Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe

Cricket wakes up to the old lady reading the poem, “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” to her dog, Percy. She tells the old lady that the poem is by Emily Dickinson, and the woman is impressed. She introduces herself as Vidalia and tells Cricket to call her Miss V. Cricket tells Miss V. her own name and says that her parents are on a cruise to Alaska. Miss V. does not quite believe Cricket, but she feeds her breakfast. Miss V. tells Cricket a riddle, but Cricket cannot solve it. The riddle is, “Only one color but not one size, stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies” (126). Cricket starts to wonder if there is a clue in the house, since it is close to the remains of Electric City.

While she is supposed to be resting, Cricket searches the house. She finds a copy of Treasure Island, books of poetry, and puzzles. Cricket finds a photo of a younger Miss V. with a man in paint-spattered clothes. She thinks that this man could be Bob. Inside a baby grand piano, Cricket finds what she thinks is a tuning rod with a carved wooden handle. The handle has a tiny tanager carved into it.