Page 33 of Mislaid in Parts Half-Known

“IknowI’m going home, and I don’t need to cut the line,” said Sumi.

“The school is not going to be okay if we don’t figure out how we’re dealing with Seraphina. Right now, they need me, and I’d always feel bad for leaving them in the lurch,” said Christopher.

They looked to Cora, who took a deep, shaking breath.

“I’m… torn,” she admitted. “I want to go back to the school. I don’t want to let those mean girls think they ran me off. But I want to go home, more than anything. I think, though, that as long as Icanbe torn, I’m not sure enough. I’ll go back to school.”

“All of you?” asked Antsy.

They nodded.

“All right,” she said. “The door you need is this way. Only one, this time.”

“I’ll open it,” said Sumi.

“I won’t argue,” said Antsy, and laughed. “This all feels so grown-up, when I’m angry because they didn’t let me be a kid when I was supposed to.”

“I don’t think we get second chances with our own injuries,” said Sumi. “All we can really do is try to clean up all the broken glass before someone else gets there.”

Antsy nodded, and on they walked until they reached the front door of the school. It was plain, weathered and familiar, and as welcoming as anything. Antsy gestured for Sumi to take the knob. Sumi reached out to do so… and then hesitated, glancing at Kade.

“You know,” she said, “I was dead for a while.”

“You never stop reminding us,” said Christopher dryly.

“So I’m younger than I’m supposed to be, and maybe that’s part of why the timeline isn’t unsnarling enough to make it feel like the right time to get back to Ponder and the war. Maybe I just need to be a little older.”

Kade blinked. “Sumi, you’re not saying—”

“Not forever,” said Sumi. “Just until I catch up. It shouldn’t take all that long, with all these doors. I need to get you alone. We need to have a little talk, you and me, but not when there’s anyone else around, and not when we’re already in the middle of a quest that wants to be finished before we get distracted. So you wait for me, okay? As soon as I’m old enough, I’ll come back to school so we can talk and the door to Confection can find me.”

“You little weirdo,” said Kade, and hugged her, almost knocking the croquet mallet out of her hands. Sumi laughed and hugged him back, while Emily and Antsy exchanged confused looks and Cora and Christopher looked resigned.

“What’s happening?” asked Emily.

“I’m going to stay here and help with the transition,” said Sumi. “And if any mean ladies who lie to kids try to crawl out of the woodwork, I’ll make sure they leave without doing any more damage.”

“But you’re coming back, right?”

“As soon as I catch up to myself, solemn swear,” said Sumi, and opened the door on the entry hall of the school, smiling brightly at the rest of them as she did. “Maybe I’ll even get that nifty trick Antsy can do, empty the place out. Now get out of here before we change our minds.”

“Jerk,” said Kade, and stepped through.

“Thank you,” said Emily, following.

“Youbettercome back,” said Christopher, before he left.

Cora hesitated.

“It’s not too late,” said Antsy.

“I’m still not sure,” said Cora. “You’re a jerk but I love you, Sumi. I won’t touch any of your stuff before you get back.”

“You can touch the perishables, or they’ll perish,” said Sumi, and watched as Cora stepped through. Then she let go.

The door swung shut, and disappeared.

EPILOGUE

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