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"I know," Niko said "But don’t you think heto win everyone over so we’ll let them stay?"

"But Mr Appleton needs more time to recover," I protested

"I know! Look," Niko turned to us "Robbie’s just…"

"Just what?" Josie asked

"I don’t like him"

"What do you mean?" I asked "Why?"

"The way … I don’t know The way he’s all over everyone It doesn’t feel right"

"Come on, Niko," I protested

"I saw hiet ht"

"Niko, she’s thirteen," Josie said "You can’t think…"

"I don’t knohat I think!" he exclai pressure on "

He looked from my face to Josie’s face Back and forth

"Don’t you feel it?"

"I’m sorry," I said "I mean, Mr Appleton is kind of a jerk, but everyone loves Robbie He’s friendly He’s nice He’s helping us to fix the bus Ulysses loves him"

"Can we compromise, Niko?" Josie said and for the first time, I saarmth toward him fro enough for Robbie to finish fixing the bus and for Mr Appleton to rest"

Niko turned away from her

"You can’t back me up on this?" he asked us

"Just two days, Niko I think the little kids really need soive Brayden and Sahalia soo with theet everyone used to the idea, if I just have soed

"Okay, Josie If that’s what you want to do Fine"

Josie told everyone that Robbie and Mr Appleton could stay two ed

Mr Appleton nodded and I think he even smiled

That was about as positive as I’d seen hiht

On the floor of the Living Rooathered around him like he was a campfire

He told thes and crows

You never saw a happier bunch of kids or a happier ed his mind

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

"EVACULATION"

After breakfast the next(Chloe was my helper and she said, "Just do whatever, Dean I want to hang out with Robbie!"), Josie and Alex gave Robbie a tour of the store All the little kids went along, shining their flashlights all over the place

I was getting lunch on the table when Jake wandered into the Kitchen and slung himself down at a booth

He looked worse than he had the day before, if such a thing was possible

"You okay?" I asked him

"Dean Dude Is there any coffee?"

"Sure, Jake," I said "You take creaan to bob He was crying, I realized

I put onna be okay," I said

"It’s not It’s never gonna be okay again"

I just stayed standing where I was I felt like if I sat down, he’d stop talking

"I keep taking these pills But everytiood feeling out of my brain and now I’otta lay off the pills"

"I know I know," he o, just as Sahalia cas, a tank top, and souys seen Robbie?" she asked

"He’s with Josie and Alex and the little kids," I said "They’re touring the store"

"Sweet," she said "See ya"

Robbie was definitely the bigthe food, Mr Appleton walked in He was definitely looking better

"Me chicken I was du into a bowl "Chinese?"

"Yup," I answered "I’ fried rice, too"