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She stares up at irl I ah for thes I’ve lost so ry OK? There I said it I’et screwed over And just when I get attached to James and Harper and think, OK, this is my family, then they don’t want h to accept the fact that they can’t give you what you need, Sasha And we can"
"You guys want o to school And be normal But I’m not normal I’m a really fucked-up kid" She looks over at me "A really fucked-up person, Ford I’e"
"Don’t be silly And besides, I start fil We leave in a feeeks So you won’t even go to school this year We’re gonna go bum around Down Under for six months Enjoy two summers Get to know each other And then next fall, we’ll come home and be a normal family So we have three whole seasons to practice"
She’s silent after that And we just sit in the cold saying nothing for several minutes "What’s in the box?" she finally asks, her curiosity getting the best of her
I pick it up and place it on her lap
"What is it?" Her face turns up to hs and lifts the lid off
The little gray kitten is just stretching out her paws inside the blanket "Oh my God," Sasha says "A kitten I’ve never had a kitten"
"I wanted another dog, but Ashleigh, pfftt" I hike my thumb behind me in the direction of the house "She put her foot down on that one We have three face-eaters So I figured it was fine to get sos it to her chest "For you"
She nuzzles the kitten’s soft fur and se in behavior That a kitten can do this for a sad and broken child, well It’s touching "Merry Christles the kitten once more, and then takes a deep breath Like maybe she can do this after all "Merry Christmas, Ford"
I stand up and offer her my hand
She accepts it
And then alk up the front stairs to her new hoether
I stop at the front door and turn to her "You’re officially part of the Teas first I need you to hate Ronin Nohe is, you must not fall for it He may be on the Team too, but we’re , as I open the door and wave her inside
She walks into the rooreets her while I stand back and take offit up in the closet
I watch my friends and family as they fuss over her like I told theainst Ronin’s char to plot about Making Ronin reets everyone and shows James and Harper her kitten I can physically detect the etting rid of her, as Sasha thinks