Page 13 (1/2)

"Thank you," I rateful for

"No, thank you, Paige," Lukas said "I see your value, but I’ood employee is a confident employee,’" he recited

"Petra, huh?"

"Not Petra," Lukas said, a wistfulness in his tone "Big Frank"

"Lukas left e, and I say it’s okay"

It was four o’clock Lukas and his creatives were gone, and I was trying to get Jackie and Glynnis to leave early so we could go to the faro there," Jackie whined "It makes me feel bad about my life choices"

"We’re supposed to stay until five," Glynnis said, eyeing the wall clock "What if Lukas coe would have reacted the sarabbed a hand fro "It’s a field trip We need ideas, don’t we? Let’s go bombard our minds with possibilities!"

Glynnis frowned, but Jackie quirked a smile "I think Petra covers that in chapter 9," she said, her so"

Dandelion Girl, perched on a stool behind her table, noticed us i

"That woman has a carrot in her hair," Jackie whispered

"I kind of like it," Glynnis said

Just another week into the season, the market was already more bountiful Endless rows of boxed strawberries stretched out before us, their arous, and rhubarb--the beauty of the produce had row? I had plenty of dirt The only area I was lacking in was experience, but how hard could it be if a woman who used a carrot as a scrunchie could do it? Eccentricity aside, she see to help even soan to pack up At this hour, the greens had begun to wilt, and a handwritten sign was hastily posted beneath them, Cheap! Cheap! Two-for-One Deal!

"What’s the deal?" Jackie asked her

Dandelion Girl s to pay I don’t want to pack those up again In another five ," Jackie said "I’et back, I want some of those"

"People still s from her pack and stuck it behind her ear "That they do," she said, and went off to find the small patch of cement dedicated to those who did

Glynnis walked off to marvel at the flower displays Dandelion Girl continued to load her truck, watchful for anyone who came by but co with a strawberry, aard as aup to ask me out?"

I was so spaced out I was completely unaware she’d come up next toiht, her sense of hu seriousness to what she was saying She put her basket of strawberries down and crossed her arms over her chest "Well?"

My earlier confidence shriveled up like her lettuce I felt foolish, and oldvery old But it felt good to dig in the backyard, and I didn’t want to stop "I’arden inif that hat I really wanted to do "I don’t really knohat I’ I’ve got a large plot now"

Dandelion Girl snapped into professional e?"

"I don’t know It’sbig"