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"When you’re done, it’s your turn for the shower," she said in a cheery voice

"I take baths" His voice, though monotone, trembled

Carson skipped a beat and cursed her luck No tubShe kneas struggling with everything being different; he was out of his routine Sensing he was a tio off, she tried for huht! You can take your choice You can brush your teeth first or get in your pajaet in my pajamas"

"Good"

Carson, exhausted after fourteen hours of driving stop-and-go and dealing with the child’s dee clothes, she went to the door and stepped out on the front porch She dialed Dora’s number and said a prayer of thanks when Dora answered on the second ring

"Are you there?" Dora asked, sounding slightly breathless

"Yes, we got here The reat It’ll do But it doesn’t have a tub"

"Oh, Lord, batten down the hatches," Dora said in hed "And Nate says it sain

It was exactly what Carson needed to hear She’d been worried that Dora would freak out and then she’d have two hysterias to deal with But here she was,the tension She was pleasantly surprised by how her older sister was reacting

"What’s he doing now?" Dora asked

"He’s changing into his pajahtto keep inwith a lot of new stis out You and I have the apparatus to deal with these things, but he doesn’t He’s rearranging his mental map of the world It’s a scenario for a ry, he’s reacting"

"Tell ood all on your own You took away the conflict when you told him he didn’t need to take a bath I’m impressed"

"I’m scared" CarsonShe wished she could tell Dora how inept she felt dealing with this child What was she thinking? She didn’t know the first thing about children But she’dwith their plan She couldn’t make her sister nervous now

"Aw, sis, I feel for you You know I do But don’t be He’s the one who’s scared" Dora’s voice hitched a bit "Just a scared little boy Reme to norets through it It won’t be easy You’ll be just as exhausted as he is when it’s over But you will get through it I think right now the et him on a routine as soon as possible Maybe old stars and all that?" She looked toward the interior of the rooer’s do better with pictures than charts How good are you at drawing?"

Carson slipped on her flip-flops and hurried in the dark to the car to fetch the box of art supplies that Dora had packed for the trip Little did Dora realize that it would be Carson ould use theet back into the room before Nate realized she’d left She carried the box to the slass-topped table and pried open the box There was the usual assortment of computer paper, colored pencils and lue, and Scotch tape Carson sreat mom