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"Megan, Justin, I got a ribbon!" Bonnie ca a scrap of white ribbon in her hands

"Good for you," Justin said, s as she approached "Third place That's wonderful There were lots of kids bigger than you"

"I know" She quivered with pride "I got a ribbon"

Megan bent down and gave her a hug "I'm very proud of you, Bonnie I sa you concentrated on the race when other children were distracted by as going on"

Bonnie grinned "I' to win!" She pressed the ribbon into Megan's hand, then took off running, back to the center of the field

"Is that the

Megan turned and saagon driving away She recognized the boy in the back and nodded "Yes The next ti to tell that wolared at her brother-in-law But he was across the crowded lawn and didn't even notice "I can't believe he did that" She sat back down under the tree

Justin flopped down next to her and picked up a piece of grass "Believe it," he said, and started chewing on the short stalk "People are basically bad"

"You can't mean that"

"No? Look at what just happened Gene slapped a kid and no one will believe the boy"

"That's different Gene is a minister He's not supposed to behave that way''

"People always act worse than you think they're going to That's what I've learned"

She shifted against the bark of the tree The scent of springti smell of fried chicken and stew, of biscuits and ale from some barrel down by the stream The calls of the children, the buzz of flies and conversation It was all so normal

"I refuse to think the world is a bad place"

"It's not the world, it's everyone in it"

"You're a cynic/'

"You're too innocent"