Suddenly a voice cried out from down the sidewalk. "Hey -- what's going on?"
Evan raised his eyes past the two hulking boys to see Andy speeding toward them on her bike along the curb. "Evan -- hi!" she called.
The twins turned away from Evan to greet the new arrival. "Hi, Andy," one of them said in a mocking tone.
"How's it going, Andy?" the other one asked, imitating his brother.
Andy braked her bike and dropped both feet to the ground. She was wearing bright pink shorts and a yellow sleevelessundershirt top. Her face was red, her forehead beaded with perspiration from pedaling so hard.
"You two," she said, and made an unpleasant face. "Rick and Tony." She turned to Evan. "Were they getting on your case?"
''Well..." Evan started hesitantly.
"We were welcoming him to the neighborhood," the one named Rick said, grinning at his brother.
Tony started to add something, but Andy interrupted. ''Well, leave him alone."
"Are you his mother?" Tony asked, snickering. He turned to Evan and made goo-goo baby noises.
"We'll leave him alone," Rick said, stepping toward Andy. "We'll borrow your bike and leave him alone."
"No way," Andy said heatedly.