Chapter 21

           Mostpeopleranafterthescarecrow.Sophierantheotherway,throughthebroomcupboardintotheshop,grabbingherstickasshewent.

           “Thisismyfault!”shemuttered.“Ihaveageniusfordoingthingswrong!IcouldhavekeptMissAngorianindoors.Ionlyneededtotalktoherpolitely,poorthing!Howlmayhaveforgivenmealotofthings,buthe’snotgoingtoforgivemethisinahurry!”

           Intheflowershopshehauledtheseven-leaguebootsoutofthewindowdisplayandemptiedhibiscus,roses,andwateroutofthemontothefloor.Sheunlockedtheshopdoorandtowedthewetbootsoutontothecrowdedpavement.“Excuseme,”shesaidtovariousshoesandtrailingsleevesthatwerewalkinginherway.Shelookedupatthesun,whichwasnoteasytofindinthecloudygraysky.“Let’ssee.Southeast.Thatway.Excuseme,excuseme,”shesaid,clearingasmallspaceforthebootsamongtheholiday-makers.Sheputthemdownpointingtherightway.Theshesteppedintothemandbegantostride.

           Zip-sip,zip-zip,zip-zip,zip-zip,zip-zip,zip-zip,zip-zip.Itwasasquickasthat,andevenmoreblurredandbreathlessinbothbootsthaninone.