Then one of the kids screamed and dropped the book. Quickly another darted 
in to grab it, and he screamed too. Then a third. Suddenly all the kids were 
silent and afraid. Nell rubbed the tears out of her eyes and ran over toward 
the book again, and this time the kids didn't throw it away from her; she 
picked it up and cradled it against her chest. The kids who'd been playing 
keep-away were all in the same pose: arms crossed over chests, hands wedged 
into armpits, jumping up and down like pogo sticks and screaming for their 
mothers.