It was dark by the time Mars reached Caddie’s old tree house. It had been years since anyone had been up inside it. Caddie’s father had told her it was condemned, and that he ought to take it down before it crashed to the ground. Despite that, the tree house had remained, and its sorry state didn’t deter Mars. He crawled up the ladder inside the tree house, pushing aside a weather-beaten board game that had become unrecognizable from mildew and dust. The tree house was cold and dark, but it was dry. Maybe he could hide out here forever. He didn’t need much, just granola bars and water and maybe potato chips. It wasn’t like he could go back to his place, not with his mom’s plan to move to Cleveland.
A zip line connected the tree house to Caddie’s bedroom. When he was younger, Mars would give the zip line three hard shakes, which would vibrate the cable outside Caddie’s window. That was their secret signal. Then Caddie would give three shakes back and zip over to the tree house right away. That was years ago.
Mars reached out now and shook the zip line three times. One, two, three. He wondered if the zip line would fall down, it was so old. Would Caddie come? Would it work?
He waited and waited. And then: one, two, three. Caddie was shaking the zip line back. She’d gotten the message! She was on the way! He heard the familiar sound of the trolley seat whipping down the zip line, and then a bump as Caddie reached the tree house, her feet jumping onto
the platform.
“Mars?” she whispered. “Is that you?”
She crawled inside and saw him sitting on the floor.
“It is you!” she exclaimed. “Did you just get here? I sensed you. Then I thought, don’t be crazy, Caddie. Mars Patel is not in your backyard. And then I felt the zip line shake. What are you doing here? We haven’t used this place in years. I hope it doesn’t fall apart.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Mars said. “My mom says we’re moving to Cleveland. Tomorrow.”
“What! Oh no, Mars.” Caddie looked shocked. “You can’t move away.”
“I know. Try telling her that. She thinks Port Elizabeth is a bad influence. She’s mad I got expelled. But Fagan has had it in for me for a long time.”
“She hates all of us,” Caddie said. “I got another month of detention for skipping the GIFT test. Now my mom’s so upset she says I can’t leave my room for a month!”
Mars leaned back against the tree house wall. “Man, this sucks. Here I am expelled, you’re stuck in your room . . . and we were supposed to go to the dance tonight.”
“Well . . .” Caddie said slowly. “I’m still going.”
“I thought you were grounded!”
“I know. But my mom is so desperate for me to be normal, she’ll do anything, like making me go to this dance.” Caddie sat wrapping her arms around her knees.
“Then you’re going to the dance by yourself?”
“Nooo . . .” She looked away, embarrassed. “My mom is in this book club with Clyde Boofsky’s mom and . . .”
“No way!”
“I’m sorry, Mars. I know you don’t like him. But my mom and his mom are friends and . . .”
“Clyde is the biggest jerk,” Mars said.
“Isn’t he?” Caddie agreed, grimacing. “I’m only going because my mom is letting me out of the house this one evening. I’d much rather go with you.”
Mars leaned forward. “Then you will. I’ll meet you there.”
“But you’re expelled,” Caddie said. “How will you even get in?”
“I promised you, right? I’ll find a way.”
“I guess you always do think of something, Mars.” She seemed to read his mind because she added, “Of course you’re better than Clyde. Who would like the Boof?”
“His mom,” Mars said.
She laughed. “OK, I have to go, Mars. My mom will want to check on me to see if I’m ready.”
“I’ll be here a little longer. There’s something I need to do first.”
“Are you sure you’ll be OK? You want me to bring you anything?”
Mars shook his head. “Nah. I got my phone and my coat, and it’s dry in here. I’ll see you later at the dance, Caddie. Everything will be OK.”
“I know. We’re a team, right?” She climbed out of the tree house, and a few seconds later, he could hear her zip-lining back to her room.
Mars took out his phone. He needed to talk to LIL. Soon.
Caddie
which shoes r better for the dance
wedges or flats?
JP
don’t know cads
I can’t even match my socks!!
Caddie
ur coming right
JP
I hate dances
Caddie
but mars will b there and he’s MOVING
JP
rly????
Caddie
to Cleveland
JP
yo mars can’t survive without us!!!
Caddie
Now u have to come to the dance
JP
how do u feel
Caddie
sad :(
JP
I mean how do u feel feel
is the dance safe
Caddie
I didn’t want to tell u
my head rly rly hurts
Caddie
oops gotta go mom knocking
The first thing Mars noticed when he got to the school was the line of security people guarding the front entrance. “Are you kidding me? Why does a school dance need so much security?”
“They’re worried about another incident like Caddie’s wolf announcement,” Toothpick said. “I was reading online that it cost the school a lot of money because of the SWAT team they called in. Not to mention the bad publicity and pissed parents. And also, because you’re a wanted man.”
“Who, me?” Mars said, surprised. “Caddie’s the one who did the announcement.”
“Yeah, well no one knows that. But remember Oliver Pruitt, the world’s richest person with diabolical intentions? He’s on a mission to destroy you.”
Mars glanced above him, where the same drone that had been following him all evening was still hovering. “Don’t remind me.” He stared at the guards. “There must be a way to get in without getting seen.”
“Of course,” Toothpick said. “There’s the door through detention. No one remembers that entrance because it isn’t used anymore, and it’s in the back where there isn’t a security camera.”
“Toothpick, you’re a genius!” Mars exclaimed. “Let’s go.”
Several minutes later, Mars and Toothpick were inside the school and making their way up the metal staircase. Just as they were entering the sixth-grade hall, they ran into Mr. Q.
“Mars Patel, what are you doing here?” he demanded. “You know you’re expelled, right?”
“Mr. Q, I promised Caddie that I’d go to this dance with her,” Mars said. “I don’t break my promises. Especially to my friends. Also, this might be the last time I see her. My mom is moving us to Cleveland.”
“Cleveland!” Mr. Q said. He paused. “That’s extreme.”
“Don’t you see?” Mars asked. “Will you please help me out this one last time?”
“Mr. Mars, you’d be surprised what I’d do for you.” Mr. Q said softly. “Go on. I’ll pretend I never saw you, all right? But stay out of sight of the chaperones. I can’t promise what they’ll do.”
“Mr. Q — you are the boss,” Mars said.
Toothpick nodded. “You’re for real.”
They hurried down the hall to the gym doors.
“See, your suspicions about Mr. Q were unfounded,” Toothpick said.
“Yeah,” Mars agreed. “I was wrong about him. He really came through.” They opened the gym door. “Now to find Cad —” he stopped.
“Whoa, do you see Caddie?” Toothpick asked.
“Yeah,” Mars said. “She looks . . . amazing.”
Caddie was wearing a dark red chiffon dress with a scooped, beaded neckline that sparkled where the light hit it. Her hair was wavy and she wore glittery shoes to match the glittery frames of her glasses. She was talking to Clyde, who loomed over her in his misbuttoned shirt and wrinkled cargo pants.
“Randall!” Epica came gliding up to them. Gone was her blue blazer. She was wearing a spaghetti-strap white dress that poofed above her knees and her three-inch heels. “You look hot!”
Toothpick grinned. “You look dope, Epica. Would you like to dance?”
“I’d love to!”
Mars watched, agog, as Epica and Toothpick walked off to the dance floor.
By now JP had joined Mars.
“What just happened?” Mars said. “Did Toothpick just leave me to dance with a girl?”
“Bro, it looks that way,” JP said. “I guess we should be happy for him, huh?” They watched Toothpick bust a move with Epica. “It’s either that or bopping Epica on the head.”
Mars looked at JP. “Hey, wait a minute, you’re here. I thought you hate dances.”
“I do,” said JP, who was wearing a black sequined track suit. “Did you see Caddie?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you see how good she looks?”
“Yeah.” Mars sighed. “And I also saw the Boof with her.”
By now, Clyde had taken Caddie to the dance floor, where he was dancing awkwardly, his arms and legs moving in a jerky motion, while C
addie had a polite smile plastered to her face, pretending to dance only when he looked at her.
“He’s a disaster, Mars. Look at him!” JP exclaimed. “There’s no competition.”
“But she’s with him, not me, thanks to her mom,” Mars said glumly.
JP and Mars watched as the music changed to hip-hop and Clyde pumped his fists back and forth like he was driving a car. Caddie looked mortified. Next to him, Toothpick and Epica were doing some complicated pop-and-lock move. When had they gotten so good? Meanwhile, Clyde stumbled over Caddie’s feet and landed on his knees.
“Oh my god, poor Caddie,” JP said. “What are you doing here, Mars? Go over there! Ask Caddie to dance before she dies of embarrassment.”
Mars nodded. “You’re right, JP. I can do this, right?”
JP pointed to Caddie. “That way, dude.”
Mars steeled himself. Never mind what Clyde or anyone else thought. Caddie really did look beautiful. And there was also something he’d never seen before: her in a crowded room, not being overwhelmed with all the noise and lights and other people, wondering when she could get away from it. That Caddie was gone. This Caddie looked like could take care of herself. Like she could do anything.
His thoughts flickered to Aurora. He’d always thought his first dance would be with her. That one day he’d work up the nerve to ask her and somehow, she’d say yes. But Aurora was gone, and his life had literally changed overnight. Now here he was, about to ask Caddie to dance with him. He still missed Aurora so much, yet he was glad to be with Caddie. Was that possible? And OK?
He took a deep breath. “All right, JP,” he said. “Wish me luck.”
“Break a leg. Or whatever they say.”
Just then Mars’s phone pinged.
“Ignore it,” JP said immediately. “Now’s your chance. The Boof went to get a drink.”
Mars hesitated. “Let me just look.” He pulled out his phone and saw the message on his home screen. “No way, JP,” he exclaimed. “It’s LIL, finally. I’ve been trying to reach her and now she sent me a link! She says it contains the location where we can find all the missing children.”
“All of them?” JP crossed their arms. “You mean, like, in one place?”