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"That’s not all" Gracie approached her father and gently laid a hand on his arm "The interstate north of us is already locked up, and the camels are stuck"

"The camels" His voice was dull, as if he’d just awoken from a nap "Are stuck?"

"Yes, the camels," Gracie continued "And the sheep"

"The … sheep?"

She broke the rest of the news quickly "And the donkey and the ox The traffic isn’tand neither are they PETA will jump our ass--our literal ass--if we push for transport in this kind of weather"

Everyone in Gracie’s general vicinity dropped chin I didn’t know the church’s stance on alcohol, but Pastor Robinson looked like he could use a er recognizes and fears "Grace Elizabeth Robinson I know that was a play on words, and your attempt at levity is noted, as is the time and the place you chose to attempt it Now you owe the swear jar a dollar"

Before she could reply, his phone rang He answered, and the crowd around us broke up

I stared at Gracie "You just said ass"

She shrugged A grin followed "I can usually get aith that one, since it’s in the Bible"

"You said ass"

"I’uys have a swear jar"

She slid out her ar a blue sweater that fit so well it deserved a vacation home in the Bahamas "It’s an old pickle jar we keep on our kitchen counter My mom made it mandatory for my dad when he was in seminary, and he made it mandatory for me"

"Your father swears, too?"

"Not anymore Last year, he emptied it to fund a trip to the Harry Potter therin went full blown I wanted to kiss it right off her face

"You wicked girl You’re not at all who I i her robe on a wall hook "How many days has it been since you pulled a prank? I had no idea you could behave for such an extended period of tiood behavoir before" I glanced at Pastor Robinson, as pacing while he talked "Rerade? And how every single kid was supposed to get it?"

She nodded and leaned against the wall

"I tried so hard Everyone had been giving et it, but during the last month of school, I earned it I proved that I could handle myself And then Mr Weekly passed me over at assembly I know my name was on the list, but he said every name but mine No one would believe me That’s when I realized everyone had already made up their minds about me Why disappoint them?"

"Why not work harder?"

"I was nine," I said drily "‘Work harder’ sounds like parental advice, and I didn’t have the kind of guidance that you did"

"I’ her arle life event define you, then all you need to change things--if you want thee--is another"