Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe

Miss V. shows Cricket a third newspaper article about her disappearance. This one says that people are giving up hope of finding her and that she has won an art prize at school, meaning that she would have been able to attend an art camp at a prestigious high school over spring break, beginning March 3. The drawing that won Cricket the art prize was a drawing she did of Mama after she left. Miss V. suggests that it is time for Cricket to go home, but Cricket convinces her to let her stay one more day.

The magic hour finally arrives. Miss V. takes Cricket back to the Bird Room, which looks particularly beautiful. When Cricket’s watch shows 5:30, the sunlight comes to rest on a praying mantis. There is no visible constellation. Miss V. and Cricket are disappointed; they have hit another dead end.

Cricket and Charlene sit outside on the porch. Cricket is upset that she will not have a treasure to show Mama tomorrow when she comes back. Suddenly, Cricket has an idea. The sun sets earlier in February than it would in March, when Bob wrote the note in the Bird Room, so Cricket needs to work out the time difference.