Amy had survived her first week at Plymouth Rock. Barring the incident on Wednesday with Tammy, Amy had had good thoughts about the rest of the semester. Her session with Gwen that Wednesday started with a few questions about what had happened.

"She slapped me in the face and I accidentally kicked her in the shin."

"You kicked her out of reflex?"

"Yes. That's how it happened. I didn't have time to react! I don't want to be in trouble for an accident." She whined. When Gwen had reassured her that Tammy had been dealt with, she instantly felt bad for Tammy.

"I don't think she knows any better, Gwen. I sounded like my mom there. Sorry."

"You're probably right, Amy."

Today, however Amy would be embarking on a new quest; the Newstead family, who lived on Martha's Vineyard would be hosting her during the weekends. Today she would be counting down the hours until afternoon dismissal.

"We're taking the 5:30 boat." Sarah said, remembering the phone call with her mom last night.

Breakfast that morning was French Toast. Amy had been alerted by her classmates that Friday's were always "French Toast Days" and that the bread was made at school on Thursday night. 

The first part of Homeroom was spent as a sort of weekend planning. Ms. Durfee was quite curious as to what her students weekend plans were.

"Amy and I are going to the island this weekend!" Sarah said proudly. Finally, Sarah wouldn't have to be alone this weekend, and she'd get to show Amy all of her favorite places.

"It's the first time I've ever been to Martha's Vineyard." Amy replied. She was nervous about going; but she also wondered what the island was like. She'd read about the Vineyard in a few Pembroke Travel Guides, now her chance to spend time on the island with a local had come.

"I'm going to visit my mom in Stoneham. She's coming home next week." Pamela replied. She had managed to finally call her mother and talk to her. The phone call had been tense at times, especially when Pamela almost became angry, but Pamela managed to keep it together.

"What special meals do you get to have on Friday night?" Ms. Durfee asked; curious as to what would pass for food among the youth of today.

"Mom's making her famous Shake n' Bake Pork Chops tonight."

The class fell silent.

"Back home in Alabama, we eat that all the time." Melanie Tompkins moaned.

"My dad has a trick to make them even better; After mom's done baking them, he fries them." Sarah added.

"Every Friday night, my mom, and dad order a lot of Steak Bomb sandwiches. My mom has to go 'look at something' in the car. When she comes back, she'll eat one of the sandwiches in a hurry." Pamela offered. Alison Courtwell smiled; having an older brother clued her in on a few things that Pamela seemed oblivious to.

Outdoor Recreation was eventful on this sunny Friday morning. An impromptu gossip session was underway in the pine grove.

"Amy took on Tammy the other day and lived!" Alison whispered to a seventh grade student, Jeanette. She cocked her head and smiled; Tammy had been after her before.

"Karma truly is a bitch." Jeanette replied; satisfied that something in the grand scheme of things had gone her way for once.

"I think Amy knows how to harness it." Jeanette continued. Amy sauntered up to them.

"How to harness what?" Amy queried.

"Karma. Everything in the world is balanced by it. From you to Tammy to Pamela. You seem like the type that has experienced it and dished it out."

Amy had experienced karma on both sides. On the good, it had brought about the end of Courtney Chase; but on the bad, it had brought about stress and anxiety from her mother. She hadn't thought of it in the way Jeanette had mentioned.

By the time lunch rolled around, the tale of Amy's exploit had grown considerably.

Their table had drawn quite the crowd during lunch. Amy felt surrounded and almost didn't finish her food.

"May I present Amy Morrow, slayer of Tammy?" Alison joked. Amy had felt bad about what had happened. She wasn't prepared for the sudden fame.

"Is Tammy the worst bully you have?"

"Pretty much." Alison replied.

"None of you would last a day at my old school, then." Amy began, finishing a bite of her pizza.

Pamela leaned in; maybe she could learn something from Amy.

"There was this real nasty girl named Courtney. She would always push me into the lockers and kick me. Those boots hurt. Well, on my last day of school she shoved me, and then she got arrested!"

"That sucks. How did you cope with her bull?" Morgan said as she joined in on the conversation.

"I'd take photos of local stuff."

"That's cool. Tammy was becoming a problem, even for the freshman. To see her ass get kicked by an 8th grader is so satisfying. I bet she begged not to get punished."

"Actually, she got a detention." Amy replied.

"Then she escaped! I saw the whole thing. She looked so broken and defeated when they caught her. She was so mad she pissed herself! They took her to the infirmary and then the ambulance came and got her." Elena called out from the edge of the group.

They'd rest easy this weekend; hoping Tammy would never see freedom again. Her concerns were three towns over. The crowd gathering around the table had drawn the attention of a couple of teachers; Ms. Washburn and Ms. Prine. The first to walk over was Ms. Prine; she was the freshman history teacher and loved to snoop around. 

"I hope I'm not interrupting something too important." She uttered. They looked up at her.

"No, we're just socializing." Pamela offered.

"But with this large of a crowd?" Ms. Prine asked.

"Everybody wants to meet the new girl." Sarah replied, hoping the teacher would leave. This seemed to suffice Ms. Prine, but she issued a warning.

"Keep your voices down. You may not know who will overhear."

Amy went back to finishing her lunch; the pizza was excellent today, the pepperoni had achieved maximum crispiness. The Dr. Pepper a sweet ending before class.

Two more classes to go, now. First Amy had to contend with Ms. Washburn in history. She was the oldest teacher at Plymouth Rock; having begun teaching in 1949 when she was twenty. Now, at the age of fifty-five she'd begun to reconsider. She remembered when the students had to undergo a vigorous vetting process; and that the teachers themselves had input on which students they would teach. Now in the 1983/1984 School Year she was ready to call it a day. Students like Amy Morrow had often proved to be disastrous for her.

This week the class had been learning about the 1840s in New England. In the coming weeks there would be a field trip to Old Sturbridge Village. Amy remembered the last time she'd been there; she was still stuck sharing a stroller with her sister, Victoria. Her older sister, Helen was fourteen.

Earlier in week they'd discussed the islands and how Nantucket had died off while the Vineyard remained strong.

"One little sandbar can ruin everything." Ms. Washburn said of Nantucket.

History was over, and now it was Amy's favorite class: Art. Fridays were anything goes in her art class. The sketchbook she'd brought from New York would serve her well today. She would sit and sketch at the table with Pamela. Sarah was in home economics and Alison was in creative writing. Amy began to sketch Pamela, only Pam wouldn't sit still. She managed to complete the sketch before the final bell.

"I like your style, Amy." Pamela chirped.

Before their weekends could begin however, they had to report to homeroom. Every Friday, the students who were spending the weekend with their families had to report to homeroom to discuss their plans. The roll call was eye roll worthy. After briefing the Ms. Durfee, they were free to leave. Amy and Sarah ran back to the salt box and packed their bags. Amy decided to pack along her camera as well as her sketchbook.

"It's like I'm going on an expedition, Sarah!" Amy excitedly exclaimed.

"You are, in a way."

"I guess you're right." Amy replied.

Their bags packed, they now had to hurry to the van that would take them to Woods Hole. Amy was expecting a school bus.

"The drivers are very fast, Amy." Sarah whispered.

Five minutes later, and they were heading south on Route 3. The sunshine was starting to take on a golden hue to it as they made their way to the Bourne Bridge. They'd made great progress by the time they reached the Buzzard's Bay Rotary. The driver, Mr. Distasi looked in the rearview mirror.

"Do you want to stop at Dunkin' Donuts before we go to Woods Hole?"

They both nodded. Minutes later they arrived. Now with coffee and donuts in tow, they continued on their way to the Steamship Authority terminal in Woods Hole. The massive beige and white terminal building gleaned in the sun as they pulled up.

"Did we miss the boat?" Amy asked, nervous they'd be stuck here.

"No, we're early. The Uncatena has barely cleared the halfway mark." Sarah said, sipping her coffee.

"Is your mom going to meet us in Vineyard Haven?" Amy asked.

"No, we're going to meet her when the boat comes in. She usually stands on the stern and waves at me."

Soon the sound of a ship's whistle drew their attention. Rounding Nobska Point was their maritime chariot: the Uncatena. Her engines running at nearly full throttle to combat the opposing wind and current. The engines producing a throaty whine. Sarah watched the ferry come in with high anticipation. As the Uncatena backed further into the slip, Sarah had become giddy with excitement.

"Sarah! Wait right there, I'll be down in a minute!" A voice called out.

It was Hannah.

Sure enough, one of the first people to disembark was Sarah's mother. Sarah ran over to Hannah and threw her arms around her. Shortly afterward Sarah was bringing her mother over to meet Amy.

"Mom! This is my new roommate, Amy Morrow." Sarah exclaimed. Hannah was anxious to meet Sarah's new friend; initially she was apprehensive. Sensing no hostility coming from the girl, Hannah hugged Amy.

"I have both of your ticket books, so we don't need to go inside the ticket office. Sarah, why don't you and Amy go put your bags on the cart and let's get back in line to board."

They were near the head of the line waiting to board. The chain came down; Amy and Sarah scurried up the gangway.

Sarah and Amy ran to the stern and looked down at the scene unfolding before them on the wharf. The last of the trucks had been driven aboard. The vessel beneath them rumbled and shuddered. Amy looked down and saw that they were heading in reverse yet were going nowhere. A minute later, a voice called out from the freight deck to the men standing on the ramp.

"Light load going back!" A cacophony of grinding and shouts had risen to a crescendo; the door to the freight deck began to close. The boat stopped vibrating and silently began to move forward.

"Cover your ears, Amy! The whistle is loud." Sarah instructed. The captain laid on the horn.

A mass of foam and upwelled water filled up the slip where moments before the Uncatena had been docked. The wind had whipped the prop wash up into small, sculpted masses of bubbles. As soon as they cleared the last of the pilings, the captain laid on the throttle. The engines grew louder.

"We're really moving now!" Sarah shouted above the din. The ferry terminal had nearly disappeared from view as it fell astern.

Distant clouds had nearly overtaken the sun, cutting the disc in half. Sarah had taken Amy by the hand and starting pointing out local landmarks. She first pointed out what looked to be a distant hill off to the southwest.

"See those hills way out there? That's Gay Head. There's an awesome lighthouse and cliffs out there. If you watch closely, you can see the red and white light." Sure enough, Amy caught sight of the brilliant white flash. Next she pointed out the bluffs along the islands north shore.

"That's Lambert's Cove and then Makonikey Head. The people who live by the cove are really uptight and hate being disturbed."

"How do you know?" Amy asked.

"I hitchhike a lot over there."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Amy wondered aloud.

"Not over there. It's an island. Everybody knows everyone."

Finally, Sarah showed Amy another lighthouse.

"THAT'S West Chop. It has a white light with a special red window that marks where the dangerous areas are out here. My dad says to always pay attention to it whenever we're out in the boat."

Amy stood there, taking everything in. In a way, the crossing reminded her of Long Island Sound. A few years ago, the family had taken the ferry over from Bridgeport. Sarah had taken her over to the port side again and began showing Amy even more local landmarks. The Uncatena began to turn into Vineyard Haven Harbor. The sun's dying rays illuminated the other side of the harbor.

"Over there is Oak Bluffs. We call it OB. My mom teaches 5th grade there. We used to live in Oak Bluffs a few years ago."

A reddish brown lighthouse caught Amy's eye. 

"What lighthouse is that?"

"That's East Chop. It's been brown since before I was born. We call it the 'Chocolate Lighthouse.'" Amy laughed.

"That's a funny name." She sang.

Hannah had come outside to check on Amy and Sarah. The land had finally broken the wind, calming the sea state immensely. Hannah had been sipping her coffee. Someone had become seasick next to her, sending her scurrying outside to get away. She'd been watching the two girls interact from inside. Seeing Sarah beam with pride as she was pointing out the different landmarks; and the look of curiosity on Amy's face made up Hannah's mind. Amy was a good fit for Sarah. For years, she'd worried about Sarah; and how her semi awkward nature always seemed to foil her social life. Hannah had seen other children like Sarah at Oak Bluffs Elementary and was grateful that she knew how to handle her. She walked closer to the two.

"How long does it take to cross?" Amy asked, time had seemed to fly by. The sky became a blend of blues and purples; the wispy clouds adding a dark touch to the tableau. The lower clouds had moved in rapidly, as if to keep the remaining twilight a closely guarded secret.

"We've been out here for forty-five minutes. We're so close, yet it feels so far away."

"At night, you can see the lights on the mainland. Even the headlights in the beach parking lots." Sarah continued.

"It's truly eerie." Hannah replied.

The boat slowed now. The wake behind them had grown large as they entered the shallower water. A smaller boat had passed them, loaded with trucks bound for the mainland. Amy caught a glimpse of the name.

Auriga.

The sun had set, leaving Vineyard Haven aglow in all its low pressure sodium lit glory. The wind had picked up. Sarah looked up at the sky.

The stars were long gone. A sudden screeching sound hit their ears as the stern door began to open.

"Let's head to the waiting area."

They went down to the passenger waiting area on the port side. A few minutes later the ferry bumped into the pilings and came to a stop. The purser opened the door for the passenger gangway; it nearly hit the door frame in the wind, stopping just short. Attaching the ramp to the Uncatena, the purser motioned for everyone to disembark.

They had arrived.

They walked towards the head of the wharf to retrieve their bags. The air had turned colder and the wind a little stronger. Amy, not used to the wetter maritime climate found herself shivering.

"Luckily  we live two minutes away up on Spring Street." Sarah bantered. They walked across Main Street, still somewhat lively on this Friday evening. There seemed to be a frantic energy lurking just beneath the placid surface.

"It feels like it's going to snow, mom." Sarah observed.

"I think you might be right. We'll see what dad says when we get home." Hannah replied. She hadn't heard the forecast, but knew that Jim would be up to speed.

"Does it snow a lot here?" Amy wondered.

"More than a lot of people think." Hannah replied.

As they walked up Spring Street, Sarah spotted the house.

"We're home!"

The home at the corner of William and Spring Streets stood watch over the neighborhood. The first floor was lit up in its entirety. Sarah ran across William Street and up the front walk. She waited for her mother and Amy to catch up. Sarah opened the front door; the bright interior had greeted them all.

"Jim, we're home!" Hannah called out. The smell of Shake n' Bake filled the first floor.

"Hi honey. Hello, Sarah. Who is this with you?"

"Dad, this is my roommate, Amy. She's the best roommate I've had. She's quiet and she doesn't root through my things!"

"They had a blast on the boat. Sarah was showing Amy every single point of interest along the way."

"It was windy, dad but Amy and I stayed outside the entire way. When we were coming up the street I said to mom that it felt like it was going to-"

"Snow? I've heard all about it. I'm going to have to go to the office after dinner."

"Will you have to plow tonight, dad?" Sarah inquired; hoping to score a snowy Saturday.

"Maybe, hopefully the guys will pull through." The smell of dinner caused Amy and Sarah to drop their bags in the hallway and head straight to the kitchen.

"Mom, dad can Amy and I help?"

"You know what, why don't you and Amy go put your bags upstairs, then come set the table."

"Okay, mom."

They grabbed their stuff and headed upstairs.

At the top landing, Sarah took Amy to the right.

"This is my room. As you can see, I get to decorate it." Sarah beamed. Her room was a mixture of girly-girl and outdoors aesthetic. She was proud of her space. Immediately to the left of Sarah's room was the upstairs guest room. Sarah flipped the light on. The room was painted in a slate gray color, not unlike the clouds that graced the skies during the winter around here.

"Amy, this is your room. No roommates or little sisters, here. It's a nice, quiet refuge, especially after a day of exploring the island, or after a day of sledding."

The bed was comfortable; the down comforter felt soft and inviting to the touch. There was a desk and an end table. Plenty of space to put notebooks, or even sketchbooks if she felt inclined. There was an old bureau in the middle of it all; the handles worn smooth from years of use. In a way, this room reminded Amy of her own back home. She wondered if eventually she'd be allowed to put up photos that she would've taken of things around school. Amy put her stuffed animal on the bed.

"Come on, let's go set the table!" Sarah exclaimed. They hurried downstairs.

"There you are! Sarah, please show Amy where we keep the plates and Sarah, please grab the silverware."

Amy was given an impromptu tour of the kitchen, learning every nook and cranny. She acquired the plates and set them accordingly. Hannah had brought the food to the table while Jim washed up.

"Well, if you like snow we're about to get some. The forecast is calling for four to six inches. A little more out on Nantucket with eight to ten inches. They're going to need me tonight."

"I'll make you a thermos of coffee after dinner." Hannah replied. She knew that the town appreciated her husband and everything he did for it. 

Dinner was ready. Jim served the chops while Hannah served the sides. The pork chops were almost the perfect shade of golden brown; a byproduct of their time being flash fried. The wind rattled the windows.

"Judging by that wind outside, it will be snowing within the hour." Jim remarked. He dug in.

"So, how does it feel to be back at school?" Hannah asked Sarah.

"I'm glad I'm back. This week has had me busy. In history, we talked about Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. In home-economics we're baking cinnamon rolls."

"You have cousins out on Nantucket, Sally." Hannah stated. Hannah was a member of the influential Butler Family with roots going back to the colonial era. They had populated Nantucket and the Vineyard. She had been born into the Edgartown branch of the family. 

"How big is the Vineyard?" Amy asked; her curiosity making itself known.

"About twenty miles long from Gay Head to Chappaquiddick. From the Atlantic to Vineyard Sound it's about ten miles. Sarah can show you every back road and trail; can't you, Sarah?" Jim replied.

"I live outside when the weather is nice. My friends and I go everywhere. We even go bowling on Saturday nights down on Lagoon Pond Road." Sarah answered.

"So Amy, where are you from?" Hannah asked.

"I'm from a little town called Blauvelt, New York. It's really quiet there, even though we're near the Thruway. It's almost an hour from the city if you drive through north Jersey."

"Interesting. I haven't been to that part of Upstate New York in quite a few years." Jim replied.

"You've heard of Blauvelt? You're the first person outside my family that's heard of that town."

"I'm originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania. I came up here to work. I fell in love with the islands."

"Dad."

The mashed potatoes were some of the best that Amy had eaten. Her mother's couldn't hold a candle to Mrs. Newstead's. This certainly was the kind of meal that would get anyone to brag about in class. The way how the Newstead's sat at the table together as a family was something that Amy couldn't get at home. Earlier this week she'd had a nightmare about the Newstead's and was afraid they'd hate her. So far she was being proven wrong.

"I think that you're very nice people." Amy began.*******

Hannah leaned in.

"I'm glad I could come here instead of having to stay back at school. Sarah has helped me quite a bit. Like the whole Outdoor Rec thing." She concluded.

"What's the 'Outdoor Rec' thing, Sarah?"

"She was confused about the rules for Outdoor Rec, so I told her the truth instead of running around it like Pamela would."

"Good on you, Sarah!" Jim replied. He was proud of the strides Sarah had made. When she first started attending school, Sarah was a nervous wreck; weekends were spent hiding in her room. Around Christmastime, she began to open up more. Even the accident on Christmas at his in-laws had made him proud, despite Sarah's protestations.

They were finishing up dinner, Jim looked outside. He could see the snow flying in the porch light.

"It's already started. I don't know what time I'll be back, but I will return." Jim said proudly. James Newstead had taken pride in his job, especially in keeping Vineyard Haven moving during the winter. This winter Jim had had to call out the snowplows quite a few times. Tonight would be no exception.

Jim got up and headed outside. The truck started up. Jim cleared off what had already accumulated. He turned onto the street and headed into the night.

In the living room, Hannah turned on the TV. The Yellow Rose was on. Sarah took Amy upstairs.

"Before you go upstairs, I'm going to be making chamomile tea. Would both of you like some?"

"Yes, please."

Minutes later, they had all sat in the kitchen waiting for the warm brew. Hannah poured the water. Outside the snow grew heavier. The flakes had started piling up in the windows. Hannah was glad that Sarah was home and that she had finally found a friend.

Amy thought she was the first to wake up that Saturday morning. She looked out the window at the street below. She could barely see the other side; the snow was falling that heavily. The rumble of the plows last night turned into a rhythm that Amy could sleep to. The wind had whipped the snow into small drifts that had piled up near the hedges. The flakes were so small, yet they'd changed the landscape in hours. Jim's truck had pulled up into the driveway.

"We did it!" He exclaimed as he opened the back door.

She heard Hannah's voice downstairs.

"How bad is it out there, Jimmy?"

"We have about eight inches on the ground. At some points last night we were reaching an inch an hour. You guys are lucky to have made it over last night. This thing took us by surprise." He commiserated.

"Have some coffee and coffee cake. I made it early this morning after you went back out around 2."

That would've explained why Amy smelled something baking earlier that morning

At home in Blauvelt, her parents would've turned over and gone back to bed, yet she and Victoria would be champing at the bit to go outside. Did they have snowball fights on the Vineyard? Further, what did Sarah do on a snowy Saturday? She'd soon find out. Amy decided to go downstairs, where she found Sarah was already up.

"Look who finally decided to wake up and join us!" Sarah exclaimed. She'd been eating a piece of her mother's coffee cake and sipping from a cup of coffee. The way the family sat together and commiserated about the snowstorm made Amy think.

"This town depends on the Newsteads like Blauvelt depends on my dad."

"It must've been really cool out there with nobody on the road riding around in a snowplow." Amy added. She imagined herself behind the wheel and blade, clearing the road. Sarah in the passenger seat.

"People will be able to get where they're going this morning. It might be a little slow, but they'll get there. Last February we were in trouble. We've learned from our mistakes there." Jim replied. 

"You were interviewed by WMVY late last night before it got really bad?" Hannah asked. She remembered their conversation from earlier this morning. Jim had mentioned something about the radio station.

"Not my best interview. It got kind of hectic towards the end when I went out and manned a plow." He said, putting it mildly.

"Luckily we didn't lose electricity; even with the wind." Sarah said, sipping her coffee. She loved snowy mornings, especially whenever her father had to work an emergency overnight shift. The stories he'd tell. She loved seeing her mother happy; the way her eyes

They looked out at the yard. The snow was still falling heavily, but something in Jim gave him hope. He busted his ass all night and had come home to a family who appreciated him. The reward? Enjoying a hot steaming mug of coffee and the best coffee cake in Vineyard Haven with his wife and kid.

"The flakes are getting bigger. The snow will stop in the next couple of hours." He assured.

"Is it okay to go downtown later?" Sarah asked.

"Of course, just pay attention to your surroundings. I know you want to take Amy out." Hannah replied.

The two girls decided to go upstairs, leaving the older Newsteads to sit and reminisce.

"What time did you get up?"

"4. The smell of mom's coffee cake woke me up. It was snowing so hard when I woke up, you couldn't see the streetlights. I thought I saw a flash of lightning and heard the telltale rumble of thunder." Sarah replied, she loved it when it snowed. At school, she would've hunkered down and painted winter scenes.

"Does everyone wake up this early?"

"Normally? No. Everyone is still asleep."

They walked into Sarah's room. Her window looked out over the backyard.

"When the snow finally stops, do you want to go downtown?" Sarah asked.

"Is the pope catholic, Sarah?" Amy replied.

They both laughed.

"There's this little place on Cromwell Lane that sells coffee and donuts; plus other things like corned beef hash, but that's old people food."

Amy laughed. Finally, she found someone else who loved coffee as much as she did.

"Their coffee gives you energy to walk around downtown and if you're lucky, Oak Bluffs."

"Is Oak Bluffs close?"

"Downtown isn't, that's why I hitchhike."

Amy still couldn't believe Sarah hitchhiked everywhere. On the mainland it had become passé and banned in many places; especially New York State. Her mother had forbid her from venturing too far from the house out of fear that she would encounter a hitchhiking predator.

"Everybody knows me, here. Plus, it's an island, Amy. No bridges. No tunnels. You either take the boat or you fly. A kidnapper would have to wait for the boat. If he's not from here, he wouldn't know the boat schedule." Sarah reassured.

Laughter made its way upstairs from the kitchen. Amy had heard her name mentioned a few times.

"My parents like you, Amy." Sarah calmly articulated. Amy didn't know how to feel. If her mother were here, she'd begin inserting herself into every aspect of the conversation; controlling the narrative. She couldn't tell her mother; because then she'd get jealous.

"Don't tell my mom, Sarah." Amy sighed, as though she'd been doomed to execution by firing squad.

"Why?"

"My mom can be one of the worst people in the world. She sees that whenever I'm happy, she ruins it."

"That's terrible, Amy."

"I can tell your mom's nice, Sarah. She must be a good teacher."

"She tries."

The snow had slowed to scattered flurries now. They could both sense the stillness outside. The biting wind that made things chaotic overnight was barely perceptible. Gaps appeared in the clouds; the sun trying to break through. Suddenly a beam of sunlight illuminated the backyard; flying snowflakes had seemingly turned into diamonds in the rays.

"Let's go outside and check out the snow. Jack might be working."

"Who's Jack?"

"The guy at the coffee shop. He's 17 and already has a girlfriend. I love watching him pour the coffee."

They hurried down the stairs and into the foyer. As Amy prepared to embark on a voyage of personal discovery, Sarah simply put her boots on and marched outside; everything old hat to her.

They made their way to Cromwell Lane. The sun had broken free of the clouds bathing everything in a brilliant white light. The air was bitterly cold, yet still. The smell of heating oil hung throughout downtown. Amy noticed it first.

"That's that oil smell."

They turned onto Cromwell Lane; their quarry immediately apparent ahead of them. The building was no larger than a small house. There was no line. Inside the cramped coffee shop there was still enough space to fit a counter and five stools. The grill was occupied by a load of fresh potatoes and onions. A young man, no more than seventeen flipped the previous order of home fries towards the opposite end, off the heat. He wiped his brow with his forearm. His sandy blond hair had grown dull and flat under the heat. The only thing on him that looked fresh were his green eyes; they seemed to smile for him. This is Jack Athearn; he'd been working with his father since eleven last night making food and hot beverages for the DPW plow drivers. His father was about to send him home when he noticed Sarah and Amy walk in.

"It's the Newstead kid, and she brought a friend! Who's this, Sarah?" Jack called out.

"This is my friend, Amy; she's my roommate at school. She's spending the weekend here."

Jack had grabbed two ceramic mugs. He poured the coffee and set the cream and sugar in front of them.

"You should try the grilled donut, Amy." Sarah whispered. To Amy this was going to be a new culinary adventure; she'd never seen them in any of the diners she'd been to with her mother and sister back home. Surely this must be an island thing. She'd try it at least once.

"Two grilled donuts, please. Thanks, Jack!" Sarah called out.

He smiled. Like most in Vineyard Haven, he knew the Newsteads to be good people. The saying "it takes a village" applied to Sarah more than anyone cared to admit. As Sarah had stated before, everyone in this small town knew her and kept a close eye on her. Sarah's attention turned back to Jack. She was watching him chop the potatoes

"He slices them, and then puts them down on the griddle."

Five minutes later, both of them received their grilled donuts. Amy stared at the caramelized pastry. She took a sip of the coffee.

The strength of the brew alone was enough to wake Amy up enough for a day of walking up and down Main Street.

"I told you this coffee was wicked strong."

They sat for a few moments after finishing their donuts. The coffee worked its magic.

"Ready to walk the length of Main Street?"

"The whole thing?"

"We have people to see and people for you to meet."

They walked out of the coffee shop and made their way back to Main Street. Crossing the street, they turned left and headed south. The sidewalks had mostly been cleared. Two minutes later they had arrived at the intersection of Main Street, Beach Street, and State Road. Sarah turned to Amy now; Sarah was getting ready to educate Amy on island ways.

"This intersection is extremely important. If you want to go to what we call 'up island' go to the right. The towns of West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Gay Head are called 'up island. Oak Bluffs is to the left."

Amy was confused.

"There's more than one town?"

"There's six, and I've lived in every one of them!" Sarah beamed.

"I guess I'm a dumbass. I thought there was only one town."

"It's okay. You're not from here, you couldn't have known."

They crossed the street and headed back up Main Street. This side of the street wasn't as clear. Sarah walked in the street. Amy seemed unsure. If she were back home in New York, her mother would've canceled the entire endeavor on account of the sidewalks being covered.

"Aren't you scared of getting run over?" Amy asked.

"No cars are coming. You can walk by the snow. Haven't you ever walked in the road?"

"No, my mom won't let me. She's afraid I'll get hit by a car."

"What, do you live in jail?" Sarah asked. Amy's mom seemed like a prison warden; If Sarah had only known the full extent.

"My mom's just really, really protective of my little sister and I." Amy sighed. She could only blame her older sister, Genevieve for her mother's actions.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it anymore." Sarah soothed.

"I'd rather not."

They were approaching Cromwell Lane again. The sidewalks had been cleared past the intersection, calming Amy's anxieties. A slight breeze had come up, ruining the stillness. The sky was the bluest that both of them had ever seen in their fourteen years of life.

"I like school, Sarah. I know I sound like a dork, but it's so freeing."

"It will get even better when we go to the high school." Sarah replied as they waited for a truck to turn.

"Why?"

"More electives and the school trusts us more." Sarah assuaged. The truck continued on.

"When's your birthday, Sarah?"

"October 4th. I'm a proud Libra. What about you?"

"August 1st. Leo."

"No fair, you get a summer birthday! I bet you get to have a big pool party."

"But yours is near Halloween! No, we don't do pool parties at my house. We used to have a pool, but it wasn't built correctly. Instead, we all go to Onset for the week. My brother Isaac and my older Helen come visit."

"You have older siblings?"

"Yeah, I have two older sisters. Genevieve, who's crazy and Helen, who's a state trooper here in Massachusetts. My brother, Isaac, helps run an airline up in New Hampshire."

Suddenly, Sarah's face lit up as if she'd made an important connection in her mind when Amy had mentioned the name Helen. 

"Your sister Helen is my uncle Christopher's fiancée!" 

"Really? I knew she was engaged, but she didn't say to whom. I saw her at Christmas, she got into a big fight with my mom in the driveway."

"This is so cool! I like Helen. She's really nice to me." Sarah proclaimed, practically jumping up and down with excitement.

While Amy and Sarah were talking, the truck they'd seen earlier had returned. The driver rolled his window down as he slowed the vehicle. He stared at them as he drove. Something inside him had caused him to become aroused. He'd seen Sarah Newstead numerous times before; but now she was with someone new. He caught the black-haired girl with braids staring back at him. She'd made eye contact. Startled, he accelerated and sped out of sight.

"Who was that, Sarah?" Amy asked, wondering why this man had been staring at them.

"That was Sheriff Luce. He always looks at me whenever he drives by." Sarah replied. A look of concern on her face. They hurried their steps now, rapidly crossing the street.

"He looked kind of crazy." Amy replied, she too, was slightly unsettled.

"He kinda is. Hey, let's go back home." Sarah sighed, she was deflated. The day out had seemingly turned dark.

The walked up Spring Street. Sarah's house loomed up ahead; the windows and front door beckoning them to safety.