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way most people said toe jam or boogers . “I’ve been staying with my aunt, but I’m going home today. Or whenever the snow stops. That flight attendant’s in charge of me.” Henry nodded toward a tiny dark-haired woman who stood at the ticket counter, swamped with people trying to rebook flights.
    â€œI see, well …” Anna’s father looked at his watch, then reached for his wallet and handed Anna his credit card. “Take this and get some food for you and your friend whenever you’re hungry. Just don’t go far.” He headed down the hallway.
    Anna sank into a chair and realized she’d forgotten about José, whose face was hidden behind his book again. “Oh my gosh, sorry I didn’t introduce you. My dad’s in a hurry a lot.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” José mumbled. He didn’t look up from his book. “He probably wouldn’t have been particularly pleased to meet me anyway.”
    â€œWhy?”
    José closed his book and looked up at her. “I’m half Mexican.” It came out quiet, like everything he said, but it still sounded like a challenge.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œImmigration reform? Your dad and Snickerbottom are always talking about it on TV.”
    â€œSo?” Anna said.
    â€œMy grandparents came over as migrant workers.” José tipped his chin up. “My mother was born here, so she’s an American citizen, but some people are still … well, you’d know.”
    â€œOh, no, it’s not like that. My dad worries about jobs, but he likes Mexicans a lot,” Anna said quickly. “I mean, he likes people like you. It’s, like, the bad ones that he doesn’t like. I mean, not that he doesn’t like them, too. He probably likes them fine. He just doesn’t think some of those people should be … here.”
    â€œOh.” José stared at her and lifted his book. “Sort of like how the Malfoy family only wants pureblood wizards at Hogwarts.” He dropped his head and went back to reading.
    Anna thought about that. She’d seen the Harry Potter movies, and her father was nothing like Lucius Malfoy. That guy was a jerk. Her dad worked hard to help people and just wanted to make sure there were jobs for Americans. But the whole idea gave her a rotten feeling, like a little mouse gnawing away in her stomach.
    She didn’t want to be a Malfoy.

For the next two hours, Anna watched the snow outside fall in heavier blankets and the line of angry travelers at the ticket counter grow longer. Henry played his video games. José thumbed through a volume of Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations that looked every bit as loved as his copy of Harry Potter .
    â€œHey,” Anna finally said, nudging José’s elbow. “Do you want to go get some food?” She held her breath, wondering if he was still upset.
    José held up a finger, turned a page, and looked up. “Sure.” Anna let out her breath.
    José found his father, who was back at the CNN screen where new storm reports were coming in. “I’m going to get a snack, Dad, okay?” He dropped his backpack at his father’s feet with a thud. “Can you watch this for me?”
    â€œSure.” Mr. McGilligan waved over his shoulder, gazing up at the blue and pink radar images.
    Anna turned to Henry. “Are you coming? You should probably tell your flight attendant.”
    â€œYou kidding? She’ll never miss me.” Henry flicked a hand toward the counter, where the flight attendant was typing frantically and talking to the first in a long line of irritated passengers.
    Anna hoisted her backpack over her shoulder and led them into the main hallway of Terminal B. She had to wait a few seconds for an opening in the river of people pulling luggage and rushing past with briefcases. Everybody was all stuck and clogging the halls like a spring ice jam in the