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           "Whydon’tyouwalkintoanotherroomnowsoyourfacedoesn’truineverything?There’snoreasonforyourmothertosuffer.Asyou’rewalking,pleasesay,’Mom,pleaselistentome.’Sayitnow."

           "Mom,pleaselistentome,"myvoicepleaded.Iwalkedveryslowlytothebedroom,feelingAlice’sworriedstareonmyback.Ishutthedoorbehindme,tryingtothinkclearlythroughtheterrorthatgrippedmybrain.

           "Therenow,areyoualone?Justansweryesorno."

           "Yes."

           "Buttheycanstillhearyou,I’msure."

           "Yes."

           "Allright,then,"theagreeablevoicecontinued,"say,’Mom,trustme.’"

           "Mom,trustme."

           "ThisworkedoutratherbetterthanIexpected.Iwaspreparedtowait,butyourmotherarrivedaheadofschedule.It’seasierthisway,isn’tit?Lesssuspense,lessanxietyforyou."

           Iwaited.

           "NowIwantyoutolistenverycarefully.I’mgoingtoneedyoutogetawayfromyourfriends;doyouthinkyoucandothat?Answeryesorno."

           "No."

           "I’msorrytohearthat.Iwashopingyouwouldbealittlemorecreativethanthat.Doyouthinkyoucouldgetawayfromthemifyourmother’slifedependedonit?Answeryesorno."

           Somehow,therehadtobeaway.Irememberedthatweweregoingtotheairport.SkyHarborInternationalAirport:crowded,confusinglylaidout...

           "Yes."

           "That’sbetter.I’msureitwon’tbeeasy,butifIgettheslightest

           hintthatyouhaveanycompany,well,thatwouldbeverybadforyourmother,"thefriendlyvoicepromised.