Summerlost by Ally Condie

like he was farting with every step. I did it when he was too far away to hear. Every time I did it I kept a straight face and Leo would turn red from trying not to laugh. Leo thought I was funny. Like it was one of my main characteristics. It felt great.
    It also felt great when Gary got mad at Cory for not wearing his peasant hat during part of his first shift. “You’re in
England
!” he told Cory. “One more stunt like that and I’ll fire you.”
    â€œI guess Cory’s dad doesn’t know Gary,” I said to Samantha, and she laughed too. So maybe more than one person thought I was funny.

2.
    Leo and I were
vrrt-vrrt
ing past the concession stand when he stopped all of a sudden and grabbed my arm. “
Look
,” he said. “Right over there. Daniel Alexander.”
    Daniel Alexander was the man who had founded the Summerlost Festival almost fifty years ago. He knew everything about the festival and was still involved with running it. Every now and then he came across the courtyard and if you were close enough to say hi to him he would always say hi back. To anyone, even though he was famous. He actually reminded me of Leo, the way his face lit up.
    Leo had said hi to Daniel Alexander five times.
    I had said hi to him zero times.
    â€œThis way,” Leo said. “Today’s the day.”
    â€œThe day I finally talk to him?” I said. “Or the day you ask if you can interview him about Lisette Chamberlain?”
    â€œThe day you talk to him,” Leo said.
    â€œI can’t believe you’re such a chicken about this,” I told Leo. “It’s almost like you’re scared of him.”
    â€œOh, I’m definitely scared of him.”
    â€œBut he’s so nice.”
    â€œExactly,” Leo said. “It’s worse when nice people get mad at you. And he’ll be mad if he finds out I’m giving a tour about his friend.”
    â€œBut he could probably tell you so much.”
    â€œShut up,” Leo said. “He’s
right there
.”
    And he was. Daniel Alexander had stopped near us to look at the signboard with the day’s Summerlost Festival activities on it. I could already see people around the courtyard turning his way, preparing to swarm. Now was our chance.
    â€œHi,” I said, and I must have said it loud, because Daniel Alexander jumped when he turned around, and his purple drink went all over my skirt and blouse.
    â€œOh
no
,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”
    â€œIs that wine?” Leo asked.
    That made Daniel Alexander laugh his wonderful laugh and more people looked in our direction. Including Cory the Hellfart. Including Gary. Oh no.
    â€œHeavens, no,” Daniel Alexander said. “It’s my special health drink. I have it every morning. Tastes awful, but it’s supposed to keep me young.”
    He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to me. “But I’m afraid the berries in it probably stain terribly.” He blinked. “Well. Nothing to worry about, mydear. You go down to the costume shop and they’ll fix you right up. Ask for Meg.”
    I hesitated. Hadn’t Gary said something about making sure to stay on Meg’s good side? And wouldn’t my showing up in a stained costume be a bad thing?
    Out of the corner of my eye I saw Gary moving our way.
    I could let Gary get mad at me or take my chances with the unknown.
    â€œ
Go
,” Leo whispered.

3.
    The stairwell down to the costume shop smelled old, like my dad’s elementary school, which he showed us once when we went to Portland. The floor at the bottom was speckly linoleum. The ceiling felt low and the lights hummed.
    I walked past doors that said WIGS and MAKEUP and kept on going toward the end of the hall and the sign that said COSTUMES . Every sound I made seemed to echo. I tried to make sure my sandals didn’t squish or slap.
    When I got to the costume