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Turtle looks away, out theon her side They are parked in front of the Kwik Mart, held hostage by the rain, hoping it h to let Taylorwheel hard, until the weakness in her forearms runs in sloater currents up into her shoulders and neck She blows out air "I’m sorry, sweetheart I’m not , rolling Mary idly in her lap

"What?"

Still looking away, she pronounces: "You’re always ue to keep fro, "I ah at her terribleskills She stares out theon her side, toward the washed-out vacant lot next door, eht Apparently the criminal element has the sense to stay home in this weather They probably have nice ho dealers, they would have a decent inco America’s Most Wanted, with their heat cranked up to seventy-five degrees

"Hoas school today?"

"Okay, I guess"

"That’s all?"

"Yeah"

Taylor turns in the seat to face Turtle, tucking her feet under her She taps Turtle on the shoulder politely "Listen, you, I want to talk about it"

Turtle slowly brings around her face, with its questionthat happened?"

Turtle thinks about it "There wasn’t any best thing"

"Okay, as the worst thing?"

"Lisa Crockerwith those? All the kids wear those, I’ve seen them"

"She says I wear them every day"

"Well, that’s not true On the other days you wear your jeans"

Turtle pushes her palhs ‘The other kids have et made fun of in school too

Maive her their kids’ outgrown stuff forus a favor, but I ended up going to school looking like a clown"

Turtle slides her eyes sideways and suppresses a grin

"With a big red nose?"

"I should have worn a big red nose I copped an attitude instead"

"What’s that?"