“I am,” said Alice, but she was quiet about it. Thoughtful.

“What is it?” Oliver said, studying her. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m going to redo my Surrender, you know.” She sighed. “In the spring. And I’ll finally have a task of my own.”

“Of course you will,” said Oliver, beaming. “And you’ll do splendidly.”

“Well,” she said, examining her fingers. “I might be gone a very long time.”

Oliver’s smile slipped. He cleared his throat and said, “Right. Of course.”

“So,” said Alice, looking off into the distance. “I was wondering if you’d come with me.”

Oliver blinked, surprised.

“I mean you don’t have to,” Alice said quickly. “Firstly it’s illegal and secondly I know you’ll be busy with other th—”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” he said. “Not for anything.”

And Oliver smiled and Alice smiled back, and she looked up at the sky and wondered, as she closed her eyes, how this small, cluttered world had managed to make room for all her happiness. Father was home and Mother was kind and Alice and Oliver would be friends for a very long time and that, as they say, was that.

Or at least it is all I will say on the subject.

Until next time, dear reader.

THE END