Runaways (Orphans 5)

all asleep.

The sun had just gone down behind the birch,

maple and hickory trees that surrounded us. Darkness felt like a warm blanket. It was very quiet. The birds

had gone to sleep, too.

"I wonder what Gordon's doing now," Raven

said.

"Thinking of us, that's for sure," I replied.

Raven laughed.

"I don't want to think of him," Butterfly said.

We all grunted.

"Good night," I told them and they all said good

night.

I didn't wake again until the car was filled with

light. It lit up my eyelids and washed out my dreams.

My lids flickered and I realized it wasn't bright

because of the morning sun.

"Oh no," I thought and sat up. A car was right

behind us, right on top of us.

Before I could warn the girls, there was a tap at

my window and the face of an elderly man. He was

peering in with his hand over his eyes. My heart did

flip-flops. The window on my side had been rolled

completely closed. Slowly, I lowered it. As I did so,

the others began to stir.

"Well, I'll be darned," the old man said, "a

bunch of lambs who have lost their way. What'cha

doin' sleepin' in a car, for goodness sakes, when there's plenty of room in the house? Go on," he said, pointing ahead. "Follow the road. Go on. Nana will be

happy to see you all. Go on."

I looked back at Crystal.

"You better do as he says," she whispered.