Page 6 (1/2)

I don’t ton, whoher photo be published in the school paper, thus et around the dorton," I say quickly, giving her aro inside"

"About tida moves to take hold of her other arh the front door to cries--froo in, but we don’t? We live here, too!" and "No fair!" and, "Fascists!"

Fro one kitten heel in front of the other, I’ton is already a little tipsy, even though it’s not quite noon My suspicions are confir and Mrs Allington suddenly leans over and heaves her breakfast into one of the planters in the front lobby

It definitely looks as if Mrs A had a few Bloody Marys to go with her eggs this da says, horrified And who can blame her?

I don’t know about anyone else, but when I throw up (and, I’le New Year’s Eve), I like a little sy’s ton on her padded shoulder and say, "There Don’t you feel better now?"

Mrs Allington squints atme for the first time

"Who the hell are you?" she asks

"U director Heather Wells Reton looks confused "What happened to Justine?"

"Justine found another job," I explain, which is a lie, since Justine was fired But the truth is, I don’t know Justine’s side of the story I mean, maybe she really needed the money Maybe she has relatives who live in Bosnia or somewhere really cold, and they don’t have any heat, and those ceramic heaters kept theton just squints some more

"Heather Wells?" She blinks a few irl? The one who used to sing in all those ton has finally recognized ht…

…but not as the assistant director of the building she lives in

Wow I never suspected Mrs Allington of being a fan of teen pop She seems more the Barry Manilow type--much older teen pop

"I was," I say to her, kindly, because I still feel sorry for her, on account of the barf, and all "But I don’t perforda and I exchange glances Magda see her sense of humor back, since there is a distinct upward slant to corners of her lip-lineredstory Basically I lost ton asks

Which is, I have to ad sorry for her

3

I tell you I can’t

But you don’t seem to care

I tell you I won’t

It’s like I’m not even there