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〃It's a ballet studio；〃 I said； suddenly recognizing the familiar shapes。
They looked at me； surprised。
〃Do you know this room？〃 Jasper's voice sounded calm； but there was an
undercurrent of something I couldn't identify。 Alice bent her head to her
work； her hand flying across the page now； the shape of an emergency exit
taking shape against the back wall； the stereo and TV on a low table by
the front right corner。
〃It looks like a place I used to go for dance lessons — when I was eight
or nine。 It was shaped just the same。〃 I touched the page where the
square section jutted out； narrowing the back part of the room。 〃That's
where the bathrooms were — the doors were through the other dance floor。
But the stereo was here〃 — I pointed to the left corner — 〃it was older；
and there wasn't a TV。 There was a window in the waiting room — you would
see the room from this perspective if you looked through it。〃
Alice and Jasper were staring at me。
〃Are you sure it's the same room？〃 Jasper asked； still calm。
〃No； not at all — I suppose most dance studios would look the same — the
mirrors； the bar。〃 I traced my finger along the ballet bar set against
the mirrors。 〃It's just the shape that looked familiar。〃 I touched the
door； set in exactly the same place as the one I remembered。
〃Would you have any reason to go there now？〃 Alice asked； breaking my
reverie。
〃No； I haven't been there in almost ten years。 I was a terrible dancer —
they always put me in the back for recitals；〃 I admitted。
〃So there's no way it could be connected with you？〃 Alice asked intently。
〃No； I don't even think the same person owns it。 I'm sure it's just
another dance studio； somewhere。〃
〃Where was the studio you went to？〃 Jasper asked in a casual voice。
〃It was just around the corner from my mom's house。 I used to walk there
after school…〃 I said； my voice trailing off。 I didn't miss the look they
exchanged。
〃Here in Phoenix； then？〃 His voice was still casual。
〃Yes；〃 I whispered。 〃Fiftyeighth Street and Cactus。〃
We all sat in silence； staring at the drawing。
〃Alice； is that phone safe？〃
〃Yes；〃 she reassured me。 〃The number would just trace back to Washington。〃
〃Then I can use it to call my mom。〃
〃I thought she was in Florida。〃
〃She is — but she's ing home soon； and she can't e back to that
house while…〃 My voice trembled。 I was thinking about something Edward
had said； about the redhaired female at Charlie's house； at the school；
where my records would be。
〃How will you reach her？〃
〃They don't have a permanent number except at the house — she's supposed
to check her messages regularly。〃
〃Jasper？〃 Alice asked。
He thought about it。 〃I don't think there's any way it could hurt — be
sure you don't say where you are； of course。〃
I reached eagerly for the phone and dialed the familiar number。 It rang
four times； and then I heard my mom's breezy voice telling me to leave a
message。
〃Mom；〃 I said after the beep； 〃it's me。 Listen； I need you to do
something。 It's important。 As soon as you get this message； call me at
this number。〃 Alice was already at my side； writing the number for me on
the bottom of her picture。 I read it carefully； twice。 〃Please don't go
anywhere until you talk to me。 Don't worry； I'm okay； but I have to talk
to you right away； no matter how late you get this call； all right？ I
love you； Mom。 Bye。〃 I closed my eyes and prayed with all my might that
no unforeseen change of plans would bring her home before she got my
message。
I settled into the sofa； nibbling on a plate of leftover fruit；
anticipating a long evening。 I thought about calling Charlie； but I
wasn't sure if I should be home by now or not。 I concentrated on the
news； watching out for stories about Florida； or about spring training —
strikes or hurricanes or terrorist attacks — anything that might send
them home early。
Immortality must grant endless patience。 Neither Jasper nor Alice seemed
to feel the need to do anything at all。 For a while； Alice sketched the
vague outline of the dark room from her vision； as much as she could see
in the light from the TV。 But when she was done； she simply sat； looking
at the blank walls with her timeless eyes。 Jasper； too； seemed to have no
urge to pace； or peek through the curtains； or run screaming out the
door； the way I did。
I must have fallen asleep on the couch； waiting for the phone to ring
again。 The touch of Alice's cold hands woke me briefly as she carried me
to the bed； but I was unconscious again before my head hit the pillow。
===========================================================================
21。 PHONE CALL
I could feel it was too early again when I woke； and I knew I was getting
the schedule of my days and nights slowly reversed。 I lay in my bed and
listened to the quiet voices of Alice and Jasper in the other room。 That
they were loud enough for me to hear at all was strange。 I rolled till my
feet touched the floor and then staggered to the living room。
The clock on the TV said it was just after two in the morning。 Alice and
Jasper were sitting together on the sofa； Alice sketching again while
Jasper looked over her shoulder。 They didn't look up when I entered； too
engrossed in Alice's work。
I crept to Jasper's side to peek。
〃Did she see something more？〃 I asked him quietly。
〃Yes。 Something's brought him back to the room with the VCR； but it's
light now。〃
I watched as Alice drew a square room with dark beams across its low
ceiling。 The walls were paneled in wood； a little too dark； out of date。
The floor had a dark carpet with a pattern in it。 There was a large
window against the south wall； and an opening through the west wall led
to the living room。 One side of that entrance was stone — a large tan
stone fireplace that was open to both rooms。 The focus of the room from
this perspective； the TV and VCR； balanced on a toosmall wooden stand；
were in the southwest corner of the room。 An aged sectional sofa curved
around in front of the TV；