"Melony Tyne?" Zoe asked. "Well, she's an athlete. One of the best at the high school. She even lifts weights. That's why she always looks so buff."
"And she's a lesbian," Stephanie pointed out.
"Oh, yeah. That too," Zoe said, nodding.
"Is she black, by any chance?" Mikey asked.
"Yeah? So?" Zoe asked, wondering what that had to do with anything.
Mikey wasn't sure, but he thought that he might have known someone named Melony after all. There was a black girl who lived down the street who used to occasionally babysit him, but it was years ago. Remembering back, though, Mikey didn't remember that girl being into sports. But, it had been a few years, so things might have changed. "No reason," Mikey said, not noticing how his hair had gotten a little longer and was lightening in color.
"Well, I'm glad to see that you're okay," Stephanie said. "Uh, I mean, we are glad to see that you're okay." Sure, Mikey was almost like family to her, ever since she became friends with Jon, but still ... she was feeling oddly, well, motherly towards the 10-year old. She had to laugh to herself. Yeah, like she could ever be someone's mother. "Um, well, now that Mikey's been found, I think I'll head home and get some normal clothes. No offense, Zoe, but you have terrible taste in colors," she said, looking down at the lavender T-shirt she was wearing. Funny, for some reason she thought that it was dark purple when she had put it on. But she was pretty sure that Zoe didn't own anything in dark colors.
"Maybe you don't like bright colors, but I do," Zoe said.
Mikey wasn't sure what was more surprising. That Zoe was of a different race now (but still apparently thinking that they were still siblings) or that her personality was completely different. Zoe liking bright happy colors? Mikey never thought he'd ever hear those words coming out of her mouth.
On their way back to their house, Mikey looked over at Zoe. He still had to get used to the fact that this was his sister. "So, uh, have you seen Mom?"
Zoe stopped suddenly. "You know what? I haven't."
So what was Linda Gibson doing right around this time?
