Chapter 13

It was Sunday morning, and that meant that Abigail's mother did not need the car to get to work.

But Abigail was still surprised at how easily her parents were convinced to let her brother

have it for the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Branigan clearly wanted Jeremy to come home more often, but they also

seemed to resent him having other things he wanted to do when he did, and often acted silently

wounded when he left the house to spend time with his friends. But at breakfast this morning,

when Jeremy had announced that he and Abby had to run an errand, and would it be

all right to use the car, everyone had been all smiles. Abigail recalled how her mother's

eyes had danced at the idea of her children engaged in some mysterious activity together,

and Abigail wondered if she would be just as delighted, if she knew

that they were on a quest to fill Jeremy's room back up with junk.

The drive to the heroes of yesterday Emporium took 22 minutes and was accomplished almost

entirely in silence.

When we get there, let me do the talking,' Jeremy said at last.

"' Fine,' Abigail shrugged.

"'This guy will try and take us for everything he can,' Jeremy said bitterly.

"'So just let me handle it.'

"'I thought you had a job, Abigail frowned.

I do, Jeremy said Crossley.

A good job, I mean, Abigail clarified.

Yeah, it's good, Jeremy grunted.

I mean, it's good experience, and it pays better than the mini-put.

...