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I cut and chopped until it was od-awful Down to the scalp in some places, wispy in others Matted down in places and kookily long in others

"I think I need to wash it so I can make it look … uniforhed

The ant way to wash soured out by the end of the delousing episode, was to have two stools set together The washee sits facing away from the basin and the washer sits closer to the basin, sideways Then the washee leans back so that they are lying down, their torso resting on your knees You put the basin under their head and you have a bottle of water and the shampoo at an arm’s reach

I explained this to Astrid, so she sat down facing away from me and then leaned back onto my lap

And there she was So beautiful, laid out on my knees She had her eyes closed, and for a ether, chapped and rosy Eyes red riolden honey–colored Some brown, dried freckle-dots that could be blood on her jawline

Astrid Heyman I tried to memorize how beautiful she was

"Okay," she said "I’m ready"

"I’ to be cold"

I poured the water over her head

"It’s freezing!"

I put the pitch-s I rimy scalp

"M her to me and kiss her

A trickle of water had run over her forehead to her eye I took the edge of the towel and dabbed it away softly

In the ruse of brushing aater, I ran my thumb over her eyebrow It was a marvel of God, how perfect it felt underand all I could think of was that perfect eyebrow

I rinsed the shao up on her forearms

After it was done I put my hands under her shoulders and helped her sit up

She towel-dried her hair and put her hands up to feel her head

"Oh my God," she said "I’

Her hair was fluffy and standing up in all directions

"You look like a baby chick!" I said

She let ly tendrils

In the end, she looked not so much like a baby chick, but maybe an orphan boy fro

And I realized I had a hat! It got cold so in the Kitchen so I’d taken to keeping one in e knit ski cap with a band of blue around near the edge

"Thanks," she said and she put it on

"There’s like a dozen different styles in the Men’s Department, if you want a different one," I said

I didn’t want her to feel some kind of pressure to wear it And if she replaced it, it would have iven her the idea

"I like yours," she said

I didn’t knohat to say to that

"I’o change," she said "I smell, don’t I?"

"Yes, you do" I told her "Also, you have a terrible haircut"

She gavein the center of our dark, lost world

We had moved Brayden near Mr Appleton to make it easier to take care of the at Brayden

"Can’t sleep?" asked Josie

"Not so much," I answered "How is he?"

Brayden looked ashen and weak

"If the wound doesn’t become infected, I think he’ll be okay," Niko said

"And if it does?" Josie asked

I guess I expected Niko to say so about antibiotics

"Maybe I could take him in the bus"

"To where?" Josie asked

"The hospital," Niko answered

"You knohat Robbie said It’s shut down There is no one there"

"But think about it," Niko said "Robbie wanted to stay here He was probably lying The hospital ht be open"

"We can’t risk it," I said

"I know," he snapped

"Brayden’s going to be okay," Josie said She pressed a dah, Brayden We need you to pull through"

Brayden’s breathing was shallow but steady Maybe he’d be okay …

"Now you two go to sleep And INiko back to the Train, only he didn’t go to the Train He went to the bus

"Hey, what are you doing?" I asked

He cas

He set them down and then headed off toward Housewares