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We were in Ta on the floor in front ofher hair brushed, even when razed her neck, inadvertently causing her to shudder She used to hold my hands, back in the days when my hands arm These days, however, she almost never held my hands, and I didn&039;t bla corpse?

I cherished these quietto her stories about school and boys, teachers and boys, and movies and boys She often asked me what it was like to kiss a boy or to be in love She soether Mostly we laughed and giggled, and if ere being too loud, Anthony would so la roohed, slapping his hand on the carpet the way he does when he sits on the floor The vibration reached even us

"Cartoons are so juvenile," said Tammy

"Totally," I said

"I haven&039;t watched them in, like, a year"

"Sauess there are one or two that are okay, but mostly they&039;re la

Anthony erupted in laughter again, hitting the floor even harder The thuds reverberated up through our butts

"God, he&039;s so annoying," said Tammy She didn&039;t sound annoyed She sounded i"

"He&039;s eight years old," I said, as if that explained everything

She shrugged and I continued brushing her long hair Warm air from the heater vent washed over us The TV blared fro room I cherished these small moments

"Mommy?"

"Yes, baby?"

"There&039;s so different about Anthony"