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Two , bigger every year It became her horticultural buddy Triumph in plant form

So Ellen took it personally when Weasel Face stepped on it Possibly a bit too personally Swept up in a delicious tide of righteousness, she crossed the lawn and upended her glass of iced tea over the back of his head

It felt good It felt great, actually—the coiled-spring snap of te a blow for justice For the few seconds it lasted, she basked in it It was such an i around

One more confirmation that powerlessness was for suckers

But then it was over, and she wondered why she’d wasted the tea, because Weasel Face didn’t so , the ice cubes, or the sludgy sugar on the back of his neck, he aimed his camera at Carly’s house and held down the shutter release, capturing photo after photo as an SUV rolled to a stop in the neighboring driveway

“Get out ofthe man’s shoulder for emphasis His only response was to reach up, adjust his lens, and carry on

Nohat? Assault-by-beverage was unfamiliar territory for her Usually, she stuck with verbal attack Always, the people she engaged in battle acknowledged her presence on the field How infuriating to be ignored by the enemy

“The police are on their way”

This was a lie, but so what? The man had already been kicked off her property once this week He didn’t deserve scrupulous honesty He didn’t even deserve the tea

“I’ll leave when they make me,” he said

“I’es this time”

The photographer squinted into his viewfinder “Go ahead I’ll have these pictures sold before the cops get here”