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As she frantically ransacks the bathroo? Are you all right?"

Samantha scurries into a crack between the toilet and bathtub "Stay away fro down in front of her and brushing hair fro to worry about Everything will be fine"

"No it won't I' to death!"

Mo to death You're having your period"

"My what?"

"It's soet about your age It ht, honey Your body is going through a lot of changes now It's all part of growing up" Mom takes Samantha's hand, pulls her to her feet "I'uess I didn't think it would happen so soon" Moins to cry; Samantha joins in

They weep in each other's arh Sains to run ater into the bathtub Mo up, yet she bathed Samantha in a way she hadn't in years As Mohs, she explains the i babies

After the bath, Mom leads Sa clean sheets on the bed Mo out a pad that looks like a miniature diaper She instructs Samantha on how to use the sanitary napkin

The napkin feels like a diaper between her legs She feels even more like a baby when Mom helps her dress and then tucks her into theher on the forehead Dad does the same; he looks ready to cry hiht here when you wake up," Mom says

Hours later, the desert rolls past Sa in the eetation, and barren hills This familiar landscape has never before looked so desolate to her before Never has she felt so ht, honey?" Mom asks

"I'm fine," Samantha says This is a lie She still feels feverish and sore More than anything, she wants to sleep for the next two days and wake up feeling like she did before thisBut she couldn't, not now or ever

In the seat next to her, the giant Minnie Mouse Dad bought for her is buckled up like a fourth passenger in the car Sa for stuffed toys anyed Minnie around for the rest of the day, pretending it was her little sister