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"Cheer up," Gen says to ned you up to walk the route with theroup of dancers in blue cowboy chaps and goofy fringed vests
At least a dozen horrifying clowns in tattered rainbow justore beside us "Over there," I say "They’re looking for you, Gen They need you"
"Have you seen those tap-dancing Christ back around and have a second go with theht? I uys didn’t sign ," Hattie says "Because it’s really aweso"
I shoot her an annoyed look When Gen sees that I’ to fulfil my usual role as peacekeeper, she steps in I sink back into e from my mind: Rashmi, covered in rabbits The Ker, and I think about rabbits We get cold and walk home, and I think about rabbits Maman calls us into the kitchen, and I help her make crescent rolls Rabbits I help her set the table Rabbits The turkey is carved, the drinks are poured, the toast is made Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits The plates are cleared, the ravy remains are scraped into the trash can My boyfriend loses his virginity, and, oh, who’s that looking on?
It’s a rabbit
My faoodabout rabbits an hour later, when I hear the faint sound ofinside my bedroom My heart catapults into my throat I sprint upstairs and barely catch it in tihter and loud voices, and then the sucking sound of a sliding door being shut "Okay, I’ Actually, I don’t knohere the hell I am"
"But you’re at the White House?"
"Yeah"
Rabbit
"I know," he says, when I don’t say anything "It’s weird I’m sorry"
"No, it’s not that" Rabbit rabbit "I’ day"
"My ain"
"So, ue?" he asks overinto the receiver
"I did I read it last night It was great"
There’s a long, dead pause "Wow" His voice is as dull aseven to you, did it?"
"No I just--" And then I burst into tears, hating myself
"What’s the matter?" He turns panicked "What is it? Which part?"
"No It’s good" I can’t stop crying
"Please," he begs "Don’t Listen, I knoas a dick to Rashht, but I swear that won’t happen with us It’s so different with you I would never be like that with you" It’s the fastest I’ve ever heard hier, and I was soIt was…" My tears explode into gut-wrenching sobs "The rabbits"
"Rabbits?" But his confusion is only s? Why would you show the of a deal--"