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"She doesn’t?" There’s a heartbreaking note of hope in her voice And I know that everything Sanjita said is true

I sently "Nope It’s a secret She doesn’t know"

"It’s pretty," Hattie finally says

"Thanks I’lad you like it Because it’s yours now"

For the second tile minute, Hattie looks surprised I hold out the key She takes it slowly "Don’t you want to give this to Kurt? Isn’t it his, too?"

"Kurt has new places to explore And…he’s not you He’s not my sister"

She almost appears to be shaken Almost

"And, you know, you don’t have to keep any of this stuff, it’s just junk we’ve picked up over the years--"

"No! No, I like it" She glances around, and her eyes catch on the ht Josh up here, too"

I tuck my hands inside ross sexual playground? Did you do it on top of this carousel horse-head?"

"Hattie!"

She laughs at my reddened cheeks, and after a moment, I can’t help but join in "No," I say "But maybe you should wash the blanket in that trunk"

My sister squeals with genuine horror, which only h harder When we finally stop, she pulls her gaze away froive this to me So…thanks"

"I’ so awful to you this year And for bla that wasn’t your fault"

Hattie nods She doesn’t take her eyes off the Seine But I knoe’re okay

I take another deep breath, and…there it is A new and distinct smell in the air Hattie turns her head and smiles at me as the first snowflakes of the year swirl down upon Paris The city is cold and hushed and beautiful

"Will you miss this next year?" she asks, and when I look at her in surprise, she adds, "Maman told me they mailed the first cheque to Dartmouth"

I hesitate, and then I tell her the truth "I will miss Paris And I’ll miss New York I’m excited and scared, but…I think I’ain

"You think?"

"I think" I slide down the wall until I’ down She sits beside"When Josh and I were in Spain, ent to this park This really, really beautiful park And it started these ideas in ht I was Maybe I’ about Paris versus New York, because nothing else seemed real, so--"

"You’d read about in a book"

"Exactly But being in this beautiful park with this beautiful boy talking about this alternate future in which I’m someone who learns how to camp and climb rocks and build fires and sleep below the stars…in that onna be a park ranger?"

I laugh "I just want to try those things They sound fun"

"What about Josh?"

My eyes catch on his mural On the brownstone with ivyboxes and the A "What about him?"