As the streetcar rumbled down Canal Street, Jacklooked over his shoulder. Dipper was right. AfricanAmericans were sitting in the back, while only whitepeople were in the front. Jack hadn't even noticed iton their first streetcar ride.
Jack's heart felt heavy. Why would anyone notwant to sit next to someone just because they are adifferent color?he wondered. How could anyone everbe mean to Dipper? Dipper, who is gentle andfriendly and kind? Dipper, who hears musiceverywhere?
116Jack listened to the click-clack of the streetcarrolling down the tracks. The sound had a good beat.
Jack tapped his hand against his knee, until thestreetcar came to a stop.
"Let's go," said Annie.
Jack and Annie stood up. Canal Street was brightwith lights. People were still selling things on thesidewalk.
"What time is it, please?" Jack asked the conductor.
"Five minutes after nine, boy," said the conductor.
"Y'all better head for home.""We are!" said Annie.
Jack and Annie hopped off the streetcar and startedto run. They ran to the bottom of Canal Street andcrossed to the palm trees in the grove near theMississippi River. In the dark, they found the ropeladder and scrambled up it into the tree house.
Jack grabbed the Pennsylvania book that wouldtake them home.
***117"Wait!" said Annie, looking out the window.
"Look!"A brightly lit Mississippi showboat was rolling upthe river. A largo paddle wheel behind the boat waschurning the water.
118Music was coming from on board.
Annie grabbed Jack's arm. "Listen! The 'Heebie-Jeebies'!" she said.
Jack listened. He could hear the trio singing: LittleMack, Happy, and Big Nose Sidney. But the bestsound of all was the bright sound of a horn sailingthrough the New Orleans night.
"It's Dipper!" said Annie. "It's got to be!""He caught the boat!" said Jack. "Just in time!"Jack and Annie listened to the joyful swingingsound of Dipper's music until the riverboat rolled outof sight.
Jack heaved a happy sigh. Then he pointed at theirPennsylvania book. "I wish we could go home," hesaid.
The wind began to blow.
The tree house started to spin.
It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
119***Jack and Annie were wearing their own clothesagain. Rain tapped gently against the roof of the treehouse. A cool breeze blew through the window.
"We have to get home before Mom and Dad wakeup," said Annie.
"Right," said Jack. He pulled A History of NewOrleans Musicout of his backpack and left it on thefloor.
Annie put the trumpet beside it. Then they headeddown the rope ladder. They pulled up their rainhoods. As they tramped in their boots through thewet autumn woods, they were both quiet.
Finally Annie said, "I feel good.""I feel good, too," said Jack. "We accomplished ourmission.""But I feel other things, too," said Annie. "I feel madthat Dipper couldn't sit on the streetcar with us.""Me too," said Jack. "And it wasn't just in New120Orleans. A long time ago, they had laws like that inlots of places.""Unbelievable," said Annie.
"Yeah," said Jack.
"And I feel scared when I think of those spiders intheir webs," said Annie.
"Oh, they didn't bother anybody," said Jack. "But Istill feel scared when I think of ghosts.""Actually, they didn't bother anybody, either," saidAnnie.
"True," said Jack. "And neither did that bat."Annie laughed. "That's true, too," she said. "I feelsad when I think we'll never see Dipper again.""We can listen to his music," said Jack.
"Yeah ... and I guess the music all around us willalways make us think of him," said Annie. "Like rightnow Dipper would hear the music of the rain.""Tappity-tap-tap,"said Jack.
"And the music of our feet scrunching over thedead leaves--" said Annie.
121"Scrunchity-scrunch-scrunch,"said Jack. "Patti-patpat!"sang Annie. "Skid-dat-de-dat!" sangJack. "Skiddat-de-doh!"sang Annie. ""Go, Mama! Go!" shouted Jack. And the two ofthem ran out of the Frog Creek woods and up theirstreet, heading for home. |