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"Are you kidding? A mad scientist in your creepy old barn I saw that movie"

A flush of defensiveness surprised Dellarobia, on behalf of the scientists or the barn, she was not sure "It’s not as bad as you’d think out there They’re using the roo parlor back when they had dairy cows here, like, fifty years ago" Ovid had checked out the barn before he left, choosing thewalls and cement floor that could be hosed down Bear and Hester had drawn up a three- The balloon pay a feeeks, and then he’ll drive the van back I guess the vehicle belongs to the college But the equipanized Dovey’s wildto separate layers in order to flatten them The faint odor of scorched hair filled her nostrils, but Dovey seemed unalarmed "I don’t know for what Analysis, he said Analys-ees," she corrected herself

"Busy bees, checking out the butter-flees"

"Well, I think it’s interesting I know it seems crazy to put so uess But what’s not trivial?"

Dovey leaned into the mirror and intoned, "Hair anduplives?"

"People have to eat to live"

"They buy chuck roasts for Sunday dinner, but they’re hungry again on Monday We raise sheep for sweaters that ind up wadded up in people’s closets because they’ve got ten other sweaters and that one’s the wrong color"

"Your father-in-lawthat up"

"He used to, before the interstate ran out of money And if you think about it, ninety-nine drivers out of a hundred never touch the guardrail Maybe it’s not even one in a uardrails are trivial"

"You ht now"

"I’oing to need assistants Ovid" She blushed again, but Dovey gave her a pass,important was at stake Dellarobia needed to close herself in a closet and practice saying that naet volunteers, when school is back in session But he’s hiring, too He said he’d be training at least one assistant for pay I feel like he was hinting I should apply for a job"

"Why don’t you?"

"Are you kidding? Checkpeas and arbitrating tantrue"

"Don’t sell yourself short"

"I am short What do you think I’d sell for?"

"She’s a rocket, she was side Kathy Mattea on the radio with perfect tier at Dellarobia "Just make sure you wear that to your job interview" Dellarobia laughed Her huge black T-shirt had a constellation of holes and a stretched-out neck that slipped off her shoulder It was one of Cub’s, pulled over jeans and tank top as a housework se

"Cub wouldn’t wantCan you iht there is why you ought to do it"

"To tell you the truth, Cub and I had a fight about it already Right after he called"