Sam considered this, along with the possibility that friendship might give them access to any number of fancy toys. “Fine. Hey kid, do you want to play with us?”
The boy looked longingly at the pile of water balloons. “I’m not allowed.”
“Because you’ll wreak your dumb clothes?”
“No, I’m just not allowed.”
Sam remembered the way his dad had shut the door in her dad’s face and her anger resurged. “So then go away.”
The boy shrugged. “What if I don’t want to?”
“Then me and my sister will beat you up!”
Nicole looked dismayed at this prospect. “Sammy, I don’t want to beat him up.”
“I will help!” Tabby declared. “I will help!”
“Shh.” Sam picked her up and walked her back to the hopscotch court. “You’re too little to fight.”
Scott stretched himself up, trying to make himself look taller. “You can’t beat me up. I’m a boy.”
“So what? I beat up loads of boys.”
Scott Sanderson looked at Nicole. “Does she?”
“Yeah. Everyone’s scared of her, so they’re scared of me because we look the same.”
“I don’t think you look the same.”
He was lying. Kids said that all the time, but when she and Nix secretly switched their clothes, no one could tell.
“Stop talking,” she said, balling her hands into fists so he’d know she was serious. “Either come fight or get out of here, posho!”
“I’m not posh!” Scott Sanderson said, and he sounded so posh, Sam laughed. Tabby laughed because she was laughing and even Nicole giggled. Scott Sanderson didn’t like that. His forehead rumpled and suddenly Sam could see his big, mean dad in his face. He pointed at her. “My dad says your dad’s a dirty hippie.”
Nicole and Tabby gasped. Sam felt her blood go as hot as lava. “My dad says your dad’s a fat piece of shit!”
Scott Sanderson’s neat little mouth fell into a perfect ‘O.’ “Did he?”
No. Sam’s dad had never said anything like that, but it didn’t matter. Their fancy-pants neighbour had slagged off their dad andno oneslagged off their dad.
“Yeah, he did, and now we’re gonna smash you!” Sam looked at her twin for reassurance. Nicole wore the miserable expression she always did when she knew she had to fight. “Let’s go get him.”
The twins ran toward the fence, but it was locked. Sam kicked it. “Open up!”
Scott Sanderson retreated up the steps to his house. “You’re not allowed in here!”
“We are if you let us in!” Sam shook the fence, making the iron bars rattle like electric bones. “Open up you pissing little—”
Scott Sanderson’s big front door swung open and the worst possible person emerged.
“What the hell are you doing?” Greg Sanderson snarled. “I can hear you upstairs.”
“D-d-dad! I-I w-w-was…” A strange thing was happening to Scott Sanderson. He was sinking into the ground, melting like that witch in that movie and his voice was cracking on every word like it was broken.
His dad had noticed, too. “Spit it out, boy. Open your fucking mouth andtalk.”
Nicole and Tabby gasped and even Sam was shocked. Grown-ups weren’t supposed to swear at kids, unless they dropped a hammer on their toes or didn’t see you watching TV on the couch. Everyone knew that.