These Unlucky Stars

by Gillian McDunn

  Gloria heals. Her cast comes off. She moves to Shady Lane. Otto lives with Albert, Paul, and Fabian. I haven’t seen him since that day at the park. I wish I had remembered to tell him what a brave dog he was. Maybe Albert can tell him for me.

  Up until the day Gloria moved, I thought she’d change her mind. With her arm healed, she could have stayed at her house with Otto. She said no, moving was for the best—for her and for Otto, too. It scared her that he escaped, and she doesn’t want it to happen again. Besides, it turns out Shady Lane has a monthly disco party. No roller skates, though, of course, which is too bad.

  I visit her in the hospital. One time, I asked her what to save from her boxes.

  She leaned against the pillows, smiling. “If you can find that picture of me and little Albert, I’d like that.”

  My mouth dropped open. In all those boxes, there was only one thing she wanted. “That’s all? What about the other pictures? What about your crown?”

  She shook her head. “You keep anything you want.”

  I asked Albert to save the crown for me. I know that it will always remind me of Gloria—not just Gloria the disco queen or Gloria the adventurer. It will remind me of all the Glorias she is and ever was. The least mealymouthed person I know.

  The house was listed for sale before Gloria even left the hospital. Albert said it’s thanks to Ray and me. With all my work going through boxes and all of Ray’s work fixing up the outside, the house was in much better shape than it had been at the beginning of summer. I was glad we were helpful, but I didn’t feel very glad when I saw the For Sale sign out front.

  Luckily, I didn’t have to see it for very long. Her house was snapped up within a week by a newlywed couple with three kittens. Cats, living in Otto’s house! I wondered what he’d think about that.

  I wonder about Otto a lot. I didn’t know him very long, but I like to think we understood each other. He needed help coming into the world, and I guess I did, too.

  I sure hope Albert and Paul have learned his favorite spots for belly scratches. I hope Fabian doesn’t scowl too much. It might hurt Otto’s feelings.

  I haven’t made it out to Shady Lane to see Gloria. I will, but I’m not ready yet. Because when I see her without Otto, I think the whole truth of this summer is going to hit me. I need to guard my heart a little longer, until I’m ready.

  This morning, Albert is going to stop by to drop off the crown. We’re just finishing breakfast when the doorbell rings.

  Dad looks at me. “Aren’t you going to get that?”

  Before shoving my chair back from the table, I eat my last two bites of oatmeal. Believe it or not, I actually like oatmeal now. Louise showed me a little trick of adding cream and blueberries, which magically turns regular old oatmeal into something delicious.

  When I answer the door, Albert is standing there. But he isn’t alone.

  It’s the best surprise ever. I fall to my knees.

  “Otto!” I say.

  Otto bounds over to me, swishing his tail so hard, he practically falls over. I lean down and start giving him ear scratches. He flops over right there on the porch to show his belly.

  “Look at you, out on an adventure,” I say, touching his soft fur. “Such a brave dog.”

  As if to answer, his tongue rolls out the side of his mouth in a classic Otto grin.

  Ray joins us on the porch. “Otto’s here for a visit? Great!”

  Dad shakes his head. “He’s not here for a visit.”

  I cross my arms. Of course, I should have known. Dad and his rules.

  “Please, Dad,” I say. “Just a short one. I’ve missed him so much.”

  Otto stretches his paws out contentedly.

  Dad sighs. “Come here, Otto. Let me have a look at you.”

  Otto is in a cooperative mood. He stands up and shakes himself. Then he trots over to Dad and sits at his feet.

  Dad looks down at him. “What a funny-looking brute.”

  Otto’s tail wags, like he has no idea he’s being criticized.

  “Dad!” I say. “That’s rude.”

  “Hmm,” Dad says skeptically. “He sure has a lot of teeth.”

  “He’s the least ferocious dog of all time,” I tell him. “He wouldn’t hurt a fly, would you, Otto?”

  Dad reaches down to scratch behind Otto’s ears. “So hairy. I bet he’s prone to tangles.”

  “Easily fixed by a little brushing,” I say.

  Dad rubs Otto’s chin. “What’s the deal with these eyes that point in different directions?”

  I sniff. “Pish. He’s distinctive. Unique.”

  Dad laughs, straightening up. He looks at Albert and nods. “All right.”

  My eyes get round. “You mean it—he can visit?” My mind fills with all the places I want to take him. I can show him my room and the backyard. I want to walk him along the stream. Maybe I can find an old tennis ball and teach him how to fetch.

  Dad’s face is unreadable. “He can’t visit.”

  Oh. My heart caves in on itself. I bury my face in my hands. I want to block out the whole world.

  “Annie,” Albert says softly. “Listen to your dad.”

  I wipe my eyes and look at Dad. My fists turn into tight balls. I’m ready to give him a piece of my mind. I’m ready to tell him how unfair he is. I’m ready to—

  Dad smiles so wide, his eyes crinkle up.

  “Otto can’t visit,” he says slowly. “Because he’s already home.”

  I freeze. I must be hearing things.

  “What?” shouts Ray. “Really?”

  “We think he misses Annie,” Albert says. He holds up something in a familiar shade of green.

  “My sweatshirt!” It’s covered in Otto’s hair.

  “He won’t sleep without it,” Albert says. “We didn’t understand why. Then, the other day, I tried to wash it, and he cried and cried. Then Paul looked inside and saw your name.”

  “But, Dad,” I say. “What about your rules?”

  Dad’s eyes twinkle. “Some things are bigger than rules.”

  I sink my hands into Otto’s fur. I let myself feel the softness. There will never be another dog so handsome, unique, and distinct. And he’s mine.

  My head and my heart have declared a truce. They sing to me with their own music, and this is what they say: love is sometimes hard, but it is worth it, worth it, worth it.

  CHAPTER

  42

  It takes all five of us to carry out the plan—six of us, really. It also takes a bit of luck.

  Faith grasps a bag from Lulu’s bakery.

  Ray hoists several big containers from JoJo & The Earl’s.

  Tyler and Grant support an oversize box, struggling to keep it out of sight.

  And I’m holding my gift for Gloria.

  The receptionist at the check-in desk wears her hair in a twist. We tell her why we’re there, and she frowns. “Is Ms. Crumb expecting you?”

  “She prefers Gloria, actually. Gloria or nothing at all,” I tell her as I sign in.

  She narrows her eyes. “Do you each understand our visitors’ rules? No noise, no firearms, no pets?”

  We all nod, no one meeting her eyes.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Tyler adds for good measure.

  Faith holds out the bag, smiling widely. “Muffins. I hope you and the other staff enjoy.”

  “How lovely,” says the receptionist, peeking inside the bag. “No one ever brings things by for us.”

  We make our way across the lobby. Just a few more feet to the elevator, which is standing wide open. From inside the box, there’s a scrabbling. We freeze.

  “Achoo!” Ray says—the fakest fakey-fake sneeze I have ever heard in my entire life.

  “Quiet, please,” says the receptionist around a mouthful of muffin.

  “Sorry about that, ma’am,” says Tyler. “He’s got allergies. Ragweed. Elephant grass. Pumpkin seeds.”

  Faith stifles a giggle.

  “Mmm,” says the receptionist.r />
  We duck inside the elevator. Ray hits the button for the third floor.

  From inside the box, there’s a low whine. At the same time, all five of us say, “Shhhh.”

  “We’ll be there soon,” I say through the cardboard box.

  The elevator dings, and we head down the hall. We look at one another with wide eyes. The plan is working.

  We all know our parts. Tyler and Grant will station themselves as lookouts. If they see anyone coming, they’ll hoot like owls. When I suggested this, Ray objected. Who ever heard of an owl in an old folks’ home? But no one could think of anything better, so the plan stuck.

  I can’t wait to give Gloria her gift. I painted it last night. I take it out for a quick peek.

  People see things in different ways. Some people might look at this picture and see a crabby lady, an ugly dog, and an unlucky girl. Others might see a woman who lives life on her own terms. A dog who is strikingly unique. A girl who is doing her best.

  Some people might miss the small details—the crown on the old lady’s head, the pom-poms on the wheelchair, the eclipse of moths dancing around us. But there’s no missing the deep-blue sky. I dotted it with stars like so many strings of twinkle lights wrapped around the universe.

  Art is what you make of it. And I guess life is like that, too.

  I can’t say for sure whether these stars are lucky, but they’re the only ones I’ve got. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Mary Kate Castellani, who often knows what I’m trying to say before I do. Thank you for loving Annie from the start.

  Marietta Zacker, who always goes above and beyond. I appreciate our talks and am very happy to have you in my corner.

  A big thank you to Erin Casey, Nancy Gallt, and everyone at Gallt & Zacker. You are all stars!

  Brigid Kemmerer, thank you for being there for me with every single page.

  Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books: Cindy Loh, Claire Stetzer, Oona Patrick, Melissa Kavonic, Nicholas Church, Erica Barmash, Lily Yengle, Phoebe Dyer, Beth Eller, Jasmine Miranda, Faye Bi, Lex Higbee, Erica Loberg, Donna Mark, and Jeanette Levy. You are the best team I could ask for.

  Gloria was inspired in part by my godmother, Barbara Sederquist, who was officially The Best. I’m thankful for all the wintergreen Life Savers, fireworks spectaculars, beach picnics, and of course her irreverent, tell-it-like-it-is personality.

  Lisa Ramée, thank you for thoughts on early pages. Hoping for another lunch soon!

  Lauren Tapyrik, thank you for sharing your heart. I loved hearing about your start with dogs.

  Caroline Flory, your insight is priceless, as always.

  Laura Case, thank you for being there through it all—the laughter, disappointment, joy, and the most dramatic seasons ever. Thank you to Jon, Nate, and Alex for your friendship.

  Gauri Johnston, my sounding board, my reality check, my dear friend.

  Aislinn Estes, for everything.

  Anna Totten for many lunches, check-ins, and creativity pep talks.

  Jared Turner, for being my brother.

  Jackie Skahill, for helping me be a better writer and a better person.

  Thank you Alicia Williams and Nailah Nolley, for our discussion about the importance of names in books. I appreciate you both so much.

  Mariama Lockington, Jess Redman, Victoria Coe, Ashley Bernier, Jennifer Springer, Wendy Chen, Julia Ellis, Chris Kleinschmidt, Mandy Roylance, Larissa Marantz, Christina Haisty, Sam Boatwright, Lisa Ray, Camille Andros, Robin Hall, Kirsten Bock, Sarah Hall, and Stacy McAnulty, thank you for your friendship.

  Chris Baron, Jessica Kramer, Rajani LaRocca, Cory Leonardo, Josh Levy, Naomi Milliner, and Nicole Panteleakos. Although we may disagree on raisins, we agree on so much more.

  There are so many VERY GOOD DOGS and I would like to personally thank the following pups for making the world a better place: Friday, Abby, and Owen McDunn, Jack Gouthama, Pearl Johnston, Daisy and Charlotte Case, Lola, Bean, and Eva Estes, Beanie Gummadi, Justin Ellis, Daisy and Bowie Ellis, Pepper Chen, Dash Springer, Keva Totten, Cocoa Bernier, Boomer LaRocca, Winston and Indie Kleinschmidt, Buster McDonald, Scout, Piglette, and Bentley Hemingway, Louie Rustemeyer, and Sir Henry HoldLock.

  Jon, Nora, Leo, and Violet—the stars that brought you to me were the luckiest ones to ever shine. I love you.

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  First published in the United States of America in March 2021 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

  Text copyright © 2021 by Gillian McDunn

  Illustrations by Jeanette Levy

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: McDunn, Gillian, author.

  Title: These unlucky stars / by Gillian McDunn.

  Description: New York : Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2021.

  Summary: According to eleven-year-old Annie, luck is never on her side, causing her to be somewhat of a loner, but after some prodding by her social studies teacher Annie relunctantly tries her fortune at making friends.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2020035095 (print) | LCCN 2020035096 (e-book)

  ISBN 978-1-5476-0538-5 (hardcover) • ISBN 978-1-5476-0539-2 (e-book)

  Subjects: CYAC: Self-confidence—Fiction. | Brothers and sisters—Fiction. | Luck—Fiction. | Friendship—Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.1.M43453 Th 2021 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.M43453 (e-book) | DDC [Fic]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020035095

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