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"Ge off her, "what are you talking about? He begged thatfor patience She closed her blue eyes a long moment, then turned to her "Mom, did you not hear hied with bitterness

"Mo her hands on Denise’s shoulders, "open your eyes" She said it softly, not wanting to hurt the hag’s feelings

I had no such qualer "See?" she asked Dad, pointing at et it

I was still floored by Geave a crap

Uncle Bob had been standing back, but he stepped forward now "Maybe we can take this to ht I was going to be sick I started out the door again

"I kneould lose," Dad said quietly after me

I stopped and turned around Waited

"I kneould end up like the others"

What others? How many did he know about?

He stepped closer to aze on one after Geht now"

He was right But that didn’tpain like I’d never felt in eway until I was gasping for air And then it happened again The fking orks God, could I be any more lame?

Dad put a hand on my face "I knew you would be okay You always are, irl You have, I don’t know, a power or so thing I’ve ever seen"

"But, Dad," Gemma said in admonishment, "you should have told her You should have prepared her" Ge now, too I couldn’t believe it I had entered the Twilight Zone No more science fiction edback

The bitterness and frustration froly duckling surfaced and I could not, withies as we e around, confused and embarrassed, and I almost felt sorry for her Only not Then I motioned for Uncle Bob to join us He stood with a dreamy smile on his face, but when he saw me motion him toward us, he frowned and shook his head I stabbed hiain He blew out a long breath, then walked up and encircled us in his arging and sobbing like celebrities in rehab

"I can’t breathe," Geh school

Chapter Nineteen

JUST BECAUSE I DON’T CARE DOESN’T MEAN I DON’T UNDERSTAND