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"Hey, Gene?" I whispered

He looked up and gave me a nod He was short and hter weight class

"My mother, um she kind of wants to talk to yourto be supervised and all that" I tried not to cringe His eyebroent up for a second

"Yeah, I hear you, girl" He tore off a corner of his paper "Have her call this number the day before the party Just tell her that my ma works crazy hours, so that’ll be the best day to reach her Cool?"

I felt giddy as I thanked hiroup

CHAPTER FOUR

LAKE PARTY

The next Friday was our last day of school, and it was sticky-hot Dusk brought little relief froy heat The air conditioner in Jay’s car pushed out lukewar My feet were propped on his dusty dashboard on our way to Gene’s lake house I fanned us both with an old french-fry box frorease

I’d never been to a lake house, though I’d been to the lake plenty of times for church picnics, or afternoons with Patti I always enjoyed the serenity of the winding drive thick with trees

We turned down a buhts of other cars and a beautiful,darker noe parked and got out Crickets, frogs, and cicadas serenaded us frohtly lit, but our path was not, so I extended ht to be sure I didn’t trip on any rocks or fallen branches along the way Along with being able to see far away, I could adjust ht vision" The h for normal eyes to see by, but it worked for ravel as alked

"Get a load of this place" Jay gawked

"I know It’s huge" The house had three vast levels raparound porches and a vaulted roof It looked like a lodge

I pulled hts Voices and laughter werewith loud hip-hop e in volume hit us hard

"No way! Look who’s here, y’all! What’s up, Jay?" They smacked hands in a clasp, then Gene looked at ivingwhiff of alcohol on his breath Hedrinks while his parents weren’t looking

We walked through, bureeted by everyone he came across Gene’s family roo The dining roo souys stood across the table froe of the table and trying repeatedly to flip the cups over one-handed It was a race Kristin Miller’s cup finally landed upside down and she threw her ar while the boys moaned and shook their heads