know," said Ceese patiently.
Mack just sat there, looking back and forth between them.
"I was preparing dinner," said Mrs. Tucker. "I checked in the fridge to make sure there was enough chili for the two of us, and there was. And then I went to the sink and washed the corn on the cob and cut up some bananas to put with a can of mandarin oranges to make a little fruit salad. And when I came back from the can opener with the oranges to drain off the liquid into the sink, there was the chili dish, freshly washed and still wet, in the drain-dry beside the sink. And a spoon."
"Somebody snuck in and ate your chili and washed the dish while you were opening the mandarin oranges?" asked Mack.
Ceese gave the tiniest sigh.
"I'm just so afraid I'm losing my mind," said Mrs. Tucker. "I was hoping you'd tell me that... that you perhaps did it as a prank. Meaning no harm. I'd be so relieved to know that it was you, and that I'm not crazy."
"You not crazy," said Mack.
"Then you did it?" said Ceese, sounding calm but also just the tiniest bit incredulous.
Mack shrugged. "I was not in your kitchen yesterday or last night, Mrs. Tucker."
"Where were you?" asked Ceese.
Mack looked at him calmly. "You asking for my alibi, Officer?"
Ceese got a small smile. "I guess so, Mack Street."
"Got no alibi," said Mack. "I was walking around in the neighborhood and in the woods and I slept under a tree last night with a big black cat. I reckon that cat ain't much of an alibi."
"But you didn't eat Mom's chili," said Ceese.
"I was not in your kitchen yesterday."
"I just can't imagine," said Mrs. Tucker, "why somebody would eat my chili and then wash the dishes."
"I think," said Ceese, "we're not quite ready to start an urban legend about a sneak thief called
'Tidy Boy' who steals food from fridges while the cook is in the kitchen, and washes up without a soul noticing he's even there."
Magic always found a way to be cruel. Mack couldn't even have a chili supper without hurting somebody.
"Mrs. Tucker," said Mack, "I can't tell you what happened to your chili, but I can promise you this. You're not going crazy, you're not getting old, something really happened, but if you keep talking about it people going to think you crazy. So maybe you better let it go."
For the first time, Ceese got real alert. He didn't say anything, but now he was looking at Mack real steady, and the amusement was gone.
"Do you think so, Mack?" asked Mrs. Tucker. "I know it's silly, you're only a boy, what would you know?"
"I know that the chili was really in your fridge when you saw it. I know you didn't accidently eat it and wash up afterward and then forget you did."
"How do you know, Mack?" she said plaintively. "How can I know you really know?"
"Doubt me if you want, but I know everything happened just the way it seemed to you, and you didn't forget anything. That's the best I can do."
She looked at him searchingly, then reached out and clutched at his hands, there on the table.
"Mack, you're an angel to say that to me. I know Ceese doesn't believe me, though he's too kind ever to say so. I just needed somebody to believe me."
"I do, Mrs. Tucker."
"Well then," she said. "I'll just wash up my cup..."
She stood up.
"I'll do that, Mrs. Tucker," said Mack. "I like washing dishes."
"You do? That's very strange of you," she said, and then laughed. It sounded only a little hysterical. "But very nice."
Ceese left with her out the back door, but as Mack expected, he was back before Mack finished drying the cup and saucer and spoon and putting them away.
"All right, Mack, what was all that about?"
"Ceese, why should I tell you?" said Mack.
"Cause I think my mother is losing her mind and if you know some reason I shouldn't think that, you better tell me."
"That's not good enough," said Ceese. "Just your word like that?"
"I ever lie to you, Ceese?" asked Mack.
"Not telling me the whole story, that's the same as a lie."
"Not if I don't pretend that it's the whole story when it's not."
"So you're going to keep it a secret."
Mack laughed. "All right, Ceese, I'll tell you. I went into an invisible house four doors up from Coliseum on Cloverdale, between Chandresses' and Snipes', and in that house I got hungry and