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He shakes his head, his cheeks bulging "She’s fine Girls eat on the floor It’s in the bylaws," he says, his words ju out of his full mouth He stuffs his face with evenout of the kitchen And soon enough, I’n that I really am over my illness Dishes roll out of the kitchen, hot, charred, theand cow, all acco succor

"Where does all this food come from?" I ask to no one in particular, and no one bothers to answer After two courses of dessert, we lean back in our chairs, gorged and sated A bell rings from the back of the hall; at once all cutlery is put down Benches scrape back and the villagers rise as one Only the elders reirl shuffles to the center of the hall

"A reading of the bylaws," she proclaiether in groups of three or more," booms everyone else in unison "Solitariness is not perirl yells

"Sirls

"Number three"

"Obey the elders as unto the Provider himself"

They re, stands up "We have wonderful news We celebrate today the birthdays of Cassie, Fiona, and Sandy Cassie and Fiona will be sleeping in the tavern facilities tonight; Sandy will be napping there this afternoon"

There is no response froers are led out row by row A large blackboard stands by the exit doors As each girl walks past the board, she slows to read it

"What’s that?" I ask

"It’s their daily assignned to a different cottage for a specific task: sewing, ood to beconments are co with, or sleeping next to Because you sleep in the sae you worked in that day You work in the fabrics cottage, you sleep there that night Helps foster a sense of coman and a handful of elders take me on a tour Epap and the other boys, already familiar with the layout of the Mission, scamper off Sissy is nowhere to be seen When I ask about her, the elders irls, the elders are sure-footed, their strides long and natural, their boots striking the flagstone and brick path with strident confidence

"We pride ourselves on two things in this village," Krug back and forth "Food and singing" As if on cue, one of the elders lets loose a gargantuan burp, foul and wet, the stink of rotten eggs and sourpart," one of the elders says, snorting out laughter as the other elders laugh their approval

"This here," Krugman says a e You only need to sniff to know you’re here You could gain weight just by breathing in these sweet ses "Coe, the bakery The aro bread, donuts, and croissants fills the air I’irls inside becori the washed-out kitchen a so, their voices trilling, a light switched on

"Welcoirl says with upturned lips and sprightliness in her uests, on the double!" Krugman shouts stridently Motes of flour blow froiven samples of cupcakes, soufflés, all delectable As we leave, the girls bon, hands clasped in front of the

"Where do you get all this food?" I ask Krugroup of girls carrying buckets, water sloshing inside, sredients the girls were using," I continue when Krugman doesn’t answer "I’ve seen very little farazes atfroh

"It has to come from somewhere--" I start to say