Rachel shook her head in disgust. "He's trying to be nice to me, which is almost

worse. He wants me to go to Clarion Ladies Academy m the fall."

 

"The school where your mom went?"

 

"It's a stupid finishing school for society girls, all the way in New Hampshire.

Can you see me in finishing school?"

 

I admitted the idea sounded pretty dumb. Rachel was into urban art projects and

feeding the homeless and going to protest rallies to "Save the Endangered

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker" and stuff like that. I'd never even seen her wear a

dress. It was hard to imagine her learning to be a socialite.

 

She sighed. "He thi nks if he does a bunch of nice stuff for me. I'll feel

guilty and give in."

 

"Which is why he agreed to let me come with you guys on vacation?"

 

"Yes . . . but Percy, you'd be doing me a huge favor. It would be so much better

if you were with us.

 

Besides, there's something I want to talk — " She stopped abruptly.

 

"Something you want to talk about?" I asked. "You mean ... so serious we'd have

to go to St.