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LACEY WILSON had given up trying to make friends No one liked her, so she kept to herself In the war her book in a far corner of the schoolyard

She had to pee; couldn't hold it et to the washrooirls ere skipping near there In the end, urgency overcaan

"Ewe, there's the worbean! Stinky stringbean!"

They giggled, covering their mouths, and turned their backs on her, and other kids nearby joined in with ' Boscoe blocked her way, "Whatcha got, wor, she tried to push past hi her head and forced her way into the toilet, where she stayed, sucking air, hiding in a stall, until the bell rang for the afternoon classes

AFTER SCHOOL Lacey walked hoated the crooked pathith broken tiles that led to her house and opened the door, listening

The silence echoed in her ears She ets earlier and earlier "Your mother's not well," her Daddy had said raine headaches You irl, and let her rest"

So Lacey slurimy furniture joined forces with the silence totaunts that hurt soa worn satin pillow to her chest, wishing she didn't have to go to school anymore, paralyzed by sorrow and despair

Eventually the tears stopped, as they always did The sound of laughter drifted through the openand penetrated her reverie Lacey looked out There they were: the big boy next door and his friends - laughing, having fun!

Blowing her nose, she went outside and sat on the grass to watch the around on a bike, throwing hoops, joking around The love bug had bitten Lacey when she was four and had first seen Roger Brock popping wheelies in theirhied hi his bike, or arcing the basketball high in the air, or rolling around on the larestling with his friends, represented both a fantasy figure akin to the heroes in the books she read, and the embodiment of a social life she herself could not have, but at least could witness