She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah…

"An-neeee!" I reached Cynthia's bedroom just as the Beatles record began blaring.

"This is just like the gramophone I saw at the circus, Gus, only you don't have to crank it! What's it called?" Her face was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Gramophone? She sounds like my grandmother. "It's called a record player, Annie, but, you're making too much noise! We can't let anyone know you're here. Not yet." I shut off the record.  Too late.

"Who are you?" Suzette, arms folded, foot tapping stood in the doorway.

"She's with me, Suzette." This was bad. The last person I wanted to see was Cynthia's cranky older sister. "Her family is just visiting and, uh…Cynthia and I said she could hang around with us since she doesn't know…anyone…" My voice cracked.

Fortunately, Suzette didn't care enough to stick around and ask more questions. "Whoever you are…no more noise! I'm trying to practice." She stormed out of the room. "Pests," she mumbled.

I slumped onto the bed, head in hands, knowing this was just a preview. How was I going to explain-away Annie's appearance? Or…disappearance. Now, here did she go?

"Wow, Gus! Look at all these clothes!" Annie flew from the closet, arms loaded with a pile of dresses.

Oh, no. Cynthia will have a fit when…if she gets back from 1914. "Please put those back, Annie. Cynthia never lets anyone touch her clothes." I had to get through to her. "One day I got soaked in a rainstorm. Would she let me borrow a shirt and a pair of shorts? Nooo. I had to sit by the heat vent until I dried!"

Annie looked unimpressed with my lecture, but I continued, anyway.

 "Cynthia could show up any minute and I, for one, don't want to hear her scream at the sight of wrinkles in her precious wardrobe."  I knew my best friend wasn't going to show up "any minute" because Annie had to get back to Beau's farm, first.

I unfolded the note that had appeared in the trunk moments after Annie and I arrived in the attic.

"Gus. Gabriella is sending the medallion. Keep Annie hidden until it gets there. I'll see you soon, if I don't get food poisoning from Grandma Sam's dumplings.

 Cynthia." 

"Oh, yeah. Keep Annie hidden. Sure. No problem," I muttered.

"What? Did you say something, Gus?"

"Yes. Please put…the…clothes…back

If only Cynthia hadn't dropped our "ticket" home, the gold doubloon, at the same time we were transporting. I know Annie was trying to help by picking it up and handing it to me. But, that's how she ended up here, in 1964, in place of Cynthia. I glanced at the note again. Gabriella better get that medallion here, soon.

I made sure the clothes were returned to their proper sections—school, play, Sunday, and I'm-too-perfect-for-words—and turned my attention back to my other big problem…Annie. Hiding her was no longer an option after the confrontation with Cynthia's older sister. Suzette wouldn't miss an opportunity to complain to her mother.

"So, Gus, what do we do, now? Can we walk downtown? Or…oh, go to your house! I've got it! Let's talk to Mama Clara. I can't wait to meet her after the stories I've heard about her." Annie jumped around the room like a pogo stick.

"Aren't you the least bit scared? What if you never get home?" I hated being impatient. After all, none of this was her fault. It was just a stupid accident.

Annie smiled with a sad, older-than-her-years look. "I've been in scarier places than this, Gus. I've been kidnapped by my uncle. Left alone on a bale of hay at the circus when I was a baby. Threatened, daily, by an evil clown. You're my friend. You won't let anything happen to me."

Oh, goody. No pressure! But, hearing Annie talk about the dangers in her short life made me realize just how lucky I am.

"You're right, Annie. Guess you have been through scarier stuff than time travel. Hmmm…maybe talking to Mama Clara isn't such a bad idea. We can't stay here. Suzette will have our hides.

Fortunately, the rest of the house was dark, so we flew down the stairs and out the door before Annie could get into more mischief.