The Egypt Game

By the end of September, a new family has moved into the Casa Rosada apartments. Mrs. Chung and her three daughters live in the basement next to the slightly creepy janitor, Mr. Bodler. Both Melanie and April get guilted by their families to befriend the eldest of the Chung girls, Elizabeth. They are resistant because Elizabeth is only in the fourth grade, but they agree to walk her to school on her first day. Both April and Melanie are unexpectedly enchanted by Elizabeth’s delicate appearance:

She really was amazingly tiny for a fourth grader. Her thick black hair was pulled back into a carefully curled ponytail that bounced when she walked. And there was something about the carved perfection of her face that made her smile seem like magic—an enchanted ivory princess warming suddenly to life (63).

Before they know it, the two older girls take Elizabeth under their wing. They even consider allowing her to join the Egypt Game. At first, April opposes the idea; then she and Melanie catch a glimpse of Elizabeth in profile as she sits outside the building. The tiny girl bears an uncanny resemblance to the statue of Nefertiti. This decides the matter, and Elizabeth is allowed to become part of the crew.