Stella

Stella and Cloe play many games, which helps Stella to both trust Cloe and to “read her mind” (90). Stella thinks that soon she will know Cloe as well as she knew Connie. Stella learns to perform numerous tricks for Cloe as they train together. Meanwhile, Cloe keeps working to get Stella comfortable with the teeter-totter, encouraging her to go farther by putting the treats higher on the board. Stella gets the treats, but then she becomes afraid, not knowing how to get down. She panics as she imagines the sound the contraption will make when one side falls, but Cloe picks her up and puts her on the ground.

Vern’s nephews are supposed to be gone, so Cloe and Stella go back to the creek. It has been a near-perfect day for Stella. When they get close to the water, Stella smells something that reminds her of the boys, but Cloe pulls her closer to the water. Cloe’s book falls to the ground and is destroyed. The boys have not in fact left town, and Stella senses that they are nearby. Stella tries to warn Cloe of the danger, but while Cloe recognizes that Stella is acting differently, she does not know that she is trying to warn her.