"Up here; come on up! Take it easy on the stairs, though."
Tom came, carrying a tin box under his arm. He lifted the lid of it and peered in lovingly.
"Three chocolate-almond bars," he recited. "Three bags of potato chips. Three bags of salted peanuts. And Joe's bringing cold root-beer tonight along with the alarm clock."
"Great," Julian said. "And I know where I can get some salami and a bottle of dill pickles."
"M-m," murmured Tom wordlessly. The thought of dill pickles made his mouth water; then he said: "You know, Jule, this doesn't seem like a test, or discipline, or anything. It just seems like a neat thing to do. It just seems like fun."
"I know," said Julian. "Let's hope we feel the same tomorrow morning."
[13]
The Night of the Full Moon
Julian thought that the Blakes' house would never quiet down that night. He waited in his room, and waited. He felt himself getting sleepy and fought himself awake again. But finally, after all the last good nights were said, after all the tooth-brushings and murmurings and yawns and the closing of doors, he was able to creep out of his room and inch his way along the hall. Pressed against his chest, he held the bag of salami and dill pickles as if to keep them quiet, too.