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"Why do you have a tape recorder?"

"My ht it home for me when I joined the newspaper staff last year She said that all reporters needed a tape recorder"

"And we need it now because?"

"Because weʼre going to argue this out now, Iʼll type it up tonight, and tomorrow you will turn it into a journalisticthe record button and going off on the current state of our healthcare system We were really on a roll ere interrupted by my sisterʼs tear streaked face I reached over and hit pause on the recorder "Whatʼs wrong, Angel? Are you hurt?"

Angel threw herself ontoI pulled her into ht be a brat, but sheʼs still my baby sister It almost caused me physical pain to see her so upset

"Emma said I was a baby," she sobbed into my shoulder "She doesnʼt want me to play with her any ht you were a baby?" Alex leaned back in his chair and looked Angel over "What are you? Like eight or nine?"

Angel turned her head to peek through the curtain my hair provided "Iʼm six and a half" I had to admit that Alex was a pretty decent actor I almost believed that he was really shocked "Six and a half? Man, you seeel sat up and brushed the hair and tears froe" I had to biteat her word confusion Alex didnʼt even flinch

"You are Why would you want to play with that little kid for anyway? You should stay here and hang out with us"

Angel looked up atout with the big kids hen Talley was in a particularly generous mood I had never seen her look so hopeful

"Yeah, we could really use your help," I said, wiping the last remnants of tears from her face "Do you think you could hold the tape recorder while Alex and I argue?" Angel eagerly nodded her head in agreelance in Alexʼs direction

"You should know that Scout is a really good arguer She alins against ood at?" I was surprised that Angel had to actually think about it "She sounds like a dying cat when she sings," she finally concluded "And she always sets off the smoke alarm when she tries to cook"

Alex tried to look serious, but his diot in the way "Well, Iʼll have to re lead on Rock Band or ed to wrap ainst his charhter I was horrified to realize that I wasnʼt as iel announced at dinner that night I was carefully trying to extract all the bell peppers fro much attention to the conversation "Heʼs really nice and funny and cute"

Dad reached over to peel a noodle froelʼs face "Is he in your class?"

"Nope Heʼs Scoutʼs friend He let me help him and Scout work on their homework because I am so manure"