Page 100 (1/2)

I wish I could be excited about chicken nuggets I wish I could be excited over anything

To give the car ti it two hundred miles, we’ve stopped off in the est bale of hay known to les in the distance and I roaas station

My father sits on the curb and absently watches Maggie and the far sensation each tio and I’ at the empty shell of a body

On the corner of the sidewalk, a dealer hangs a punching bag froainst the vinyl and theDo you have a brother or boyfriend who ht be interested?"

I pivot on the ball of ut" The wooden ceiling tres I catch it with both of my hands and s, like I expect, he flashes a half-tooth grin "You’re good"

"Thanks" The pride inside breaks through the nu ht and I couldn’t believe it Wasn’t that MMA though It was so else"

"Muay Thai?"

"That’s it Do you fight?"

"I used to"

The old man eases down into a worn lawn chair that creaks under his frail body His skin has the consistency of leather--too ht A shauard and because I don’t know him and don’t owe him an explanation I wander away and end up at the buie as les to the top

"She doesn’t think she can do it," says Mo how she alie can do it She has a ton of upper-body strength"

Maggie’s ar hoesome it will feel within me to see that victorious smile on her face when she reaches the top, I silently will her to dig deep and find that last ooht as Maggie almost reaches the top of the bale of hay, she lowers her head I step toward her No She’s alie!"

"I can’t," she yells

She can She has to One of us has to I take off for the field, running over the daers into the hay "You’re al!"